What Is EMDR Therapy and How Can It Help You Heal?

If you’ve ever felt “stuck” in the past—like your body or your brain is still reacting to something that happened months or even years ago—you’re not alone. Trauma doesn’t just go away on its own, and often, talk therapy isn’t enough to fully heal what’s happening inside. That’s where EMDR therapy comes in. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and it’s a powerful tool to help your brain heal from trauma in a deeper way.

What Is Trauma?

Many people think trauma has to be something dramatic or life-threatening. These are called “Big T” traumas—like abuse, war, natural disasters, or car accidents. But there are also “little t” traumas—things like being bullied, feeling rejected by a parent, or going through a difficult breakup. These experiences might not seem traumatic on the surface, but they can still leave a lasting mark on your brain and body. Trauma can make you feel unsafe, anxious, numb, overly emotional, or disconnected from yourself and others. It can even affect your sleep, memory, and ability to focus. Your brain stores these experiences in a “frozen” state, and that’s why you might still feel triggered long after the event is over.

How Does EMDR Work?

EMDR helps your brain reprocess those frozen memories. During a session, I’ll guide you through a process where you briefly focus on a painful memory while using something called bilateral stimulation. This might be eye movements, tapping, or sounds that move back and forth. This stimulation helps both sides of your brain communicate—kind of like rebooting a stuck computer. Over time, the memory becomes less painful, and your brain can finally file it away in a healthy way. You’re not erasing the memory—you’re healing it so it no longer controls you.

What Can You Expect in EMDR Therapy?

At first, we’ll spend time getting to know each other and building trust. I’ll teach you calming tools and coping skills so you feel safe and grounded. When you're ready, we’ll start reprocessing certain memories one at a time. You don’t have to share every detail of the trauma out loud if you’re not comfortable. You stay in control throughout the process, and I’ll be with you every step of the way. Most people feel tired after a session (that’s totally normal), and many say they feel lighter, more at peace, or even surprised at how much better they feel with time.

Healing Is Possible

EMDR therapy is backed by science—and more importantly, by stories of real healing. Whether you’re carrying a big trauma or a hundred small ones, your brain is capable of healing. You don’t have to live in survival mode. EMDR can help you move forward, with more clarity, peace, and strength than you thought possible.

If you’re curious or have questions about whether EMDR is right for you, I’d love to talk with you. You’re not alone, and healing is within reach.