EMDR Therapy
If you have tried traditional/talk therapy in the past? Do you continue to struggle with negative thoughts or beliefs, or often notice that past experiences negatively influence your life? Do you experience nightmares, feeling unsafe, being easily startled, flashbacks or fears that are holding you back? EMDR may help.
Let’s imagine our brain as a filing room. Sometimes when we experience a very stressful, frightening, or traumatic event, our brains are not able to process and file away those memories into the right filing cabinet. This happens because during the event, we are overwhelmed and simply trying to survive. The memories for these events end up on the floor of the filing room, and when we go through life, accessing one cabinet then another, we can be triggered, or trip over these files on the filing room floor. EMDR helps to take the distress from these unprocessed memories and place them in their proper filing cabinets, meaning less triggers/fear/flashbacks/anxiety, and less negative thoughts or beliefs.
I provide EMDR therapy to clients hoping to work through traumatic events, phobias, anxiety, negative self-beliefs and more. If you are interested in learning more about EMDR, the EMDRIA website offers wonderful information. If you would like to discuss EMDR and how it may help you, reach out today! (I really do love talking about EMDR!)
What is EMDR?
“Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.” (About EMDR therapy. EMDR International Association. 2021, December 13. Retrieved December 24, 2021, from https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/)
FAQs- EMDR
What happens in the first EMDR sessions?
In EMDR therapy, the first sessions focus on preparation—not trauma processing. Your therapist will help you understand your goals, identify triggers, and build grounding skills so you feel safe and supported. You won’t start processing traumatic memories right away. This groundwork ensures EMDR moves at a pace that feels steady, manageable, and right for you.
What happens during an EMDR processing session?
EMDR is done at your pace and you stay in control. You’ll focus on a target memory while using guided eye movements, tapping, or sound. Emotions may come up, and your therapist will help you stay grounded throughout the process.
Can you cry during an EMDR session?
Yes, it’s common to cry during EMDR therapy. EMDR helps your brain process difficult memories, and strong emotions can come up as part of that healing. Crying doesn’t mean the session is going wrong—it simply means your body is releasing emotion. Your therapist will move at a pace that feels safe, and you can pause or take breaks whenever needed.
Is EMDR safe?
Yes EMDR is considered a safe, evidence-based therapy when delivered by a trained clinician. Many people feel emotional during sessions, which is a normal part of processing. As an EMDRIA-trained therapist, I’ll move at a pace that feels safe, and I’ll make sure you have grounding tools and support throughout the process. Any therapy, including EMDR, will have risks, and we will review those fully so that you are comfortable and have all of your questions answered.
Can EMDR be done virtually?
Yes it can! At Wise Hearts Therapy this is our focus. Virtual EMDR uses the same core process as in-person EMDR, but with online bilateral stimulation. This can include guided eye movements, alternating taps, or audio tones through headphones. Your therapist leads the process, checks in often, and ensures you feel safe and grounded throughout the session.
Who can benefit from EMDR?
EMDR is effective for PTSD, anxiety, panic, grief, and trauma from childhood or adulthood. It’s also helpful for people who feel stuck in patterns of fear, shame, or avoidance.