EMDR Therapy
A brain-based therapy, not a talking cure.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing currently has more scientific support for the treatment of trauma than any other non-pharmaceutical intervention. Here is what it is, what it feels like, and how I run it.
The premise
We are not trying to change the memory.
We cannot change what happened, and EMDR does not pretend to. What it changes is your brain's reactive response to the memory and the negative core belief that grew out of it — which is what actually shifts day-to-day life.
Think of it less as erasing a file and more as finally filing it. The event moves from something your body treats as happening now to something you know happened then.
Research, along with thousands of client and clinician testimonials, supports its use in reducing emotional distress and promoting psychological healing.
What it feels like in my office
No eye movements. A TheraTapper instead.
Although "eye movement" is in the name, the method I use relies on a device called a TheraTapper, which delivers bilateral stimulation through gentle vibration.
Most clients hold the vibrating paddles one in each hand. Others tuck them under their legs or tape them to either side of their back. The vibration alternates left to right, which supports the brain's natural processing system while you hold the distressing memory and whatever thoughts, feelings, or body sensations come with it.
Practically, this means you can keep your eyes closed and stay inside your own experience rather than tracking my hand across a room.
The protocol
Eight phases, in order.
Progression through these phases happens in sequence, and the timing is a clinical judgment — based on my assessment of your readiness and safety, not on a calendar. Some people move through preparation in three sessions. Some need three months. Both are normal.
History and treatment planning
We map what happened, what it cost, and which memories are still doing damage. Nothing is targeted before it is understood.
Preparation
You build a toolkit — grounding, containment, a calm place your body actually believes in — plus a written crisis plan. We do not move past this phase without one.
Assessment
We select a target memory and identify the image, the negative belief attached to it, the emotion, and where you feel it in your body.
Desensitization
Bilateral stimulation begins while you hold the target. Your brain does the sorting. My job is to keep you inside the window where processing is possible.
Installation
We strengthen the positive belief that replaces the old one — "I am safe now," "I did the best I could" — until it holds under pressure.
Body scan
We check for residue. Trauma lives in tissue as much as narrative, and a memory is not finished while your chest still tightens around it.
Closure
Every session ends with you regulated and oriented, whether or not the target is complete. You never leave mid-processing.
Re-evaluation
We revisit prior targets to confirm the gains held, then decide where to go next.
Honest expectations
It can stir things up. That's the process working, not failing.
During reprocessing it is common for previously suppressed, repressed, or forgotten material to surface, because those memories are networked to the one we targeted. EMDR may also evoke strong emotions and physical sensations. Both of us should feel prepared and capable of managing what comes up — which is exactly why phase two exists.
Processing often continues after you leave. That can show up as vivid dreams, brief flashbacks, emotional shifts, or memories arriving unbidden over the following days. We plan for this rather than being surprised by it.
One thing worth saying plainly: traumatic memories, and the networks of related memories around them, are not always historically accurate. Human memory is imperfect and can be influenced or altered over time. EMDR works on your relationship to the memory — it is not a method for recovering verified fact.
A clear crisis plan will be in place before we progress beyond phase two, and I'll ask you to commit to following it if a crisis arises between sessions.
When EMDR should wait
Reprocessing activates traumatic material. In a few situations that is the wrong thing to do right now — which is a matter of timing, not suitability.
Limiting health or medical conditions
Consult your medical provider before beginning EMDR.
Medically unstable or currently pregnant
Reprocessing should be postponed. Preparation and resourcing work can often continue in the meantime.
Pending legal testimony
EMDR can alter traumatic responses and associations, so it is not recommended until the legal matter has concluded.
Follow-up sessions are best booked at least six weeks ahead — the calendar fills quickly, and consistency matters more in this work than in most.
Wondering whether EMDR is right for you?
That question is best answered in conversation, not on a website. Tell me a little about what you're carrying and we'll figure it out together.