What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy approach that can alleviate distressing emotional and psychological issues linked to disturbing or traumatic life experiences.
Troubling memories stemming from childhood or adulthood often contribute to symptoms such as anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, emotional reactivity, or negative beliefs about oneself.
EMDR is a therapy that helps you process these distressing memories in a way that reduces their emotional charge. It supports the brain’s natural healing process, allowing you to move from emotional overwhelm to feeling more grounded, resilient, and at peace.
Types of Problems EMDR Can Treat
- Single-incident trauma (e.g., abuse, accidents, medical trauma, natural disasters)
- Disturbing memories due to childhood trauma (e.g., physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, witnessing domestic violence, etc.)
- Trauma symptoms due to domestic violence or sexual assault in adulthood
- Anxiety, including panic attacks and phobias
- Depression rooted in past traumatic experiences
- Grief and loss
- Addictions and compulsive behaviors
- Chronic pain and somatic symptoms with a psychological component
- Any event that is causing distress
EMDR is Backed by Research and Approved by Many National and International Organizations
EMDR is one of the most extensively researched trauma therapies. It is endorsed by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychological Association (APA), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
How EMDR Works to Help Resolve Troublesome Symptoms
When you experience something distressing or traumatic, your brain and body instinctively respond with a survival reaction—called fight, flight, or freeze. In situations of extreme stress, this response can get “stuck” in the nervous system, and the brain may not fully process the event.
When this happens, reminders of the event—like a sound, a smell, an image, or a certain tone of voice—can trigger a strong emotional or physical reaction, even if the danger is no longer present. This can lead to feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or reactive long after the original experience.
EMDR helps the brain resume its natural processing and healing function. It allows the nervous system to release the stuck survival response and reprocess the memory in a less overwhelming and manageable way.
As a result of EMDR, the emotional intensity linked to the memory often decreases. This helps you feel more at ease, less reactive, and more in control. Over time, the memory loses its emotional charge.
Benefits of EMDR Therapy
EMDR doesn’t require you to talk in detail about your trauma, which can make it more tolerable so you don’t become overwhelmed. It is also time-efficient—many people experience significant symptom reduction in fewer sessions than other therapy approaches.
EMDR Clients often experience:
- Increased self-confidence and feelings of self-worth
- Improved ability to manage difficult or overwhelming emotions
- Reduced trauma-related symptoms (e.g., flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts)
- Greater sense of calm and feeling safe in the world
- Improved relationships
- More engaged in life with a sense of feeling free
Take the Next Step…
EMDR can help. You don’t have to continue to carry the burden of past painful experiences. You can overcome anxiety, overwhelm, or feelings of self-doubt. You can feel more grounded, calm, and in control.
You deserve relief. You deserve to feel in control of your life. You deserve peace.
