EMDR Therapy

What is EMDR Therapy? 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a powerful, research-backed approach to healing trauma. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR helps the brain process unhealed memories by using bilateral stimulation—often guided eye movements—to reduce the emotional intensity of painful memories. This method allows the brain’s natural healing system to "unstick" and move forward. EMDR is proven effective for not only trauma and PTSD but also anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addiction, and other distressing life experiences.

How Does EMDR Work?

Our brains are designed to heal naturally, but sometimes traumatic events get "stuck" and feel like they’re still happening in the present. When this happens, parts of the brain like the amygdala (the “alert system”), hippocampus (memory storage), and prefrontal cortex (logical thinking) don’t work together as they should. EMDR therapy "restarts" this process. Using bilateral stimulation—like guided eye movements—the brain can reprocess the memory. The memory stays, but the emotional charge fades, allowing you to feel more calm, safe, and in control.

What Makes EMDR Different?

Unlike traditional therapy, EMDR doesn’t require you to retell every detail of your painful experience. Instead of talking through the trauma, you’re guided to focus on the memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation. This process allows the brain’s natural healing system to "unstick" the memory, often in fewer sessions than traditional therapy. EMDR targets the root of the distress, helping you move forward with greater ease.