EMDR Therapy
EMDR Therapy for Trauma, PTSD & Anxiety
Evidence-based trauma processing that goes beyond what talking alone can reach — helping you process experiences that continue to affect your emotional responses and relationships.
Free consultWhat EMDR is — in plain language
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. The name is clinical, but the idea is straightforward: some memories don't get processed the way ordinary memories do. Instead of settling into the past, they stay "activated" — charged with the same emotional intensity as when they first happened. Triggers, flashbacks, and outsized reactions are signs of this.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements or tapping — while you hold a target memory in mind. This helps the brain reprocess the memory, so it loses its emotional charge without requiring you to talk through every detail.
It's one of the most well-researched trauma treatments available, with strong evidence across PTSD, anxiety, grief, and complex trauma.
What EMDR can address
PTSD and post-traumatic stress
Single-incident trauma (accidents, assault, medical events) and complex or chronic trauma from childhood or prolonged exposure.
Relationship trauma
Attachment wounds, emotional abuse, betrayal — experiences that shape how you show up in close relationships.
Anxiety and emotional reactivity
Responses that feel disproportionate to the current situation — often rooted in an earlier experience the brain hasn't fully processed.
Grief and loss
Complicated grief, losses that feel stuck, or experiences of loss that disrupted core assumptions about safety or trust.
EMDR for PTSD and trauma recovery
EMDR is one of the most well-researched treatments for PTSD specifically. It's recommended by the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization as a frontline treatment for post-traumatic stress.
Clients who may benefit from EMDR for PTSD and trauma include those experiencing:
- PTSD following a single traumatic event or repeated trauma
- Complex trauma or childhood trauma
- Relationship trauma and attachment injuries
- Distressing memories that feel as vivid as when they happened
- Emotional triggers that feel disproportionate to the current situation
- Hypervigilance, emotional reactivity, or difficulty feeling safe
Treatment is individualized — not every client with trauma needs EMDR, and not every EMDR client has a PTSD diagnosis. We start by understanding what you're working with and whether EMDR is the right tool for it.
What a session looks like
EMDR isn't something that starts on session one. We begin with history and preparation — building a clear picture of what we're working with and making sure you have the stabilization resources to move into processing safely.
Processing sessions involve focusing on a specific memory or target while I guide bilateral stimulation sets. Between sets, I check in on what's arising — thoughts, images, sensations — and we continue until the memory's charge is reduced and a more adaptive perspective installs naturally.
Sessions are 50 minutes. Some targets resolve in a single session; others require multiple. The pace depends on the material, not a fixed protocol.
Want to move faster?
EMDR can also be done in an intensive format — longer or more frequent sessions over a shorter period — so you build momentum instead of picking up and putting down the work week by week. This is especially useful with a specific target, a major life event ahead, or when you're traveling from out of the area.
Learn about intensive therapy