In EMDR, trauma refers to any experience that felt overwhelming, frightening, or emotionally too difficult to fully process at the time. Trauma isn’t defined by how “big” an event was, but by the impact it had on you. This can include single events like accidents, losses, or assaults, as well as ongoing experiences such as emotional neglect, criticism, unstable relationships, chronic stress, or attachment wounds that affect how safe or connected you feel.

When these experiences aren’t fully processed, the memories can become “stuck” in the brain, carrying the same emotions and body reactions as when they occurred. This often activates the fight, flight, or freeze response—showing up as irritability, anxiety, avoidance, shutdown, numbness, or feeling overwhelmed.

Even long after the event, your mind and body may respond as if the danger is still present, affecting sleep, trust, self-esteem, relationships, and daily functioning. These responses aren’t signs of weakness—they’re your brain’s attempt to protect you. With the right support, including EMDR, these stuck memories can be processed so they feel less intense and no longer interfere with your 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.

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.

Rather than helping you avoid it or cope around it, EMDR gently supports the brain in processing what happened so the splinter can finally loosen and come out. The memory remains, but it no longer feels sharp or reactive, allowing the nervous system to settle and the wound to truly heal.

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.

The world’s largest and most respected organizations recognize EMDR as an effective evidence-based therapy, especially for trauma and PTSD. 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.

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.

Counselling fees are based on session length. A 60-minute session is $160 and a 90-minute session is $240. Please refer to my Rates & Policies page.