What is EMDR?
(Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Includes bi-lateral eye movement, auditory, or tactile stimulation to process trauma or disturbance in the body.
Who Can Benefit From EMDR?
EMDR can be helpful with a variety of issues, but here are a few areas EMDR can be beneficial...
PTSD and Trauma
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Big 'T' Trauma (Single-Incident Events): Survivors of accidents, natural disasters, physical or sexual assault, military combat, or witnessing a horrific event.
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Small 't' Trauma (Relational & Chronic Stress): People who experienced childhood neglect, emotional abuse, bullying, messy divorces, or toxic workplace environments.
Mood and Anxiety Disorders
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Panic and Anxiety: Individuals who experience sudden panic attacks or chronic, generalized anxiety that feels hardwired into their bodies.
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Phobias: People with intense, irrational fears (e.g., flying, public speaking, driving) often rooted in a past bad experience.
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Depression: Especially chronic depression or low self-esteem fueled by deeply ingrained negative beliefs like "I'm not good enough" or "I'm fundamentally broken." Somatic and Stress-Related Symptoms
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Body-Stored Stress: People who experience physical tightness, a racing heart, or gastrointestinal distress when reminded of certain past events.
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Complicated Grief: Those who have lost a loved one, a pet, or a dream, and find themselves completely unable to move through the stages of grief years later.
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Phantom Pain or Fibromyalgia: Individuals dealing with chronic pain conditions that are exacerbated by emotional stress or past injuries.
The "Stuck" Professional or Performer
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Performance Anxiety: Athletes, public speakers, executives, or creatives facing creative blocks or severe stage fright.
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Burnout: Professionals who have experienced a highly stressful career setback or toxic work environment and can't seem to regain their confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR
1. How is EMDR different than talk therapy?
Traditional talk therapy is a "top-down" approach. It focuses on the thinking brain (the prefrontal cortex) to change your thoughts, hoping your emotional state and body will eventually follow.
EMDR is a "bottom-up" approach. It targets where trauma and stress are actually stored—in the survival brain (the amygdala) and the nervous system. By changing how the memory is physically stored in the brain, your thoughts naturally shift without you having to "force" a positive mindset.
2. Will I lose control or be hypnotized?
Not at all. EMDR is entirely different from hypnosis. You are awake, alert, and fully in control the entire time. You can pause or stop the session at any moment. The therapist is simply a guide; your own brain is doing the healing work.
3. Is EMDR safe? Can it re-traumatize me?
EMDR is very safe when facilitated by a trained professional. We do not jump straight into painful memories. The early stages of EMDR are strictly focused on "resourcing"—teaching your nervous system how to feel safe and grounded. We only begin reprocessing when you feel fully equipped to handle it.
4. How long does EMDR treatment take?"
It varies based on your history. For a single-incident trauma (like a recent car accident), clients often see significant relief in just 4 to 8 sessions. For chronic, childhood, or complex trauma (C-PTSD), it typically takes longer because there are more layers of memories to process.
5. How will I feel after an EMDR session?"
Reprocessing takes physical and emotional energy. It is completely normal to feel tired, emotionally raw, or "spacey" immediately after a session. Your brain actually continues to process the memory in the background for 24 to 48 hours afterward, which can sometimes bring up vivid dreams or mild emotional waves. We always wrap up sessions by grounding you so you can safely drive home or return to your day.
6. Does EMDR make you forget your memories?
No, you will not experience amnesia. You will still remember that the event happened, but the emotional charge will be gone. The memory transitions from feeling like a current, terrifying threat to feeling like a neutral, factual event in your distant history.
7. Can I do EMDR while staying with my regular talk therapist?
Absolutely. This is called "adjunctive EMDR." Many clients keep their weekly talk therapist for ongoing support and symptom management, while seeing an EMDR specialist for a brief period specifically to clear out a stubborn, deep-rooted trauma block.
Insurances Accepted:
Peak Performance Sessions are Private Pay Only
