Dena Marie Gysel Online Counselling & EMDR Therapy in BC

In EMDR, trauma refers to any experience that felt overwhelming, frightening, or emotionally too difficult for your mind to fully process at the time it happened. Trauma isn’t defined only by how ‘big’ the event was—it’s defined by the impact it had on you. This can include single events like accidents, losses, or assaults, but it also includes ongoing or repeated experiences such as childhood emotional neglect, criticism, unstable relationships, chronic stress, or attachment wounds—experiences in early relationships that may have affected your ability to feel safe, understood, or connected to others.

When these experiences don’t get fully processed (when the brain isn’t able to make sense of a difficult or overwhelming event), the memories can get “stuck” in the brain, carrying the same emotions, thoughts, and physical reactions you felt at the time. This often activates the fight, flight, or freeze response—your body’s built-in survival system.

• Fight might show up as irritability, anger, or feeling constantly on edge.
  
  

• Flight can look like anxiety, avoidance, overworking, or always staying busy.
  
  

• Freeze may appear as shutting down, dissociating, feeling numb, or struggling to make decisions.
  
  

Even long after the event, your mind and body may respond as if the danger is still present, leaving emotional “imprints” that influence how you think, feel, and react in everyday situations. This might show up as anxiety, irritability, difficulty trusting others, trouble sleeping, or feeling easily overwhelmed. Some people notice patterns like withdrawing during conflict, avoiding certain places or people, or feeling disconnected from themselves. Trauma can also affect concentration, decision-making, self-esteem, and relationships.

These reactions aren’t signs of weakness—they’re the brain’s attempt to protect you based on what you’ve lived through. The good news is that with the right support, especially through therapies like EMDR, the brain can process these stuck memories so they no longer feel as intense, overwhelming, or disruptive in your daily life.

Think of trauma like getting a splinter that never got fully removed. Even if the moment has passed, the splinter stays under the skin—sensitive, painful, and easy to bump into. Sometimes you don’t even realize it’s still there until something touches it, and suddenly it hurts again.

In EMDR, trauma is understood in a similar way: the experience may be over, but the emotional ‘splinter’ stays stuck in the mind and body. It can get triggered by memories, situations, or feelings that remind you of it. EMDR works like gently taking out that splinter. It helps your brain process what happened so it no longer feels sharp, reactive, or painful. The memory remains, but the wound finally gets the chance to heal.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a type of therapy that helps your brain work through distressing or traumatic memories so they stop feeling overwhelming. As these memories become less intense, the symptoms that affect your current daily life—like anxiety, stress, or emotional reactivity—also begin to lessen. What makes EMDR different from traditional talk therapy is that it works with how your brain naturally processes information. Rather than only talking through difficult experiences, EMDR uses gentle, guided bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, tapping, or sounds—to help your brain reprocess upsetting memories so they don’t feel as overwhelming or triggering anymore.

The goal of EMDR isn’t to erase what happened, but to help you feel calmer, more in control, and less triggered by past experiences. It can be especially helpful for trauma, anxiety, depression, and other emotional challenges, and is a powerful option for experiences that still feel “unfinished” or difficult to move past. Many people notice improvements more quickly than with some traditional therapies.

Think of your mind like a library. Most memories get placed neatly on the right shelf where they can be visited without causing distress. But when something overwhelming or traumatic happens, that memory can get tossed into the library in a messy, disorganized way—like a book thrown onto the floor or shoved in the wrong section. Because it’s out of place, you keep tripping over it, and it keeps popping up when you don’t want it to.

EMDR works like a librarian helping you gently pick up that book, dust it off, and put it where it actually belongs. You’re not erasing the story—you’re giving it a proper place so it doesn’t get in your way anymore. The guided eye movements or tapping are like the librarian’s steps as they walk you through the shelves, helping your brain sort, organize, and finally settle that memory. Once it’s in the right spot, you can remember what happened without it overwhelming you.

EMDR doesn’t have a set number of sessions because everyone’s needs are different, but many people notice progress within about 6–12 sessions. If someone has more complex or long-term trauma, it can take longer (20 sessions or more), and that’s completely normal. We’ll move at a pace that feels right for you, and I’ll check in with you regularly so we can make sure the process feels comfortable and manageable.

The number of sessions of EMDR is because this therapy isn’t just one technique—it’s an 8-phase treatment, and the early phases (history-taking, preparation, and stabilization) often take time, especially if someone has multiple stressors or hasn’t learned coping skills yet. The actual reprocessing (the part people think of as EMDR) moves at a pace that feels manageable for the client.

EMDR can sometimes bring up strong emotions, physical sensations, or memories while you’re processing. You might feel tired, emotional, or a little unsettled after a session. Some people notice vivid dreams, mild headaches, or temporary increases in emotions. These reactions are usually short-lived and part of your brain processing the material. I will guide you through coping strategies to help manage these experiences and make sure you can manage throughout the process.

Studies show that the benefits of EMDR—like reduced distress from traumatic memories, anxiety, depression, or intrusive thoughts—tend to last long after treatment ends. Many people notice that the way they feel about past events stays more manageable, even months or years later. Of course, life stressors can affect how we feel, but EMDR can provide long-lasting tools to cope with memories and triggers more effectively.

I offer EMDR sessions weekly or bi-weekly, depending on your needs and what feels manageable for you. There’s no “one right way”—the timing is tailored to your needs, your nervous system, and the pace that feels supportive rather than overwhelming.

Weekly EMDR Sessions - Benefits:
Helps maintain momentum and consistency
Allows the brain to stay engaged in the reprocessing work
Can support faster progress, especially when addressing active or longstanding trauma
Reduces the gap between sessions, which can help clients feel more grounded and supported
Ideal for people who want steady, structured work or are in a phase where symptoms feel more activated


Bi-Weekly EMDR Sessions - Benefits:
Provides more time between sessions to integrate insights, regulate emotions, and apply new skills
Helpful for clients with busy schedules or limited availability
Can feel more spacious and less intense for those who prefer a slower, gentler pace
Supports people who are processing layered trauma and need additional time for grounding between sessions
Allows you to continue making progress without feeling rushed or overwhelmed
Every person’s journey is unique, and I will work with you to find a schedule that fits your life and supports your healing.

Several reputable organizations recognize EMDR as an effective evidence-based therapy, especially for trauma and PTSD. Some of the key organizations include:
American Psychological Association (APA) 
World Health Organization (WHO)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, USA) 
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) 
UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 
These endorsements reflect research showing EMDR can help reduce distressing trauma symptoms, anxiety, and other emotional difficulties more quickly and effectively than some traditional therapies.