What is EMDR?
A Powerful Therapy for Trauma, Anxiety, PTSD & more
“The past affects the present even without our being aware of it” Dr. Francine Shapiro (Founder of EMDR)
A Science-Backed Approach to Healing Trauma
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a highly effective, complete therapeutic approach that helps people heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences. EMDR has been extensively researched and has demonstrated effectiveness for trauma. Designed to help people process trauma, anxiety, PTSD, and emotional distress. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR works by targeting how distressing memories are stored in the brain—helping you reprocess and heal from past experiences without feeling overwhelmed.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
How EMDR Helps the Brain Heal
When we go through something overwhelming or traumatic—especially early in life—our nervous system responds by going into fight, flight, or freeze mode. In that moment, the thinking part of the brain goes offline. It’s not a failure; it’s a survival response.
If the experience is too much for the brain to fully process, the memory gets stored in a kind of “stuck” state—along with the feelings, images, body sensations, and beliefs that came with it. Instead of fading over time, it continues to live in the background, often causing us to feel anxious, unsafe, overwhelmed, or reactive—even if we don’t know why.
This is especially true for people who grew up in environments where their emotional needs weren’t consistently met. As children, we have to adapt to the families we’re born into. If our caregivers were loving, responsive, and safe, we learn we’re worthy, loved, and important. But if our emotional needs were dismissed, ignored, or depended on us pleasing others to feel safe or loved, our brains adapt for survival.
For example, many of the clients I work with struggle to set boundaries because they feel guilty or responsible for how others feel. This often comes from early experiences of needing to keep a caregiver happy in order to feel connected or valued. These patterns—like people-pleasing or self-neglect—aren’t who you are; they’re strategies your brain developed to get through childhood. But as adults, these same strategies can cause pain, burnout, and disconnection.
EMDR therapy helps by reprocessing those early experiences, allowing the brain to create new pathways—ones that support healthy beliefs, boundaries, and a stronger sense of self. The old, stuck pathways (like “I have to make everyone else happy to be loved”) begin to weaken, while new, healthier beliefs take root—like “I am enough,” or “I can say no and still be loved.”
EMDR works with your brain’s natural ability to heal. Just like the body knows how to heal a cut once the irritation is gone, the brain can heal emotional wounds—especially when it’s given the right support.
You don’t have to stay stuck in old patterns. EMDR can help you shift from surviving to truly thriving.
What Happens During EMDR?
✔ Identify stuck or distressing memories that may be linked to current struggles (even ones from early childhood).
✔ Activate the brain’s natural healing process through guided eye movements or other gentle bilateral (left-right) stimulation.
✔ Help the brain reprocess and release the old memory, so it’s no longer triggering or overwhelming.
✔ Create new, healthier beliefs about yourself and the world—like “I am safe,” “I am enough,” or “I can set boundaries.”
✔ Experience relief from emotional and physical symptoms that were tied to the original experience.
Is EMDR Right for You?
Many people think of trauma as a single catastrophic event, but trauma can also come from difficult childhood experiences, ongoing stress, or unresolved grief. EMDR is a powerful therapy for those struggling with:
✔ PTSD & trauma (including childhood trauma).
✔ Anxiety, panic attacks, and high-functioning anxiety.
✔ Depression and negative self-beliefs.
✔ Grief and loss.
✔ Stress from high-intensity careers (first responders, healthcare workers, military, etc.).
✔ Any negative self-belief you want to change.
What does an EMDR session look like?
EMDR therapy follows a structured process—but it's always personalized to meet you where you are. Whether you're working through past trauma, present triggers, or building tools for future resilience, your therapist is there to guide you gently and safely through each step.
EMDR sessions use an eight-phase approach that helps your brain heal naturally. Together, we’ll focus on the past experiences that shaped your current struggles, the present-day patterns causing distress, and the future you want to move toward.
Here’s what you can expect during EMDR therapy:
✅ Phase 1: History & Treatment Planning
We begin with a deep understanding of your story—what’s been showing up for you, your goals, and what you'd like to shift. Together, we identify the memories, situations, or beliefs that may be at the root of current challenges.
✅ Phase 2: Preparation & Learning Tools
Before we begin reprocessing, we spend time helping you feel grounded and safe. You’ll learn calming techniques, visualization skills, and ways to manage emotional distress both in and between sessions.
✅ Phase 3: Targeting Memories
We identify a specific memory or situation to focus on—along with the negative belief, emotions, and body sensations connected to it. Then, we choose a new, positive belief that reflects healing (like “I am safe” or “I am enough”).
