EMDR Therapy

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy used to help process overwhelming or distressing experiences that continue to affect emotional well-being, relationships, or daily life.

Many people seek EMDR when they notice patterns that don’t seem to shift through insight alone — such as emotional reactivity, anxiety, intrusive memories, or responses that feel out of proportion to present-day situations. EMDR supports the brain and nervous system in processing experiences that were never fully integrated at the time they occurred.

EMDR is approached with attention to pacing, readiness, and safety. It does not require detailed retelling of traumatic events and is guided collaboratively based on what feels manageable for you.

What Is Trauma?

From a holistic perspective, trauma is not defined solely by an event, but by how an experience overwhelms the body–mind’s capacity to adapt, cope, and recover. Trauma occurs when something exceeds our ability to process it — particularly when safety, choice, or support are limited.

Trauma may develop when:

  • there is too much, too soon

  • there is too much for too long

  • there is not enough for too long

  • power, choice, or agency are taken away

  • stressors outweigh the resources available to navigate them

  • natural protective instincts or survival responses are interrupted

  • there is not enough time, space, or support to heal

Trauma does not happen in isolation. Social, developmental, relational, and cultural contexts all shape how experiences are held and expressed in the body and nervous system.

The effects of trauma may appear immediately or emerge gradually over time. Symptoms are not signs of weakness or pathology — they reflect the body and mind’s attempt to cope with and resolve overwhelming experiences.

As Peter Levine, the creator of Somatic Experiencing®, reminds us:

“Trauma is a fact of life. It does not have to be a life sentence.”

How EMDR Therapy Works

EMDR is based on the understanding that the brain has a natural capacity to process and integrate experiences. When events are overwhelming — especially during times of stress, threat, or limited support — this processing can become disrupted, leaving experiences “stuck” and easily reactivated.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or tapping) to support the brain in reprocessing these experiences so they can be stored in a more adaptive and less distressing way. Over time, memories often feel less charged, emotional responses soften, and present-day triggers no longer have the same intensity.

Rather than forcing change, EMDR supports the nervous system in doing what it is already designed to do — process, integrate, and restore balance.

Somatic EMDR Therapy

Somatic EMDR is an integrative approach that blends the structured framework of EMDR Therapy with principles from somatic psychology and nervous-system-informed care. This synthesis allows trauma processing to unfold not only through memory and cognition, but through awareness of bodily sensations, impulses, and regulation.

As Arielle Schwartz, PsyD, describes it:

“The synthesis of somatic psychology and EMDR Therapy is an exciting advancement in mental health. Integrating these therapies enhances the effectiveness of both.”

Somatic EMDR places particular emphasis on pacing, grounding, and supporting nervous system capacity throughout the process. By attending to how experiences are held in the body, this approach can feel especially supportive for individuals who tend to feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or highly reactive during trauma work.

As Bessel van der Kolk, MD, has emphasized, effective trauma treatment must address both the mind and the body. Somatic EMDR reflects this understanding by working with thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and bodily experience together.

How EMDR Fits Into My Work

EMDR is one of several trauma-informed approaches I offer and is not used as a one-size-fits-all solution. Some clients engage in EMDR as a primary focus of therapy, while others integrate it alongside somatic, relational, or mindfulness-based approaches.

Together, we’ll assess readiness, goals, and nervous system responses to determine whether EMDR or Somatic EMDR feels like the right fit. The emphasis is always on collaboration, safety, and supporting healing in a way that feels grounded and sustainable.

“Trauma is not the event itself, but the lasting imprint it leaves on the nervous system.”

- Gabor Mate, MD

EMDR FAQ

  • EMDR sessions are structured yet collaborative and paced to your comfort. Early sessions focus on getting to know you, understanding your history, and building internal resources to support nervous system regulation before any memory processing begins.

    When EMDR processing starts, sessions may involve briefly bringing attention to a memory, emotion, belief, or body sensation while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping. Throughout the process, we pause regularly to notice shifts, ground, and ensure the work remains manageable.

    You are never rushed or forced to move faster than your system is ready for. The process can be slowed, paused, or adjusted at any time.

  • No. EMDR does not require detailed retelling of traumatic experiences. While memories may be referenced, the focus is on how experiences are being held in the present rather than recounting events in detail.

    You remain in control of what is shared, and therapy is always guided by choice and consent. EMDR can be effective even when memories feel fragmented, unclear, or difficult to put into words.

  • Yes—when approached with appropriate preparation and pacing. A key part of EMDR therapy involves assessing readiness and building regulation skills before beginning memory processing.

    If you tend to feel overwhelmed, dissociate, or shut down under stress, EMDR can be adapted or integrated with somatic and mindfulness-based supports to help maintain safety and stability. Processing is always guided by your nervous system’s capacity.

  • Somatic EMDR integrates the structured framework of EMDR with a deeper focus on the body and nervous system. In addition to reprocessing memories, attention is given to physical sensations, patterns of activation or shutdown, and moment-to-moment regulation.

    This approach emphasizes grounding, resourcing, and pacing, often working in small, manageable increments to reduce overwhelm. Somatic EMDR may also incorporate subtle movement when appropriate to help complete incomplete survival responses.

    For many people, this embodied approach feels more supportive—especially if they tend to feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or highly reactive during trauma work.

  • Somatic EMDR integrates traditional EMDR therapy with body-based awareness and nervous system regulation. In addition to working with memories, emotions, and beliefs, this approach pays close attention to how experiences are held and expressed in the body.

    Sessions may include:

    • grounding, to support a sense of safety and present-moment awareness

    • somatic awareness, such as noticing physical sensations, tension patterns, or impulses

    • resourcing, to strengthen internal and external supports before and during processing

    • titration, working with small, manageable amounts of distress at a time

    • tracking and sequencing, allowing sensations and emotions to naturally shift and release

    • subtle movement, when appropriate, to help complete unprocessed or “stuck” survival responses

    These elements help reduce the likelihood of overwhelm and support trauma processing at a pace that respects your nervous system’s capacity. The goal is not to force emotional release, but to support integration, regulation, and a restored sense of agency.

    Somatic EMDR can be used as a primary approach or integrated alongside other therapeutic modalities, depending on your needs and readiness.m description

  • There is no fixed timeline for EMDR therapy. The length of treatment depends on factors such as your goals, history, nervous system capacity, and whether you are working with single-incident experiences or more complex, cumulative stress.

    Some clients engage in EMDR as a short-term focus, while others integrate it into longer-term therapy alongside other approaches. We will regularly check in and adjust the work based on how the process is unfolding.

  • EMDR may be helpful for a range of concerns, including:

    • trauma and post-traumatic stress

    • anxiety or panic

    • distressing or intrusive memories

    • negative self-beliefs rooted in past experiences

    • emotional reactivity that feels difficult to manage

    • experiences that continue to feel unresolved or “unfinished”

    Together, we’ll explore whether EMDR or Somatic EMDR feels like an appropriate fit for what you’re navigating.