Trauma Therapy

What EMDR does

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy approach that helps people work through experiences that continue to feel distressing or emotionally overwhelming. Rather than relying solely on talking about what happened, EMDR is a structured approach that supports the brain's natural ability to process difficult memories.  As these memories are processed, they often become less emotionally intense, allowing people to feel more at peace with what happened and better able to move forward. EMDR is commonly used to treat trauma, but it can also be helpful for anxiety, phobias, grief, chronic pain, somatic symptoms, and other concerns where past events continue to affect the present.

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The Transformation

How EMDR works

When a distressing experience is not fully processed, it can continue to affect the way we think, feel, and respond to the world. EMDR helps activate the brain's natural healing process through bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones), while you briefly focus on aspects of the memory.

In EMDR, we revisit past memories in small, manageable pieces, giving your brain space to process what happened at a pace that feels safe. Over time, this can help you make sense of the experience in a new way, feel more distance from the memory, and reduce how emotionally intense it feels when it comes up. Many people also notice new insights and a greater sense of ease as the memory becomes less activating in daily life.

What EMDR Can Help With

Can support individuals experiencing:

  • Trauma and PTSD

  • Anxiety, panic symptoms, and phobias

  • Depression related to past experiences

  • Grief and loss

  • Childhood or developmental trauma

  • Chronic pain and somatic symptoms

  • Distressing life events that continue to feel “stuck”

  • The number of sessions varies depending on your history, goals, and the nature of what you are working through. Some people experience meaningful shifts in a relatively short number of sessions, while others benefit from longer-term work, especially when addressing complex or developmental trauma.

  • EMDR can bring up emotional or physical sensations as memories are processed, but it is done in a controlled and supported way. You are always in control of the pace and can pause or stop at any time. A strong emphasis is placed on preparation and grounding skills to ensure you feel safe and supported throughout the process.

  • Bilateral stimulation can involve guided eye movements, tapping, or alternating tones. It is typically gentle and rhythmic, and many clients describe it as grounding or neutral while processing memories.

  • Not necessarily. EMDR does not always require detailed verbal descriptions of events. The focus is more on how the memory is stored and experienced internally rather than retelling the story.

  • Yes. EMDR is often integrated with other modalities such as somatic therapy, parts work, CBT, or mindfulness-based approaches, depending on your needs. Combining these approaches can support both the processing of difficult memories and a greater sense of safety, grounding, and regulation in the present.

  • Sessions are paced carefully, and stabilization skills are taught early in treatment. If distress arises, we slow down or pause processing and return to grounding strategies to ensure you feel regulated before continuing.

Common questions