EMDR ~ An introduction
Gently helping your mind and body heal from the past
Sometimes, even when we know something is over, a part of us still reacts as if the painful experience is happening right now. Trauma doesn’t always live in words — it can live in sensations, images, emotions, and patterns that keep replaying, long after the event has ended.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain and nervous system reprocess unresolved memories and experiences so they can take their rightful place in the past. Many people find EMDR to be a transformative way to reduce emotional intensity, ease distress, and create lasting change — without having to retell every detail of their story over and over.
How EMDR Works
When overwhelming experiences happen, the brain’s natural ability to process information can become “stuck.” This can leave distressing memories, emotions, or body sensations unintegrated — almost like files left open on a desktop. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or sounds) while bringing specific memories or feelings to mind. This combination activates the brain’s innate capacity to digest and re-file those experiences, so they lose their emotional charge and can be remembered without re-living them.
EMDR doesn’t erase the past — it helps you experience it differently: with more distance, perspective, and self-compassion.
EMDR Can Be Helpful For:
Post-traumatic stress and critical incidents
Childhood trauma and attachment wounds
Anxiety, panic, and persistent fear responses
Distressing memories that still feel “fresh” or intrusive
Shame, self-criticism, or internalized negative beliefs
Phobias and specific fears
Grief and complicated loss
Self-sabotaging patterns and stuck feelings
Whether your trauma was big and obvious or quiet and cumulative, EMDR can help your nervous system find resolution in a way that talk therapy alone sometimes can’t.
My Approach to EMDR
I integrate EMDR within a relational, trauma-informed framework. That means we don’t rush. Safety, trust, and attunement are at the heart of the work.
Before we begin reprocessing, we take time to:
Build emotional safety and grounding skills
Strengthen your inner resources
Identify clear targets for EMDR work
Make sure you feel fully in charge of the process
When we start EMDR, we go at a pace that feels right for you. EMDR can be woven into ongoing therapy or used as a focused approach for specific issues.
What to Expect
Initial Sessions – We focus on understanding your story, building trust, and preparing your nervous system with grounding and stabilization skills.
Target Selection – We identify specific memories, themes, or beliefs that feel “stuck” and decide together what to work on.
Reprocessing – Using bilateral stimulation, we gently activate and reprocess the memory so your brain can integrate it fully.
Integration – We reflect on insights, changes, and shifts, and support you in bringing those into daily life.
Many clients notice shifts in how they feel about old memories — less charge, more distance, or new perspectives — even after a few sessions.
Why EMDR?
Backed by extensive research and recommended by organizations such as the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association
Works with the brain’s natural healing processes rather than against them
Often effective for experiences that don’t respond as well to talk therapy alone
Doesn’t require detailed retelling of traumatic events if you prefer not to
Ready to Begin
EMDR can be a profound way to heal, but the heart of the work is always the therapeutic relationship. Together, we can decide whether EMDR is the right fit for your needs and begin at a pace that feels safe and empowering.
