EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy designed to help people heal from distressing experiences and trauma. It can benefit individuals struggling with:

• PTSD & Complex PTSD – Reducing the impact of past traumatic events, including childhood trauma and abuse.
• Dissociation & Fragmented Memories – Helping integrate traumatic memories safely.
• Anxiety & Panic Disorders – Decreasing overwhelming worry and fear responses.
• Depression & Low Self-Esteem – Addressing negative beliefs rooted in past experiences.
• Phobias & Fears – Reprocessing distressing memories that contribute to irrational fears.
• Grief & Loss – Helping process unresolved pain after loss.
• Sexual, Physical, or Emotional Abuse – Supporting recovery from past abuse and its emotional impact.
• Medical & Accident Trauma – Addressing distress from surgeries, injuries, or life-threatening events.
• Performance Anxiety – Improving confidence in work, academics, or athletics.

EMDR is effective for those who feel stuck in past experiences that continue to affect their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It helps reprocess memories so they no longer feel overwhelming, fostering healing and resilience.

In an EMDR session, your therapist helps you process distressing memories using bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds). You briefly recall the memory while focusing on the stimulation, allowing your brain to reprocess it so it feels less overwhelming. Over time, this reduces emotional distress and reinforces healthier beliefs.

The number of EMDR sessions needed varies based on the type and complexity of trauma.

• Single-Incident Trauma (e.g., car accident, assault, natural disaster) – Many people experience significant relief in 6 to 12 sessions, as the brain can often process and integrate a single event more quickly.
• Chronic or Complex Trauma (e.g., childhood abuse, neglect, multiple traumatic experiences) – Healing from lifelong or repeated trauma takes longer. This process may require months or years of therapy, integrating EMDR with other approaches to ensure safety, stability, and lasting change.

Your therapist will tailor treatment to your needs, adjusting the pace to ensure a safe and effective healing process.

Yes, EMDR therapy is safe when conducted by a trained professional. It is an evidence-based approach that helps the brain process trauma in a structured way. However, because EMDR brings up distressing memories, some people may experience temporary emotional discomfort between sessions.

For those with complex trauma or dissociation, EMDR is adapted to ensure stability and safety, often incorporating grounding techniques before deeper trauma processing. Your therapist will guide you at a manageable pace to support healing without overwhelming you.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, which focuses on discussing and analyzing experiences, EMDR helps the brain reprocess distressing memories directly through bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds). This allows emotional healing without needing to talk in detail about the trauma.

Key differences:

• Focus on Reprocessing – EMDR helps the brain process trauma so it no longer feels overwhelming.
• Minimal Talking Required – You don’t have to discuss every detail of your trauma to heal.
• Works with the Nervous System – EMDR reduces emotional distress on a deeper, neurological level.
• Faster Results for Many – Some people experience relief more quickly than with traditional therapy.

EMDR is especially helpful for those who feel stuck in past trauma or find talking about it too overwhelming.

Yes, absolutely EMDR therapy can be done online and is just as effective as in-person sessions when conducted by a trained therapist. In virtual EMDR, bilateral stimulation is provided through:

• Guided eye movements using on-screen cues
• Self-tapping techniques (butterfly hug or alternating taps)
• Audio tones played through headphones

Your therapist will ensure a safe, supportive environment and teach grounding techniques to help manage emotions between sessions. Online EMDR is a great option for those who prefer the comfort of their own space or have limited access to in-person therapy.

No, you do not need to relive your trauma in detail during EMDR therapy. The beauty of EMDR is that it focuses on reprocessing distressing memories without requiring you to describe them extensively. You will briefly recall the memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds), allowing your brain to process it in a way that reduces its emotional intensity.

Your therapist will guide you at a safe pace, ensuring that you do not feel overwhelmed. The goal is to help your brain release the trauma’s emotional charge, so it no longer feels as distressing or intrusive.