EMDR is most well-known for helping individuals heal from trauma, including past abuse, accidents, or other distressing experiences. Research and clinical practice have also shown EMDR can be effective for:

• Anxiety and panic disorders

• Depression

• Obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OCD)

• Stress and life transitions

• Phobias or fears

All EMDR-certified therapists are trained, but not all trained therapists are certified. Certification shows an extra level of experience and recognition in EMDR therapy. I am a therapist who has completed advanced training, consultation, and supervised EMDR sessions, and has been officially credentialed by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). Being EMDR Certified means I have met the highest standards for practicing EMDR therapy.

What is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a gentle, evidence-based therapy designed to help people heal from past trauma, anxiety, or difficult life experiences. EMDR helps your brain process painful memories and emotions, so they no longer hold power over your daily life.

During EMDR sessions, a trained therapist guides you through specific techniques that can include gentle eye movements, taps, or sounds. These techniques help your brain reprocess memories, reduce emotional distress, and create new, positive ways of thinking about past experiences.

No one makes their way through life unscathed. We all have large and small difficulties to navigate.  Whether you are healing from trauma or simply looking to continue strengthening your mental health, EMDR could be a good fit for you.

 EMDR Breakdown:

Eye Movement – Think about REM sleep. During this phase, your eyes move back and forth, your brain activity increases, and your mind processes the events, thoughts, and emotions of the day. EMDR works in a similar way. With your eyes open or closed, and with gentle audio, tapping, or visual cues, your eyes move from side to side while focusing on a distressing thought or memory. This bilateral stimulation engages both sides of your brain, helping “floating” or unresolved memories settle and be processed.

Desensitization – EMDR targets memories or thoughts that still trigger strong emotional responses. Imagine standing on one goal line of a football field while someone you care about is on the opposite goal line whispering hurtful words. You would hear them, but they would no longer overwhelm you. That’s what EMDR does: the memory stays, but your emotional reaction becomes calmer and more manageable.

Reprocessing – God designed our bodies and minds with incredible systems to help us function and grow. Just as our digestive system processes food and our bodies regulate temperature, our brains are made to process both positive and negative experiences. Sometimes, however, trauma or overwhelming stress interrupts this natural processing. EMDR helps reprocess these memories, creating space for emotional healing, growth, and healthier responses in daily life.

While EMDR is widely known for helping trauma survivors, it can be used for any distressing memory or unwanted thought pattern—whether it’s past trauma, ongoing anxiety, negative self-talk, or everyday stressors like traffic or work challenges. Many people appreciate that EMDR doesn’t require you to go into every detail of your struggles; instead, you focus on the memory while your brain does much of the healing work.

Things to consider:

• Pregnancy is not considered to be limiting condition for EMDR. Longitudinal research has shown a positive impact for women who are pregnant.  For High risk pregnancies EMDR can temporarily increase emotional or physical stress, so we use gentle pacing, grounding techniques, and shorter sessions as needed. Your care will be coordinated with your healthcare provider when necessary, ensuring that both you and your baby remain safe while still benefiting from the healing work of EMDR.

• EMDR may change how you remember or respond to past events. If you are involved in a legal case and may testify, it could affect your emotional reactions or certain details of the memory. Please discuss your situation with your therapist to plan safely.

• Doing EMDR forgotten memories may resurface. For some people memories may be sharper.

• For those that have epileptic seizure disorder or heart conditions consulting with medical professional prior to engaging in EMDR is required.

• Strong emotional reactions are common as difficult life experiences are processed. During your time engaging in EMDR you may be more irritable or prone to experiencing dreams.

• For the safety and effectiveness of EMDR, please avoid mind-altering substances—including alcohol, marijuana, or non-prescription drugs—for at least 24 hours before and after your session.

EMDR vs. Hypnosis

Some people hesitate to try EMDR because they mistakenly think it’s similar to hypnosis. This is a common misconception. EMDR is not hypnosis, and you remain fully in control throughout the entire process. The memories, images, or thoughts used in EMDR are entirely chosen by you—they can even include scriptures or faith-based reflections if you wish.

EMDR

• Involves intentional engagement with a real, client-recalled disturbing memory to process emotions.

• Includes frequent pauses and grounding strategies to keep you fully connected to the present.

• Maintains dual focus on both past experiences and present awareness, helping you process distressing memories while staying in reality.

Hypnosis

• Uses therapist-directed techniques to induce a relaxed or altered mental state.

• Often involves a continuous altered state, which can reduce orientation to reality.

• Typically focuses attention narrowly, reducing distraction from external stimuli.

Bottom line: In EMDR, you are awake, aware, and in control—processing memories in a safe, guided, and fully conscious way.