EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy that helps to ease the distress that can happen after a negative or traumatic event or events. When we experience a traumatic event, it gets stored in our brain in an isolated way with all of the original emotions, body sensations, and beliefs that happened at the time of the event. This means that when we experience a trigger in our present lives, it can feel like we are experiencing the traumatic event in real time.

EMDR helps to re-store these events using what is called bi-lateral stimulation. Bi-lateral stimulation is a body-based technique that typically involves rapid eye movements to help take away the negative charge that happens when coming into contact with a trigger and store the memory of these past events in a functional part of the brain.

EMDR can be used with any population and any presenting concern. Some common issues and populations that EMDR has been successful with are first responders, people with disabilities, grief and loss, sexual abuse, queer folks, attachment trauma, developmental trauma, addiction concerns, neurodivergent populations, immigrants and refugees, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and many more. EMDR typically takes between 8 to 14 sessions to complete but this can vary depending on unique client needs.

EMDR Therapists