EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)

Some memories don’t politely fade. They hang around like uninvited houseguests; loud, insistent, and inexplicably present steering your stress, sleep, and split-second reactions long after the original event is over. You “know” you’re safe, yet your body keeps voting otherwise: a tight chest in a grocery aisle that resembles the old hospital corridor; a surge of adrenaline during an ordinary disagreement; a dream that replays the same scene with cinematic accuracy. That disconnect between head and body isn’t a character flaw. It’s a processing problem.

EMDR therapy is a structured, evidence-based approach designed to help your brain finish what it started. When experiences overwhelm the nervous system, the brain’s natural information-processing machinery can stall, filing the memory in a raw, high-voltage state. EMDR pairs targeted recall of that experience with bilateral stimulation; gentle, rhythmic inputs such as guided eye movements, alternating taps, or tones. Think of it as guided neural bookkeeping: together with a trained clinician, you revisit what’s stuck just enough to let your brain re-sort it, cross-reference it with present-day safety, and finally store it in a place that’s accurate and far less reactive.

This is not hypnosis, and it’s not a marathon of retelling. You won’t be asked to recite every detail; in fact, EMDR emphasizes titration; brief, contained sets of focus with frequent returns to calm. As processing progresses, people commonly report a subtle but unmistakable shift: the memory remains, but the charge drains away. Startle responses soften. Avoidance shrinks. Beliefs evolve from “I’m powerless” to “I’m capable now.” Real life becomes roomier—more choice, less reflex.

EMDR fits well for single-incident traumas (car accidents, medical events, assaults), and it also adapts to complex, cumulative stress (childhood adversity, relational injuries, high-pressure careers). Delivered in person or via secure telehealth, the method is paced to your nervous system, anchored by stabilization skills, and integrated into a practical plan for your day-to-day life. The goal is simple and ambitious: help your body and brain agree that the past is over—so your present can breathe.

EMDR was developed for trauma and PTSD, and it remains a first-line option there—but its usefulness is broader. Many clients use EMDR to address:

• Single-incident trauma (accidents, medical events, assaults)
• Complex or cumulative trauma (childhood adversity, repeated stressors)
• Anxiety, panic, and phobias
• Grief and loss
• Performance blocks (public speaking, test anxiety, creative “freeze”)
• Shame, self-criticism, and stubborn negative beliefs (“I’m not safe,” “I’m not enough”)
• After-effects of relational conflict, divorce, or workplace incident.  

If your body reacts as if an old event is happening again, EMDR is designed to change that.

Expanded third section

When something overwhelms you, the brain does what it must to get you through the moment: it prioritizes survival over filing. Sensory fragments images, sounds, smells, body sensations can be stored in a state-dependent, unprocessed form. Later, when today echoes yesterday (the same hallway light, the same tone of voice), those fragments can re-ignite as if the event is happening again. Insight alone rarely quiets this reflex, because the reflex lives deeper than logic.

EMDR intervenes at that level. Guided by the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, EMDR invites you to hold a carefully chosen “target” a snapshot of the memory, the negative belief attached to it (“I’m not safe,” “It was my fault”), and the body sensations that come with it while engaging in bilateral stimulation (BLS). BLS alternates attention left–right through eye movements, taps, or tones. In session, BLS runs in brief sets (often 30–60 seconds), followed by a pause to notice what shifted: perhaps a new image, a different feeling, a spontaneous insight. We follow those threads, set by set, allowing your brain to associate, link, and update.

What’s happening under the hood? The best current understanding is that EMDR leverages mechanisms similar to memory reconsolidation and working-memory taxation. Holding a vivid image in mind while tracking bilateral input taxes the brain just enough to reduce the vividness and emotional intensity of the memory, making it more malleable. In that softened state, your nervous system can link the old experience with adaptive information from the present—your current resources, safety, and perspective. Over time, the negative belief loses credibility, and a realistic, empowering belief gains traction (“It’s over,” “I have choices,” “I’m competent”). The aim is not erasure but integration: the memory becomes part of your story without running the show.

Crucially, EMDR is not exposure for exposure’s sake. We don’t “white-knuckle” through distress. Before any processing, we build stabilization: grounding skills, a reliable “calm place,” containment imagery, and strategies for riding waves if they arise between sessions. During processing, we work inside your window of tolerance, pacing sets to keep the work productive. You can always pause. You stay oriented to the present, anchored by the therapist’s guidance and your own growing toolkit.

What does progress look like? The same triggers feel different. The memory often becomes dimmer, farther away, less compelling. Your body quiets faster—less adrenaline, fewer shutdowns. You find yourself making choices you couldn’t make before: driving a route you’ve avoided, sleeping through the night, having a hard conversation with steadier breath. In short: the past returns to the past, and the present expands.

1. History & Treatment Plan – We map your story, symptoms, and goals. We choose targets (memories, cues, beliefs) thoughtfully.
2. Preparation – You learn grounding and stabilization skills so you feel resourced and in control.
3. Assessment – We identify the worst image, the negative belief (e.g., “I’m powerless”), the desired belief (“I’m capable”), and current body sensations.
4. Desensitization – While you hold the memory in mind, we use eye movements/taps/tones in brief sets. Your mind notices what it notices; we follow where it goes.
5. Installation – We strengthen the positive belief until it feels true.
6. Body Scan – We check for lingering tension and clear it.
7. Closure – You return to calm, with specific between-session strategies.
8. Re-evaluation – At the next session, we confirm what shifted and decide what’s next 

It’s structured, collaborative, and paced to your nervous system not rushed.

