Frequently Asked Questions about EMDR Therapy

EMDR therapy can work for some issues, such as a specific anxiety or phobia, in just one session. More often, it takes place over a series of sessions based upon an eight phase system which has been tried and tested. Initial sessions enable the therapist to gather information about a client, the problem and its origins. Next, the client is encouraged to visualize a peaceful place or loving adult and just experience being there or feeling loved by the real or imagined person. This is done with the purpose of enabling the client to tolerate the trauma reprocessing in the sessions with an increased degree of safety. The client may be asked to write a list of issues or traumas to be dealt with as part of the preparation phase of EMDR therapy.

The first EMDR session is based upon the issue or trauma that the therapist and client have discussed and agreed to start on. The client is introduced to the eye movements and has been taught a stop signal in case the client wants to stop at anytime. The preparation steps allow the client to become aware of the process and to feel comfortable before starting EMDR therapy. The EMDR process requires clients to focus on four main aspects of the trauma. 1.) a visual image which is the most disturbing part of the trauma, 2.) the negative thought that they have about themselves in relation to the trauma, 3.) the emotions associated with the memory and 4.) the location of the disturbance in their body.

EMDR therapy can help with:

• PTSD, Anxiety, Panic attacks, Social anxiety
• Fear & phobias, Agoraphobia
• Stress, Occupational stress, Combat stress
• Grief and loss
• Anger management
• Relationship issues, Divorce recovery
• Birth trauma, Childhood trauma, School trauma
• Physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Violent crime
• Physical or chronic illness
• Flashbacks, Nightmares
• Addictions, Compulsions/OCD
• Auto accidents, Natural disaster
• Goal setting, Loss of self esteem, Procrastination, Perfectionism
• Creative blocks, Athletic performance & Life transitions.

EMDR therapy has many applications but the most documented is trauma. Other areas which have found success with with EMDR are performance enhancement, panic attacks, anxiety, phobias, addictions, stress reduction, complicated grief, stage fright, public speaking, and pain in general. We may use a modified version of the standard EMDR therapy protocol to treat these issues.

Trauma can be easily categorized into “Big T’s,” and “Little t’s” traumas.

A “Big T” trauma: is a single incident trauma or life changing event. A “Big T,” would be a single or series of severely traumatic experiences. Common examples of “Big T” traumas would include; war, rape and major accidents. “Big T” traumas that are single incidents can process quickly with EMDR therapy.

“Little t” traumas: are a accumulation or a series of traumatic or abusive events Several “Little t’s” can be described as a series of less traumatic events over a period of time. Some of these events may not even be recognizable to the individual as a “Little t,” but remain as implicit memory. Some examples of “Little t” traumas include; childhood neglect and abuse, repeated verbal abuse from a close family member or authority figure, bullying, domestic abuse and complicated grief. “Little t” traumas are more common than “Big T” traumas. In fact, people may not even identify them as traumatic. “Little t” traumas usually require more EMDR therapy sessions to process.

Treatment can be very rapid, however, the number of sessions will vary, according to the complexity of the issues being dealt with. After an EMDR session, there may be a strong sense of relief, a feeling of openness and healing. EMDR therapy is cost effective, requiring fewer sessions than traditional therapy. Relief from emotional distress often comes within the first few sessions.

Yes, we provide adjunctive EMDR therapy. Because not all therapists are trained to use this form of therapy we offer our expertise to supplement the ongoing therapy clients are already receiving with their primary therapist. Adjunctive therapy does not replace or interrupt ongoing therapy. It is complementary to the primary therapy relationship. With adjunctive EMDR therapy clients remain under the care and continue to receive treatment with their original therapist.

The process entails well focused and clearly defined issues to address with EMDR such as intrusive memories, flashbacks, negative thoughts or feelings about themselves or others that just don’t change or go away in traditional treatment. Usually this type of adjunctive therapy is short term (4-12 sessions) to assist clearing up any single incident trauma or simple phobias that is interfering with the client making therapeutic gains. The success of the treatment is based on well focused and clearly defined goals for the EMDR therapist as defined by the primary therapist and client.

To learn more about adjunctive EMDR therapy or the referral process please click here.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy follows a structured, eight-phase process designed to help individuals safely process and reduce distress related to traumatic memories, anxiety, or difficult life experiences.

