EMDR is for anyone who is looking to explore yourself in a way that traditional talk therapies may not have done before. EMDR is a unique approach to therapy that allows for the desensitization and reprocessing of traumatic material (see how EMDR therapy works). Criteria for this service is as follows:

• Individuals 

• Those who are actively participating voluntarily 

• Those who are not in need for immediate crisis or stabilization (e.g actively suicidal, homicidal) 

• Those who have completed an initial session with a therapist for the purposes of assessing readiness for EMDR. This will include ensuring adequate coping skills are in place

EMDR is suitable for working with those that meet the above criteria to support with the following: 

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Complex Post traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)

• Anxiety

• Phobias 

• Depression 

• Grief and Loss

• Nightmares

• Addictions

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy. It was developed by Francine Shapiro in the 1980’s and uses bilateral brain stimulation (BLS) to process traumatic material and re-integrate these memories into the memory network. Your therapist will use eye movement or tapping to help support the brain in BLS to first desensitize to traumatic material, and then reprossess our core belief and integrate positive feelings. This approach helps from a bottom-up approach to trauma therapy, soothing the brain and body. This is an intensive therapeutic treatment with evidence-based results. Some individuals may be at risk of side effects including: nightmares, emotional distress, emotional sensitivity, remembering repressed memories, or physical stress responses such as lightheadedness. If any of these should occur, speak with your therapist to develop a plan. 

EMDR is not a method to uncover traumatic memories one may not remember. Instead, it is a way to provide a desensitized approach to memories associated with a core belief one may hold. By doing so, we can limit our emotional and physical responses to traumatic material and triggers. 

Learn more by connecting with our team today and find out if EMDR is a right fit for you.

EMDR is provided both virtually and in-person. Our therapists are trained to support our clients in both capacities to meet your needs. Virtual sessions are conducted through our Jane app, and you and your therapist will decide on the best method for BLS. The choice is completely yours!

If you are currently working with a therapist, we suggest connecting with them to assess readiness for EMDR. Individuals have the choice to participate in EMDR with the support of their current therapist between EMDR sessions. This looks like having the unique EMDR focused sessions and following all 8 phases, and working with your primary therapist for day-to-day support. 

EMDR readiness is typically assessed in a first session with an EMDR therapist. In this session you will discuss your safety plan, coping tools and phases of EMDR. Readiness includes meeting the above criteria and being able to tolerate exposure to traumatic material and regulating yourself. EMDR is not a first step into therapy.

As a client, you may choose to participate in EMDR therapy to further explore trauma and impacts of traumatic events. EMDR is a unique approach to trauma therapy, and can often show results sooner than traditional talk therapy. EMDR is an effective choice to treat a variety of traumatic materials. Participating in EMDR will help to process traumatic material and desensitize you to it. This helps the brain heal, our thoughts change and bloom into our best self. Individuals may choose EMDR because they feel talk therapy has only gone so far and want to support the body in healing.

EMDR works by using Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) to desensitize an individual to traumatic material. BLS is then used to help reprocess traumatic material into the system. This BLS is done through eye-movement or tapping. We ask the client to focus on the memories previously discussed, while guided through the BLS to gain control over the traumatic material. EMDR follows the following 8 phases: 

• History: This is the phase where we learn about one another and how we want to best work together and address concerns.

• Preparation: We unpack the EMDR process, answer questions, and build our treatment plan.

• Assessment: We identify the memory, image and emotions of the traumatic material. 

• Desensitization: We use BLS to reduce the severity of the traumatic material. 

• Installation: Strengthen good feelings we want to have in our body. 

• Body Scan: Check the body to see any stored emotions. 

• Closure: Help come to calmness and check in on the session.

• Re-evaluation: Reconnect in the next session and see where we’re at for more work! 

These 8 phases are then aligned with a past, present, and future trigger approach. This allows us to ensure the traumatic material is met in all 3 levels of the therapeutic journey. If you’re interested in EMDR, we encourage you to reach out for a free consultation.

Yes! Some individuals choose to do talk therapy in addition to EMDR. Typically this looks like seeing our EMDR therapist, Sarah, while you work with your individual therapist on day-to-day tasks, EMDR triggers or continual coping. Some folks choose to do this as EMDR does not work on supporting ongoing life triggers. Instead treatment focuses on desensitization and reprocessing past events, present triggers to traumatic material and future triggers. Therefore, some folks choose to keep both relationships and use talk therapy for maintenance. As EMDR can have side effects, sometimes individuals like the additional support through a trusted therapist. If you choose to do this, with consent and confidentiality, your therapists can work together as needed to support you.

History and Treatment Planning: In this phase you and your therapist get to know one another. Your therapist will ask questions about your life, what brought you to therapy and begin to make a treatment plan.

Preparation: Here we learn about EMDR processes, build our coping plans specific to EMDR, and we evaluate readiness. Here we make sure we have the memory network established for the EMDR process and treatment plan. 

Assessment: In this phase we assess the memory we want to desensitize to, including images, emotions and feelings.

Desensitization: In this phase we use Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) to desensitize the distress associated with the memory. 

Installation: Strengthen the positive beliefs we want to feel and ensure it is ingrained in the system using BLS. 

Body Scan: Check the body to see if there are any unwanted feelings stored in the body using BLS. 

Closure: Your therapist will end the session and together you will review any positive things that happened and what to do between sessions. 

Re-evaluation: This phase happens every session at the beginning, where you and your therapist will review what happened, touch based and move forward to the next part of the treatment plan.