EMDR Therapy: Moving Beyond What Words Can Reach
Traditional talk therapy can be a powerful path toward healing, self-understanding, and meaningful change. There is something deeply transformative about having our experiences witnessed, feeling truly understood in a therapeutic relationship, exploring our emotions and body sensations, and discovering new ways of relating to ourselves and the world around us.
And sometimes, even with insight, compassion, and a willingness to do the work, we find ourselves coming up against the same places again and again.
What happens when talk therapy feels like it has reached a plateau or you're caught in familiar patterns that are difficult to change?
What about the fears, feelings, or beliefs that are hard to put into words, but seem to quietly shape your life?
Sometimes, difficult or traumatic experiences are held in our nervous systems in ways that go beyond what we can consciously understand. Even when an experience is in the past, our brains and bodies may continue to respond as though something is still happening. We might find ourselves reacting in ways that don't make sense, feeling stuck in old patterns, or carrying beliefs about ourselves that no longer reflect who we are.
You might think of these experiences as parts of your story that haven't yet had the opportunity to fully settle, integrate, or heal.
This is Where EMDR Comes In
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, evidence-based approach that helps the brain and body process experiences that continue to affect us in the present.
In EMDR, we gently and collaboratively explore the places where you feel stuck, allowing your brain's natural capacity for healing and integration to do its work. Rather than relying solely on talking through an experience, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, alternating sounds, or tapping—to support the processing of difficult memories, emotions, and beliefs.
Together, we work at a pace that feels manageable, with attention to your sense of safety, choice, and readiness throughout the process. You don't have to force yourself to revisit experiences before you're ready, and you don't have to have all the words to describe what you're feeling.
EMDR offers a structured yet flexible way to work with experiences that may feel overwhelming, confusing, or difficult to access through traditional talk therapy alone.
Originally developed by Francine Shapiro in 1987, EMDR was first researched and used to support individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress. Since then, research has expanded, and EMDR is now used to address a wide range of concerns, including:
Trauma and adverse life experiences
Emotional overwhelm and difficulty with regulation
Anxiety, panic, and persistent fears
Depression
Shame and negative self-beliefs
Self-worth and identity
Relationship difficulties and attachment wounds
Grief and loss
Substance misuse and addiction
Emotional overwhelm and difficulty with regulation
EMDR is not simply about reducing distress or making difficult memories feel less painful. It can also create space for something new. As old experiences begin to shift, many people discover new perspectives, unexpected insights, and a greater sense of freedom in how they move through the world. They may find it easier to connect with their values, trust themselves, experience meaningful relationships, and embody the person they want to be.
Healing isn't about erasing your past. It's about helping your past take its rightful place in your story, rather than allowing it to continue defining your present.
A Somatic, Relational & Integrative Approach to EMDR
Curious? Want to get started? Reach out for a free consultation.
My approach to EMDR is grounded in the understanding that healing happens not only through what we think and understand, but also through what we feel, experience, and come to know in our bodies and relationships. I integrate EMDR with somatic awareness, attachment theory, mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and Ego States and parts work to create a therapeutic experience that honors the whole person. Together, we pay attention to the subtle ways your body communicates, the protective patterns your nervous system has developed, and the different parts of yourself that have emerged in response to life experiences. We approach these parts with curiosity and compassion, recognizing that even the patterns that feel limiting or painful often began as ways of protecting you or helping you navigate difficult circumstances. Rather than trying to eliminate these responses, we work toward understanding them, building internal connection, and creating new experiences of safety, trust, and possibility.
I also incorporate EMDR 2.0, an enhanced approach to EMDR that uses additional techniques and working-memory interventions to support the processing of distressing memories and reduce dissociation. This can offer a more dynamic and experiential way of working with trauma, while allowing us to tailor the process to your unique needs and nervous system. Throughout our work, I bring curiosity, compassion, and flexibility, honoring your pace and trusting in your innate capacity for healing.
Ultimately, my work is about helping you move beyond simply understanding why you feel the way you do, toward experiencing something different. Together, we create space for the parts of you that have learned to protect, brace, disconnect, or stay on high alert to be understood, supported, and perhaps begin to soften. Healing can mean developing a deeper sense of safety within yourself, building greater harmony among the different parts of who you are, softening old patterns, cultivating self-trust, and experiencing relationships in ways that feel more connected and secure. It is an invitation to come home to yourself and to live with greater freedom, presence, and authenticity.
The EMDR Process
EMDR follows an eight-phase framework designed to support healing in a thoughtful, intentional, and carefully paced way. The process helps identify experiences that may still be affecting you, build the resources needed to approach them safely, and support your brain and body in integrating what has remained unresolved.
While EMDR has a clear structure, the work itself is highly individualized. I bring a flexible, collaborative approach to each phase, honoring your unique history, nervous system, strengths, and readiness. We move at a pace that respects your capacity, and you remain an active participant in every step of the process.
Phase 1: History & Treatment Planning
We begin by getting to know you, your story, and what brings you to therapy. Together, we identify the experiences, patterns, and areas of your life you would like to explore through EMDR. This phase is about understanding the bigger picture and developing a treatment plan that feels meaningful and relevant to you.
Phase 2: Preparation & Resourcing
Before beginning trauma processing, we focus on building a foundation of safety, trust, and support. We explore tools and resources that help you feel grounded and connected to yourself, strengthen your capacity to navigate emotions and body sensations, and develop ways to care for yourself between sessions. This phase is especially important in making sure you feel prepared and supported before moving into deeper work.
Phase 3: Assessment
When you're ready to begin reprocessing, we identify a specific memory or experience to work with. We gently explore the thoughts, emotions, body sensations, and beliefs connected to that experience. We also identify what you would like to believe about yourself instead, creating a starting point for the processing work.
Phase 4: Desensitization & Reprocessing
This is the phase most commonly associated with EMDR. Using bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds—we support your brain's natural ability to process and integrate the experience. You may notice memories, emotions, sensations, images, or new associations arising. I will periodically check in with you, helping you stay connected to the process while honoring what your system needs.
Phase 5: Installation
As the distress associated with a memory begins to shift, we strengthen more adaptive and supportive beliefs about yourself. This might involve moving from feeling powerless to recognizing your strength, from feeling unworthy to experiencing a deeper sense of self-worth, or from feeling unsafe to developing a greater sense of security. Bilateral stimulation helps reinforce these new perspectives.
Phase 6: Body Scan
Our bodies often hold aspects of experiences that aren't always immediately accessible through words. During this phase, we gently notice whether any distress, tension, or discomfort remains in the body as you bring the memory to mind. If something is still present, we continue working with it as needed.
Phase 7: Closure & Integration
At the end of each reprocessing session, we take time to help you return to a grounded and regulated state. We use the resources and practices developed during preparation to support your nervous system and ensure you feel sufficiently settled before leaving. Sometimes processing continues between sessions, and we make space for whatever may arise.
Phase 8: Re-Evaluation
At the beginning of our next session, we revisit the experiences we've been working with and notice what has shifted. We explore any new insights, emotions, or body sensations that have emerged, assess whether additional processing is needed, and identify where we might want to focus next.
Throughout the process, your experience matters. EMDR is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and there is no expectation that you move through the phases on a particular timeline. My intention is to create a therapeutic space where you feel supported, understood, and empowered to move toward healing in a way that honors your whole self.
The goal is not simply to feel better about what happened, but to experience more freedom, connection, and possibility in the life you're living now.