What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based treatment used in therapy to treat trauma and other distressing life experiences. EMDR helps facilitate the brain’s natural healing processes through bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping.

EMDR will focus on your memories, feelings, body sensations, thoughts and beliefs. It was designed to alleviate the distress associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but has since been found to also be effective in treating anxiety, depression, phobias, addiction, grief, relationship issues, and physical pain. EMDR will focus on your past, present and prepare you for your future.

How Does EMDR Work?

In a nutshell, EMDR Therapy helps our brain to process and digest information that is overwhelming so that we can think more rationally and fully integrate past experiences. 

Imagine carrying a backpack filled with rocks and each one represents a difficult memory or painful experience. Over time, you may get used to the weight, even learn how to function with it, but it’s still wearing you down. EMDR helps you take those rocks out one by one, so you can move through life with more clarity and ease. It activates the brain’s natural healing abilities by gently accessing the emotional and body-based parts of the brain, not just the logical, thinking part.
 

What Can EMDR Help With?

• PTSD and C-PTSD
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Relationship and attachment wounds
• Phobias

My Approach to EMDR Therapy

As a trauma therapist, I tailor EMDR to your unique needs. I utilize an attachment-focused approach with EMDR while also blending in somatic experiences and Internal Family Systems (IFS) or parts work.

I offer both in-person sessions and telehealth sessions in South Dakota. Telehealth sessions are available to individuals living in Minnesota and North Carolina. Together, we’ll move at a pace that feels safe for you. EMDR is a powerful tool, and my role is to guide and support you in a way that honors your story and your healing process.

What to Expect

• The sessions last 60 minutes.
• EMDR is structured in 8 phases, but the pace depends on your readiness and comfort.
• You'll stay grounded in the present even while working with past experiences.
• You will still remember what happened, but with decreased emotional intensity.

The goal of EMDR therapy is to completely process the traumatic experiences that are causing problems and to include new ones as needed for optimal wellbeing. The amount of time it will take to complete EMDR treatment for traumatic experiences will depend upon your unique history.

EMDR Is Backed by Science

Organizations such as the World Health Organization, American Psychiatric Association, and the Department of Defense all recognize EMDR as an effective treatment for trauma. Research shows it often works faster than talk therapy.

Ready to Learn More?

If you’re wondering whether EMDR might be a good fit for you, I’d love to talk. Let’s explore together whether this approach feels right for your healing journey.