EMDR Therapy

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a structured form of psychotherapy that helps people process traumatic or distressing experiences that continue to affect them.The goal is not to erase your memories, but to reduce their emotional impact so they feel less overwhelming and interfere less with your present life.

Yes. EMDR was originally developed to treat PTSD and has been extensively researched for that purpose. Its use has since expanded to address other distressing experiences and their lasting emotional effects. We’ll consider your experiences, symptoms, and goals when deciding whether EMDR is appropriate for you.

EMDR may be considered when difficult experiences continue to affect your emotions, relationships, or sense of self. These experiences might include frightening events, difficult medical care, pregnancy loss, bullying, or painful childhood or relationship experiences.You may notice upsetting memories, anxiety around reminders, strong emotional reactions, or persistent beliefs such as “I’m not safe,” “It was my fault,” or “I’m not good enough.”You don’t need to know whether your experience “counts” as trauma before reaching out. We’ll explore what is affecting you and which approaches may help.

You may know that a difficult experience is over, yet still react as though it is happening now. A reminder might bring a rush of fear, physical tension, shame, or self-blame.EMDR helps you process the memory and the emotions, beliefs, and physical sensations connected to it. As the memory becomes less distressing, reminders may feel more manageable, and beliefs such as “It was my fault” may shift toward “I did the best I could” or “I have choices now.”You still remember what happened, but it may feel more like something you lived through rather than something you’re continually reliving.

We begin by discussing your history, concerns, and goals. We also spend time building trust and developing strategies to help you manage difficult emotions.When you’re ready, we identify an experience and its associated feelings, beliefs, and physical sensations. I guide you through brief sets of alternating taps while you focus on aspects of that experience.We pause regularly to discuss what you notice and adjust the pace together. You remain awake, aware, and able to stop at any time.

You can pause or stop at any time. Before beginning memory processing, we’ll practice ways to manage distress and reconnect with the present.

We’ll consider your experiences, current symptoms, goals, preferences, and circumstances together. I’ll explain the approach, answer your questions, and discuss alternatives. EMDR may be one part of your therapy alongside other approaches. You don’t need to decide before reaching out, and there is no pressure to begin memory processing before you are ready.

EMDR can be incorporated into standard 55-minute therapy sessions over time or offered in extended, 3-hour intensive sessions. Together, we’ll discuss which format best fits your needs, readiness, and goals.Some people notice relief after a single processing session, while others need more time to work through their experiences. The overall length of treatment depends on your history, what you’d like to address, and the preparation and support you need.A 3-hour intensive provides more uninterrupted time for the work, but treatment may still involve preparation and follow-up sessions. We’ll review your progress together and adjust our plan as needed.