What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused therapy founded by Francine Shapiro. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require you to talk in detail about a painful or traumatic memory. Instead, it helps the brain reprocess distressing experiences so that they no longer feel as emotionally charged. It is designed to help clients heal from traumatic experiences, shift negative beliefs and overcome emotional blocks that are currently impacting daily life.

When we experience distressing or traumatic events, our brain’s natural processing system can sometimes become overwhelmed. These memories may remain “frozen in time,” continuing to trigger emotional distress long after the event has passed. Like a clogged drain, these “stuck” memories can impact the flow of daily life. Through guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation (such as tapping or tones), EMDR helps the brain integrate and store experiences in a more adaptive way. This allows what once felt overwhelming or “stuck” to be experienced through a different perspective.

EMDR can be effective for a wide range of issues, including:

Trauma and PTSD (including single-incident or complex trauma)

Anxiety and panic

Negative self-beliefs (e.g., “I’m not enough” or “I’m powerless”)

Performance anxiety

Grief and loss

Perfectionism and self-criticism

Body image distress or shame

Chronic stress or emotional overwhelm

EMDR is a structured and collaborative process. During the process, we will:

Develop grounding and stabilization tools so that you feel safe during sessions and when past traumatic material arrives, both during and between sessions.

Identify target memories or experiences that continue to affect you.

Reprocess distressing experiences using bilateral stimulation in a controlled way.

Integrate new, adaptive beliefs to support healing and growth.

Rather than staying stuck in past patterns and memories, EMDR will help you move forward and integrate the past, so it no longer impacts the present and your future. Whether you’re navigating the effects of past trauma, feeling stuck in recurring patterns or wanting to release long-held emotional pain, EMDR can be a powerful part of your healing process.