Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that helps individuals process and heal from distressing memories and trauma. Developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR is widely recognized as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related challenges.

EMDR is grounded in the understanding that unprocessed traumatic memories can become “stuck” in the brain, leading to emotional and physical symptoms such as anxiety, flashbacks, a sense of being “on edge, and painful emotions. EMDR helps the brain reprocess these memories so they are no longer as emotionally disruptive.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation—such as side-to-side eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones—while the individual focuses on distressing memories. This process facilitates the brain’s natural healing mechanisms, similar to how it processes experiences during REM sleep. EMDR empowers the individual to tap into the body’s natural healing processes in order to integrate and move beyond traumas and disturbing life experiences. Events that are not integrated become unprocessed memory and get stored in the brain creating uncomfortable, painful symptoms. These unprocessed and upsetting memories get stuck in our short term memory and EMDR therapy helps to move those memories on to long term memory where they belong. This facilitates the process of the past staying in the past rather than getting triggered in the present.

Is EMDR Right For Me?

EMDR would be a very helpful therapy for people who struggle with:

Healing Trauma / PTSD
Anxiety and Panic Disorder
Depression
Irrational fears or phobias
Grief and loss
Painful memories
Anger or rumination

What's intriguing about EMDR is both how well it works...and how it does not work through figuring things out and understanding things. But it activates some natural processes in the brain that's helped you to integrate these past memories.”

~ Bessel A. van der Kolk

How Effective is EMDR?

EMDR therapy is highly effective for treating trauma and a range of mental health conditions. Numerous studies have shown that EMDR can significantly reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often in fewer sessions than traditional therapies. It has been endorsed by leading organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA), as an evidence-based treatment for trauma. Beyond PTSD, EMDR has proven beneficial for anxiety, depression, phobias, and chronic pain, helping individuals reprocess distressing memories and alleviate their emotional impact. By targeting the root cause of symptoms, EMDR enables lasting healing, empowering individuals to move forward with greater resilience and emotional well-being.