✅ Phases 4–7: Reprocessing & Healing
While you think about the memory, your therapist guides you through gentle eye movements or tapping (known as bilateral stimulation). This helps your brain “unstick” the memory and process it in a healthier way. You may notice new thoughts, feelings, or insights arise. This continues until the memory no longer feels disturbing and the positive belief feels true.
✅ Phase 8: Review & Integration
We reflect on the changes you’ve experienced—how the memory feels now, what’s shifted emotionally or physically, and whether related memories have also resolved. We celebrate progress and plan next steps.
Each phase is paced to your needs. You’re always in control and can pause at any time. EMDR is flexible, and your therapist will adjust the process to support you—whether you’re healing from childhood trauma, relationship wounds, anxiety, or ongoing patterns like people-pleasing or perfectionism.
This is your healing journey, and EMDR can help you move forward—one step at a time—with more ease, confidence, and clarity.
What exactly is EMDR?
What the heck is EMDR?
EMDR therapy is recognized as an effective treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by the American Psychiatric Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, The World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense.
How can EMDR help?
EMDR is effective for treating PTSD, emotional, psychological, and sexual trauma, anxiety-based disorders, depression, neglect, drug and alcohol addiction, relationship issues, low self esteem, phobias and anger issues to name a few. EMDR can be used to treat any negative belief you have about yourself and want to change.
Why do EMDR?
It’s Safe. It’s Quick. It’s efficient.
Little to no homework between sessions.
Participants notice a major decrease of emotional distress related to memory.
It facilitates long-lasting behavioral changes in less time.
When clients come back after an EMDR session, and we check in about the “thing” that was very disturbing- sometimes they don’t even remember they felt disturbed by the thing. They aren’t bothered by the “thing” anymore at all. (emotionally neutral and made peace with the past).
Countless scientific research studies now show that EMDR therapy allows for more rapid healing benefits, as opposed to more classic psychotherapy methods that generally take years to see results.
EMDR pairs well with many other modalities and treatments. You can add EMDR as an adjunct therapy with your current therapist.
How many sessions will I need to attend?
The number of sessions you'll need varies greatly depending on the type and complexity of the event. Your therapist may also use EMDR therapy in combination with other modalities.
Does insurance cover EMDR therapy?
Yes, as an evidence-based form of treatment, it is covered by insurance.
How long does the treatment last?
Once the entire EMDR process is complete, you should experience permanent symptom reduction. Some individuals require additional EMDR later in life as other life events occur and need reprocessing.
What should I expect after an EMDR session?
EMDR therapy can impact people quite differently. Some individuals report no noticeable change immediately after an EMDR session, while others report an increase in dreams, thoughts, and emotions about the event they are reprocessing. You may experience feeling physically and emotionally "drained" at the end of an EMDR processing session. Your therapist will ask you to note any new thoughts, memories, dreams, emotions, or body sensations you experience between sessions to guide your next time together.
How often do you need EMDR sessions?
EMDR is typically every week. However, it can still be effective every other week, with slower progress. Emerging research establishes the effectiveness of EMDR Intensives that involve administering EMDR therapy several hours a day for multiple days in a row.
EMDR Testimonials
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EMDR Testimonials *
“ I went to years of talk therapy for my childhood trauma and never really felt any permanent relief. I was self-destructive, emotionally dysregulated, and couldn’t stop the pattern of behaviors that I knew (logically) weren’t helpful for me. Most of the time I just didn’t give a crap, because I felt hopeless that things would never get better. After the first session of EMDR, I felt like a completely different person. I had finally gotten a glimpse of peace and freedom. Once I experienced this life changing therapy, I was hooked. It was hard to bring up the traumas/painful memories, but the relief was almost immediate, so it was worth the small amount of discomfort. EMDR has transformed my brain, my body, my relationships, and my life.” ~ S.S.
“I wanted to let you know I just accepted a school counseling position- I kept thinking about everything anxiety has taken from me and realized I’m not content with my current role and wanted to go back to the work I’m passionate about. So thank you for what you do, I’m not sure I would have ever gotten to this point without those sessions!” ~ Former Client
“Truly, truly amazing. I am a walking/talking testament to how well EMDR works” ~ U.S. Navy Veteran
“Is this for real? When I think about the memory now, I can’t make myself upset about it. Nothing is there.” ~ Former Client
“It was a mind trip. Unbelievable how well it works and how fast it works” ~ U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
“I can’t believe it. Just bringing up the memories now, I feel nothing towards it.” ~ Former Client/First Responder
“That’s so weird.” ~ Many current and former clients
“I don’t think about the experience/memory and if I try to, there isn’t a physical or emotional response to it.” ~ Former Client
“I physically feel calmer.” ~Former Client