EMDR & Trauma Counseling

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When the past won't stay in the past

Most of us experience some form of traumatic or overwhelming event in our lives. Trauma may stem from abuse, assault, accidents, illness, or natural disasters. But it can also come from chronic experiences — repeated loss, ongoing stress, difficult relationships, or a childhood that didn't feel safe.

How you experience an event determines how traumatic it is and how it continues to affect you. Common reactions include fear, anxiety, irritability, poor concentration, replaying memories, feeling numb or disconnected, nightmares, guilt, difficulty trusting, and self-blame.

What is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a multi-phase, evidence-based therapy approach specifically designed for trauma and overwhelming life events. EMDR helps the brain process information related to disturbing memories — and it often works significantly faster than traditional talk therapy alone.

To understand how EMDR works, it helps to understand how the brain handles experience. On a regular basis, our brains adapt, process, and learn from daily events. But when an experience is traumatic or overwhelming, the brain struggles to process and resolve it. The memory — along with all associated thoughts, images, sensations, and emotions — can get stuck. Even long after the event, these stuck memories continue to affect how we see ourselves, feel, and relate to others. EMDR helps the brain finally process and release what got trapped.

Common questions about EMDR