emdr Therapy: A Path to Heal from Trauma

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy can be a powerful tool for those who have experienced traumatic events, anxiety, phobias, and more.

EMDR can help adults and children of all ages. EMDR addresses various challenges, including but not limited to:

• Anxiety

• Panic attacks

• Phobias

• Depression

• Chronic pain & illness

• Grief & loss

• Performance anxiety

• PTSD and stress-related traumas

• Sexual assault

• Sleep disturbances

• Trauma

• Nightmares

• Substance abuse & addiction

• Violence & abuse, and more

EMDR is not only for PTSD; it can also be highly effective for anxiety, depression, phobias, complicated grief, and other trauma-related symptoms.

By helping reprocess distressing memories, EMDR can aid in a range of emotional and psychological challenges, even if you don’t identify with classic PTSD.

Unlike some traditional trauma therapies, EMDR doesn't require you to discuss every detail of your trauma. Instead, you’ll briefly bring up memories while focusing on bilateral stimulation (like eye movements).

This process allows the brain to reprocess distressing memories without the need for prolonged reliving, often making it feel safer and more manageable.

I understand it might feel overwhelming, confusing, and hard to conceptualize what an EMDR session is like—that’s completely normal!

In our first few sessions, we’ll take time to get to know each other and for you to share more about what brings you in. This might feel similar to traditional talk therapy, with a focus on exploring the present challenges and triggers you’re experiencing.

As we establish a foundation, we’ll also work together to develop grounding and resourcing techniques that you can use between sessions. These tools help you feel centered and provide a sense of safety as we move into deeper work.

Once you’re feeling ready and comfortable, we’ll begin the EMDR processing. During this phase, we’ll identify specific memories, thoughts, or images that bring up distress. While focusing on these, you’ll engage in a form of bilateral stimulation—usually through guided eye movements or gentle tapping—which helps your brain reprocess these memories in a less emotionally charged way. Unlike talk therapy, we don’t analyze every detail of the memory; instead, we focus on allowing your brain to make new connections and reduce the emotional impact over time.

This reprocessing phase may bring up strong emotions, but I’ll be there to support you every step of the way. As we progress, you’ll likely find that the distress attached to certain memories or triggers starts to lessen, allowing you to move forward with more clarity and calm.

EMDR can be an emotional process, and it’s entirely natural to experience a range of feelings, including sadness, relief, or even anger.

For many, emotions are an essential part of healing, and feeling them fully can lead to profound relief and a sense of release.

Crying, if it happens, is okay and often part of letting go of what you've been carrying. In our sessions, you have a safe space where all feelings are welcome.

I’ll be there to support you, and together, we’ll go at a pace that feels manageable. Remember, this is a healing journey tailored to you, and whatever feelings arise, you’re not alone in them.