During EMDR therapy, your therapist guides you through specific steps that allow the brain to reprocess disturbing memories while building healthier beliefs and emotional responses. Each phase has a unique purpose, helping ensure the process is safe, effective, and tailored to your needs.

The eight phases generally include:

1. History and Treatment Planning – Your therapist learns about your background, concerns, and goals to identify the memories or issues that will be the focus of treatment.
2. Preparation – You develop tools for emotional safety, such as imagining a calming “safe place” that can help regulate difficult feelings during therapy.
3. Assessment – A specific memory or experience is selected as the focus. Negative beliefs connected to the memory and preferred positive beliefs are identified.
4. Desensitization – Using guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation, you process the memory while noticing thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations that arise.
5. Installation – The therapist helps strengthen a new, positive belief related to the memory.
6. Body Scan – You check your body for any lingering tension or distress connected to the memory.
7. Closure – Each session ends with techniques to help you feel stable and grounded before leaving therapy.
8. Re-evaluation – At the next session, your therapist reviews progress and determines what additional work may be needed.

Learn more about each step in detail: What is an EMDR Session Like?

First responders are exposed to highly stressful events in the course of their routine duties. There are specific situations that increase one’s vulnerability to traumatic stress: having no control over the volume of calls; having to continue responding to calls after an especially disturbing call; the cumulative effects of being in the service for a long time; being in a helpless situation in the face of overwhelming demands, such as a prolonged, failed, rescue; having a partner or a peer killed or seriously injured in the line of duty; the suicide of a peer; being at serious risk of injury in the line of duty; witnessing horrifying things; experiencing the death of a child in the line of duty; responding to a call for a victim who is known to the responder; working without the support of administration, or having administration question one’s actions in an investigation. (www.traumacenter.org)

People who have experienced prior trauma are more vulnerable to PTSD than those who haven’t. This is significant for First Responders, who are constantly exposed to traumatic events. People exposed to trauma as children are at even greater risk for developing PTSD after a trauma in adulthood. There is some research indicating that females may be more vulnerable to PTSD than males. Experiencing a high level of physical and psychological hyper-arousal in the period immediately following a traumatic event may predispose a person to later PTSD. There is also evidence that experiencing dissociative symptoms and psychic numbing at the time of a traumatic event may put a person at increased risk for PTSD. Research has shown a connection between symptoms of depression in the initial weeks after the traumatic event as an indicator of increased risk for PTSD. Finally, experiencing Acute Stress Disorder predicts an increased risk for PTSD. (www.traumacenter.org)

With the support and care of family, friends and peers, many people are able to recover from the effects of a traumatic event. It is difficult to recover in isolation, though; the ability to accept support and help is essential to healing. People are sometimes able to recover from Acute Stress Disorder using their own coping skills and support from friends and family. If a month has passed since the event and you are still experiencing significant distress, this may signal Post traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a chronic, disabling stress disorder. EMDR therapy is a powerful fast acting treatment for PTSD and can help you return to optimal functioning both at work and at home.

EMDR therapy is recognized as an effective and efficient method of treatment by numerous government agencies and professional associations including the US Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the National Health Service of the United Kingdom (NICE guidelines), the Israeli National Council for Mental Health, and many others.

• Greater calm and capacity in your body
• A more positive relationship with food and your body
• Less reliance on coping behaviors; more flexibility and self‑trust
• Shifts in core beliefs (from wrong/unlovable/unworthy → worthy, resilient, connected)

Our goal is to help you reclaim your body, live in alignment with your values, and experience lasting recovery—not just symptom reduction.

More than 30 million people in the U.S. will experience an eating disorder, and many never seek help. Eating disorders are challenging, and they are treatable. If you’re navigating disordered eating, body image distress, or co‑occurring trauma, EMDR can be a powerful part of your healing.

Not necessarily. EMDR focuses on your present‑moment experience while gently targeting past memories. You stay in control of the pace and how much you share.

EMDR targets the underlying trauma and beliefs that drive symptoms. Recovery is a process; EMDR can reduce triggers and compulsions while we build skills and supports for long‑term change.

Yes. We collaborate with physicians, psychiatrists, and registered dietitians as needed.