EMDR
Because trauma recovery can be challenging
At some point in our lives…
We all experience hardship, adversity, or a disturbing event. This is part of being human.
In fact, research suggests that upwards of 90% of people will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime.
Bouncing back isn’t easy.
Our bodies are designed to heal—just like when you get a cut or bruise and can see the healing happen over time.
But sometimes, an experience is so overwhelming to the nervous system that the brain’s natural ability to process and integrate what happened becomes disrupted or “stuck.”
When this happens, the memory doesn’t get stored as something in the past. Instead, it can continue to feel very present—showing up through emotional, physical, and psychological reactions, even years later.
It’s common after a distressing event to experience what’s known as an acute stress response. This can include a mix of emotions such as fear, sadness, confusion, anxiety, irritability, anger, or panic. You might also notice physical symptoms like a racing heart, shallow breathing, shakiness, nausea, or dizziness. While these responses can feel unsettling, they are actually normal reactions to an abnormal experience, and they often resolve within a few weeks.
However, when the brain and body are not able to fully complete the healing process, these symptoms can persist over time. This is especially true when a person’s sense of safety or survival has been threatened and their capacity to cope has been overwhelmed. In some cases, this can lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), though many people experience lingering effects of trauma without meeting full criteria for PTSD.
That’s when EMDR can be helpful.
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy approach developed in the late 1980s by Francine Shapiro, originally in her work with individuals experiencing PTSD.
Since then, it has been extensively researched and is now used to treat a wide range of concerns—not just trauma. EMDR can be helpful for anxiety, depression, panic, phobias, performance issues, and the lasting impact of difficult life experiences, including relational wounds and attachment injuries.
At its core, EMDR helps your brain do what it was naturally designed to do: process and integrate experiences so they no longer feel overwhelming or “stuck.”
When a memory remains unprocessed, it often gets stored in a way that is more emotional and reactive. This is why certain triggers can suddenly bring up intense feelings, body sensations, or protective responses like shutting down or becoming overwhelmed. It can feel like the past is happening all over again.
EMDR works by using bilateral stimulation—such as guided eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds—to engage both sides of the brain.
This helps the brain reprocess the memory so it can be stored in a more adaptive and integrated way.
How this work is different
This work goes deeper than insight.
In addition to reducing the emotional intensity of past experiences, EMDR also helps identify and shift the negative core beliefs we often develop about ourselves as a result of those experiences. Beliefs like “I’m not good enough,” “I’m not safe,” “I have to take care of everyone,” or “Something is wrong with me.”
Through the reprocessing of the memories connected to these beliefs, EMDR allows for new, more adaptive beliefs to take their place—beliefs that feel more grounded, compassionate, and true.
Over time, this process doesn’t erase what happened, but it does change how it lives inside of you. The memory becomes something you can recall without feeling overwhelmed by it. The emotional charge decreases, the body settles, and you’re able to respond in the present rather than react from the past.
The emotional charge decreases, the body settles, and you’re able to respond in the present rather than react from the past.
Recovery is possible
EMDR is a powerful way to support deep healing—helping you feel more regulated, more connected to yourself, and more able to move forward with a sense of clarity and ease.
Let’s work together
I offer both in-person sessions for clients in Arlington, Texas, and virtual therapy for individuals throughout Texas and Colorado.
Ready to take the next step?
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