EMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy used to help process distressing or unresolved experiences. Rather than focusing only on talking through events, EMDR supports the nervous system in reprocessing memories so they feel less overwhelming in the present.
EMDR can be helpful for trauma, anxiety, and patterns that continue to show up even when you understand them logically.
How EMDR works
I often describe EMDR using a memory metaphor.
Long-term memories are stored deep in the brain — like a basement freezer. When something from the past is triggered, or we don’t actually remember the original event itself. We remember the last time we remembered it. Each time the freezer door opens, the memory is taken out, handled, and put back again.
Over time, that memory can get dropped, bumped, or covered in “debris” — strong emotions, body sensations, beliefs, or distress that don’t belong to the present moment. This is often why memories from long ago can still feel intense, overwhelming, or physically activating.
EMDR helps gently take those memories out, clean them up, and store them back where they belong — without the emotional charge that keeps pulling them into the present.
What EMDR Is (and What It Isn’t)
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a trauma-informed therapy that helps the brain process experiences that were overwhelming, unresolved, or never fully integrated at the time they occurred.
It is not about reliving trauma, forcing memories, or talking through every detail of what happened. EMDR works with how the brain naturally processes information, using bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or sounds) to support integration.
Many people notice that memories feel:
✓ Less emotionally intense
✓ More distant or neutral
✓ Easier to think about without being pulled back into the past
What EMDR Can Help With
EMDR is often used when past experiences continue to affect the present, including:
✓ Trauma from childhood or adulthood
✓ Anxiety or panic responses that feel disproportionate
✓ Chronic stress or emotional overwhelm
✓ Distressing memories that feel “stuck”
✓ Negative beliefs about self that don’t shift with insight alone
✓ Somatic or body-based responses linked to past experiences
EMDR doesn’t erase memories. It helps them lose their charge, so they no longer hijack the nervous system.
What EMDR Sessions Look Like Here
EMDR is always paced collaboratively. Preparation, safety, and stabilization come first. We spend time making sure you have the tools, resources, and readiness needed before beginning memory processing.
Sessions may include:
✓ Grounding and preparation
✓ Noticing body sensations and emotions
✓ Brief sets of bilateral stimulation
✓ Pauses to check in and regulate
You remain present, oriented, and in control throughout the process. EMDR is adapted to your nervous system — not forced onto it.
What the Research Shows
EMDR is a well-researched, evidence-based therapy for trauma and stress-related conditions. Research shows that EMDR can support the brain’s natural capacity to process and integrate distressing experiences, often without requiring extensive verbal retelling.
EMDR is recognized internationally and is recommended in many clinical guidelines for trauma treatment.
EMDR Offered Virtually
EMDR can be done effectively through secure virtual sessions. Research and clinical experience have shown that bilateral stimulation can be adapted for online therapy using guided eye movements, tapping, or other methods that work well in a virtual setting.
Virtual EMDR follows the same trauma-informed principles as in-person work, with careful attention to pacing, safety, and nervous system regulation. Sessions are structured to ensure you feel supported, grounded, and in control throughout the process.
For some people, working from their own space can actually increase comfort and a sense of safety during EMDR.
A Gentle Note
EMDR isn’t a quick fix or a shortcut. It’s one of several tools that may be used as part of a broader, trauma-informed therapy process. We can talk together about whether EMDR feels appropriate for you, and when — or if — it makes sense to include it.