• Length: 60-90 minutes is standard; longer blocks may be recommended for complex work.
• Format: In-person (light bar, hand buzzers, or therapist-guided eye movements) or secure telehealth (on-screen eye tracking or self-tapping).
• Experience: Sets of bilateral stimulation last ~30–60 seconds, with short pauses to report what came up images, thoughts, emotions, body sensations. No need to narrate everything in graphic detail; EMDR is not a storytelling marathon.
• Aftercare: You might feel lighter, tired, or briefly stirred up. We’ll give you stabilization tools, journaling prompts, and clear guidance for between sessions.
   

• Symptom relief that’s noticeable: Nightmares, intrusive images, startle responses, and avoidance often decrease as memories lose their “sting.”
• Belief change at the root: Instead of white-knuckling new affirmations, EMDR helps your nervous system believe adaptive statements.
• Less reactivity, more choice: The same triggers feel different; you have room to respond rather than react.
• Efficient, targeted work: Especially for single-incident trauma, EMDR can progress faster than talk-only approaches.
• Whole-person impact: Improvements in sleep, mood, relationships, and day-to-day confidence tend to ripple outward.
   

EMDR is appropriate for many people, including those already in therapy who want to target a stuck point. It’s especially useful if you recognize patterns like:

• “Small things set me off, and I can’t explain why.”
• “I know the past is over, but my body didn’t get the memo.”
• “I’ve talked this through and understand it logically yet it still feels true.” 

We’ll assess fit carefully. For some clients such as those with very recent crises, certain dissociative symptoms, or medical considerations we may recommend more stabilization first or integrate EMDR within a broader treatment plan.

Talk therapy can give insight, context, and coping tools. EMDR adds a physiologically informed method for reconciling stored traumatic material. Many clients do both: talk therapy for day-to-day growth; EMDR to resolve “lodged” memories and the beliefs built around them.

You set the speed. We don’t process trauma until you have stabilization skills and we agree on targets. You can pause at any time. We continually monitor your window of tolerance, using grounding, resourcing imagery, and containment techniques so work stays productive and safe.

• The memory becomes less vivid and less emotionally loaded.
• The old belief (“I’m in danger”) gives way to a realistic one (“I’m safe now”).
• Your body stops reacting as if the past is present—fewer surges of adrenaline, fewer shutdowns.
• Triggers shrink. Life expands. 

Clients often notice unexpected “upgrades”: easier conversations, calmer commutes, more flexible thinking, fewer stress-driven habits.

• Healthcare or first-responder stress: Accumulated critical incidents can be processed systematically.
• Birth trauma or medical procedures: Targeted work can reduce panic and anticipatory anxiety.
• Performance and creativity: Clearing old failure memories unlocks present-tense capacity.
• Grief with traumatic edges: EMDR doesn’t erase grief; it reduces the traumatic distress that complicates it.
   

It depends on your goals, history, and how many targets we identify. Single-incident trauma may resolve in a relatively brief course. Complex, developmental, or repeated trauma needs a longer arc with more preparation and integration. We’ll outline an honest, individualized plan no vague promises, no one-size-fits-all timelines.

When delivered by a trained clinician using secure, HIPAA-compliant tools, EMDR adapts well to telehealth. We guide bilateral stimulation on-screen and use robust stabilization skills before, during, and after processing. Many clients appreciate doing deeper work in the comfort of home.

• Consultation: We’ll discuss concerns, answer questions, and confirm that EMDR is a good fit.
• Preparation Plan: You’ll learn grounding, imagery, and “calm place” skills.
• Target Selection: Together, we choose where to start and how to measure progress that matters to you (sleep, panic frequency, specific triggers, etc.). 

From there, we proceed at a pace that’s effective and respectful.

• Trained, trauma-informed clinicians who use EMDR within a comprehensive, person-centered plan.
• Clinical judgment + compassion: We don’t just “run the protocol”; we tailor it to your nervous system and life context.
• Flexible delivery: In-person and telehealth options; standard or longer sessions when clinically appropriate.
• Integration-minded: We coordinate with your existing providers (with your consent) and pair EMDR with skills work so gains stick.

Our north star is simple: provide the level of care we’d want for our own family.

Will I have to relive everything?
No. You’ll hold aspects of the memory in mind, but EMDR emphasizes brief, titrated sets with frequent check-ins. You share only what’s needed; we pace it carefully.

What if I get overwhelmed?
Preparation comes first. We teach and practice stabilization skills and pause whenever needed. Safety is the priority, not speed.

Will EMDR erase my memories?
No. The goal isn’t forgetting; it’s re-filing, so the memory becomes an integrated chapter, not the entire book.

Can EMDR work if I don’t remember everything?
Yes. We can target body sensations, present-day triggers, or themes and still reduce distress effectively.

If your mind knows you’re safe but your body still sounds the alarm, EMDR offers a path toward alignment where what you understand and what you feel finally match. The past keeps its place as past. Your present regains room to breathe.

When you’re ready, we’ll meet you there—steadily, skillfully, and at a pace that lets relief become real.