EMDR Therapy

A gentle and effective way to process trauma and distressing memories — helping you feel calm, grounded, and safe in your own body again.

Working with trauma doesn’t have to mean reliving it endlessly. Through EMDR, we gently reprocess, heal, and transform painful memories into wisdom and resilience.

What is EMDR?

A tripod with a light attached, a pair of black over-ear headphones, and a set of orthotic insoles with heel pads.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR is a neuroscience-based therapy that helps your brain safely reprocess painful or distressing memories. It’s not about forgetting what happened — it’s about freeing you from being trapped by the past.

During EMDR, we use bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or gentle tones) while focusing on specific memories or feelings. This process helps your brain file the memory correctly so it no longer triggers intense emotional or physical responses.

How It Works

EMDR typically follows eight phases, but we adapt the process to fit your needs and comfort level. The eight EMDR phases include:

  1. History Taking - Exploring goals, background, and patterns.

  2. Preparation & Stabilization - Building trust, grounding, and safety tools.

  3. Assessment - Choosing the memory or situation to work on.

  4. Desensitization & Reprocessing - Engaging bilateral stimulation while staying present and supported.

  5. Installation - Reinforcing new, more positive beliefs about yourself.

  6. Body Scan - Checking for lingering sensations.

  7. Closure - End with stabilization so you leave feeling safe and centered- regardless of where we paused in the process.

  8. Re-evaluation - Assessing progress and identifying next steps.sure

EMDR is flexible, we can pause, ground, or adjust anytime throughout the process. You stay in control.

What Can EMDR Help With?

  • Trauma and PTSD

  • Anxiety and panic

  • Grief and loss

  • Relationship or attachment wounds

  • Childhood trauma or neglect

  • Emotional flashbacks or body tension that feels “stuck”

What to Expect

Every EMDR session looks a little different, because every person and every memory is unique. Together, we will move at a pace that feels safe and grounded for you.

Here’s what the process usually involves:

  • Early sessions focus on safety and stabilization. We begin by building coping skills, grounding strategies, and emotional regulation tools so you feel confident navigating difficult moments.

  • When you’re ready, we identify targets for reprocessing. These may include distressing memories, beliefs, or sensations that feel “stuck” or unresolved.

  • During reprocessing, we use bilateral stimulation — eye movements, tapping, or sounds while you briefly and silently recall aspects of the memory. This helps your brain re-file the memory so it no longer carries the same intensity.

  • You stay in control at all times. You can pause, slow down, or stop whenever you need to. My role is to ensure the process always feels contained and safe.

  • Each session ends with grounding and integration. We make sure you leave feeling calm, steady, and supported.

Most EMDR sessions last 75–100 minutes, though some clients choose longer EMDR Intensives for deeper, focused work. The number of sessions varies depending on your goals and history. Some people experience relief within several sessions, while others continue longer for more comprehensive healing.

My Approach to EMDR

Healing happens in safety. My approach centers on creating a space where you feel supported, seen, and in control.

I bring a trauma-informed, compassionate lens to every session — balancing EMDR techniques with mindfulness, body awareness, and self-compassion practices.

My role is to walk alongside you, never ahead of you.

What Drew Me to EMDR

I was drawn to EMDR because it offers a way to heal that feels both gentle and deeply transformative. I love that it allows clients to process what’s been weighing on them without having to retell every painful detail.

What stands out to me most is that EMDR respects your privacy and your pace, you never have to share more than you’re comfortable with. In fact, I don’t even need to know the specific event you want to work on to help guide you through the process. My role is to hold a safe, grounded space while your brain does what it’s naturally wired to do: heal.

I’ve witnessed how EMDR helps people move beyond simply talking about their pain to truly releasing it — creating lasting shifts in how they feel, think, and see themselves. It’s a privilege to walk alongside clients as they rediscover calm, confidence, and connection after carrying so much for so long.

FAQs

  • EMDR uses side-to-side (bilateral) stimulation (visual, auditory, or tactile). This activates both sides of the brain while you process a memory, helping your system integrate and release distress. What matters most is using a form of stimulation that feels comfortable and safe for you.

  • It varies. Some clients notice significant changes in 4–6 sessions, while others continue longer for complex trauma or multiple memories. Sessions typically last 75–100 minutes. EMDR can also be done in intensive formats for faster progress when appropriate.

  • During our session, you’ll focus on a memory or negative belief while engaging in bilateral stimulation. I’ll guide you to notice what comes up (images, emotions, sensations, or beliefs) and gently follow your brain’s natural process of healing. We’ll always end with grounding so you leave feeling safe and stable.

  • Unlike talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require you to describe every detail of your experiences. You process memories internally while I facilitate your system’s natural healing, often creating change more efficiently and with less emotional overwhelm.

  • Yes! EMDR is highly adaptable for telehealth, and many clients find it just as effective online. We’ll establish strong safety measures and grounding tools before beginning remote sessions.

  • It’s normal to experience temporary emotional or physical sensations after processing, such as vivid dreams, tiredness, or increased awareness. These are signs that your brain is integrating new information. We’ll review coping tools and grounding skills so you always feel supported.

  • Yes. EMDR is well-researched and safe when practiced at a pace that honors your nervous system. You’re always in control, and nothing is processed before safety is established. This is why sometimes it takes 2-3 sessions before we get into phase 4: Reprocessing.