EMDR Therapy
Helping Your Brain Heal from the Past So You Can Be More Present Today.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy can help you process painful experiences without having to stay stuck in them.
Sometimes our brains hold onto difficult experiences in ways that continue to show up in the present: anxiety, triggers, shame, emotional overwhelm, relationship patterns, or feeling disconnected from yourself. EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a structured therapy approach that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they feel less intense and less in control of your life.
To help explain the basics of EMDR therapy, I’ve included this short video from EMDRIA, the EMDR International Association. It offers a helpful overview of what EMDR is and how it can support healing from trauma and other distressing life experiences.
How I Use EMDR in Therapy
EMDR is not about erasing memories or forcing you to relive every detail of what happened. Instead, we work together to help your nervous system process experiences that may still feel “stuck.” These experiences can impact how you see yourself, how you believe others see you, how safe you feel in relationships, and how your body reacts to reminders of the past.
In our work, EMDR may include identifying triggers, building coping skills, strengthening emotional regulation, and processing memories at a pace that feels safe and manageable. My approach is trauma-informed, collaborative, and grounded. We will not rush your healing. We move at the pace your nervous system can trust.
My EMDR Training and Experience
I am EMDR Certified and an EMDR Approved Consultant. I have experience using EMDR with teens and adults, particularly those navigating sexual abuse, PTSD, childhood trauma, anxiety, and painful relationship patterns. My background also includes trauma-focused work with adolescents and adults, along with training in IFS and DBT, which I may integrate when helpful.
Who EMDR Can Help
EMDR can be helpful for people experiencing:
-
PTSD or trauma symptoms
-
Sexual Abuse or Childhood Trauma
-
Anxiety, Phobias, or Panic
-
Negative beliefs about self
-
Relationship wounds
-
Grief or Painful Life Experiences
-
Chronic Illness
-
Performance An
-
Depression
-
Feeling "stuck" even after understanding what happened
What Does EMDR Look Like In a Therapy Session
Before processing memories, we spend time building rapport, getting to know your history, your current symptoms, your goals, and what helps you feel grounded. I place a high value on the therapeutic relationship and want to ensure that feels strong before entering into trauma processing.
During EMDR processing, you may focus on a specific memory, belief, emotion, or body sensation while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds. The goal is to help your brain reprocess the experience so it becomes less emotionally charged.
You are always in control of the process. We pause when needed, check in often, and move at a pace that supports safety.
FAQ
Do I have to talk about every detail of what happened?
No. EMDR does not require you to share every detail of a traumatic experience. We will identify what needs to be processed while honoring your pace, privacy, and nervous system.
Is EMDR only for PTSD?
EMDR is commonly known for trauma and PTSD, but it may also support people dealing with anxiety, distressing memories, grief, negative beliefs, and painful past experiences.
Can EMDR be done online?
Yes, EMDR can be provided through telehealth when clinically appropriate. I offer telehealth for clients located in Texas and New Jersey.
Do you offer EMDR for teens?
Yes. I work with teens ages 12 and up and have experience supporting adolescents with trauma, abuse, anxiety, depression, and emotional overwhelm.
How long does EMDR take?
The timeline varies. Some clients focus on one specific event, while others are working through complex or repeated trauma. We will discuss your goals and pace together. Other factors include the clients emotion regulation skills and current life stressors.
What clients are not a good fit for EMDR?
EMDR may not be appropriate for clients who are actively in psychosis, in active substance use disorders, in active crisis and unsafe environments, severe dissociation, have unstable medical or neurological disorders, and/or have cognitive impairments.
