EMDR Therapy

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — EMDR — is one of the most extensively researched and effective treatments for trauma and PTSD. Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR is recognized by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and the Department of Veterans Affairs as a first-line treatment for post-traumatic stress.

But EMDR isn't just for "big T" trauma. In my practice, I've seen it help people process everything from childhood neglect and emotional abuse to car accidents, grief, performance anxiety, and deeply held negative beliefs about themselves. If there's a memory or experience that still carries an emotional charge — that still makes your chest tighten or your stomach drop when you think about it — EMDR can help.

I first encountered EMDR during my clinical training, and it changed the way I understood healing. As someone who had spent years in talk therapy myself, I was struck by how EMDR could access and resolve things that years of conversation hadn't quite reached. That experience is what led me to pursue advanced EMDR training through the EMDR Institute, and it remains one of the most powerful tools in my clinical work today.

How EMDR Works

At its core, EMDR helps your brain do what it already knows how to do: process and integrate experiences. When something traumatic happens, the memory can get "stuck" — stored with all the original intensity of the moment, along with the distorted beliefs that formed around it. You might know intellectually that something wasn't your fault, but it still feels that way in your body.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements, but sometimes tapping or auditory tones — to activate both hemispheres of the brain while you focus on a target memory. This dual attention allows your brain's natural processing system to move the memory from its "stuck" state into adaptive resolution. The memory doesn't disappear; it simply loses its emotional charge and finds its proper place in your history.

The Eight Phases of EMDR

EMDR follows a structured, eight-phase protocol. This isn't a one-size-fits-all approach — we move at your pace, and I tailor each phase to your specific needs and comfort level.

• History and Treatment Planning — We talk about what brings you in, identify target memories, and develop a treatment plan together. This is collaborative — you're always in the driver's seat.
• Preparation — I teach you grounding and coping techniques so you feel resourced and safe before we begin processing. We build your "container" — tools you can use during and between sessions if difficult material comes up.
• Assessment — We activate the target memory and identify the image, negative belief, emotions, and body sensations associated with it. We also identify the positive belief you'd like to hold instead.
• Desensitization — This is the core processing phase. Using bilateral stimulation, we process the memory until the distress level drops significantly. This is where the "magic" happens, though it's really your brain doing exactly what it's designed to do.
• Installation — We strengthen the positive belief, linking it to the now-processed memory so it feels true — not just intellectually, but in your body.
• Body Scan — We check in with your body for any remaining tension or discomfort. Trauma lives in the body, and this step ensures we've addressed the somatic component.
• Closure — Every session ends with stabilization and grounding, whether or not we've completed processing a particular memory. You'll leave my office feeling contained and resourced.
• Reevaluation — At the start of each subsequent session, we check in on progress and determine next steps.

What to Expect

If you're considering EMDR, you might be wondering what a session actually looks like. Here's what you can expect:

Your first few sessions will focus on history-taking and preparation. I want to understand your story, and I want you to feel safe and equipped before we start processing. For some people, this takes two sessions; for others, it takes longer. There's no rush.

During a processing session, you'll sit comfortably in my office (or on your couch, if we're working via telehealth). I'll ask you to bring up the target memory and notice what comes up — the image, the feelings, the body sensations. Then I'll guide you through sets of bilateral stimulation, checking in between each set to see what's shifting. You might notice new memories surfacing, emotions moving through, or the image changing. Some people cry, some laugh, some feel a wave of relief. All of it is normal.

Sessions are available in 50-minute ($250) or 90-minute ($290) formats. Many of my clients prefer the extended sessions, which allow more time for processing without feeling rushed. Between sessions, you might notice dreams, new memories, or shifts in how you feel about things. I'll always make sure you have the tools you need to manage whatever comes up.

Is EMDR Right for You?

EMDR may be a good fit if you're experiencing:

• Trauma or PTSD — from a single event or ongoing experiences
• Anxiety, panic attacks, or phobias that feel rooted in past experiences
• Depression that seems connected to unresolved grief, loss, or trauma
• Negative beliefs about yourself that persist despite evidence to the contrary ("I'm not good enough," "It was my fault," "I'm broken")
• Childhood emotional neglect or abuse, even if you've minimized or normalized it
• Complex trauma from relationships, family systems, or institutional harm
• Performance anxiety or creative blocks tied to past criticism or failure
• Difficulty trusting others or maintaining close relationships

You don't need a formal PTSD diagnosis to benefit from EMDR. If there's a past experience that still affects how you feel, think, or relate to others, EMDR can help you process it and move forward.

I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can talk about whether EMDR is the right approach for you. There's no pressure and no commitment — just a conversation about what you're going through and how I might be able to help.