What To Expect

During an EMDR session, you’ll focus on a troubling memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation (guided eye movement, auditory tones, or tapping). The bilateral stimulation is believed to help facilitate the brain's natural processing mechanisms and helps your brain process the memory in a way that reduces its emotional charge and helps you move past it. It’s kind of like your brain’s “rewiring” process, where it re-stores the memory in a healthier, less distressing way. Our brains naturally store memories, but when we experience something traumatic or highly emotional, our brains can get "stuck" on that memory. It’s like a wound that doesn’t heal properly, constantly triggering us in the present. EMDR helps your brain process and "heal" that wound by helping you revisit the memory in a safer, more controlled way, so it doesn’t have the same intense emotional impact anymore.

People often report feeling less emotional distress or a new sense of relief after just a few sessions. It’s particularly beneficial for individuals who may find it challenging to process their trauma through traditional talk therapy alone. EMDR does not require you to go into detail about the traumatic event, making it an efficient and effective approach for individuals who may struggle with verbalizing their experiences. By targeting the root cause of emotional distress, EMDR can lead to profound, lasting changes in how a person responds to both past and present challenges.