PTSD and trauma
Single overwhelming events and the build-up of repeated painful experiences.
Accelerate healing
with EMDR.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps your brain process traumatic memories so they lose their emotional charge. Many people find relief from anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms that talk therapy alone couldn't reach.
- Standard sessions or intensives
- In office or telehealth
- The 8-phase EMDR protocol
What EMDR can help with.
EMDR was developed in the late 1980s by Francine Shapiro to treat PTSD. It has since been found effective for a range of conditions, including:
Anxiety and phobias
Fears and anxious reactions rooted in past experiences.
Depression
Low mood tied to painful memories and negative beliefs about yourself.
Negative beliefs
Stuck thoughts like 'I'm not safe,' 'It was my fault,' or 'I'm not good enough.'
How EMDR works.
In a structured session, your therapist guides you through sets of bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or tones) while you briefly focus on a specific memory. This is believed to activate the brain's natural healing process, so the memory can be processed and integrated in a new way.
Over time, the memory loses its emotional intensity and intrusive quality. Negative beliefs such as 'I am powerless' can give way to 'I can handle it,' and 'I am not safe' to 'I am safe now.'
“Trauma can alter brain function, but the brain is capable of healing.”— Peaceful River EMDR
The 8 phases of EMDR.
EMDR follows a careful, structured protocol so you feel prepared and safe at every step.
History and preparation (phases 1–2)
Build trust, gather your history, identify target memories, and strengthen calming and grounding skills before any reprocessing begins.
Assessment and desensitization (phases 3–4)
Identify the memory's negative belief, emotions, and body sensations, then reprocess it with bilateral stimulation until its charge fades.
Installation, body scan, closure, and re-evaluation (phases 5–8)
Strengthen a positive belief, release leftover tension in the body, close each session steady, and review progress at the next.
Your therapist evaluates your readiness and stability first. Reprocessing only begins when you feel prepared.
Session options that fit your life.
60-minute sessions
Standard length, more affordable, and insurance-friendly. Often 8–24 sessions, depending on your history.
90-minute sessions
More time to activate, process, and stabilize. Often 4–10 sessions for faster progress or recent severe trauma.
4-hour intensive
Focused, extended work on a specific issue, for clients with clear goals and strong emotional regulation skills.
8-hour intensive
A deep dive into complex issues and multiple memories in a single day, for highly motivated clients.
Find the format that fits.
Sessions are available in the office or by telehealth. Talk with us about which length and format best suit your needs, goals, and budget.
Questions about EMDR.
No. EMDR focuses on how a memory is stored and felt, not on retelling every detail. You stay in control of what you share.
Yes. Along with in-office sessions, EMDR can be done remotely using eye movements, tapping, or audio tones.
Intensives can bring substantial progress quickly but are emotionally demanding. They suit clients with clear goals and good self-care support. We'll help you decide together.
It depends on your history and goals. Standard sessions often run 8–24 visits; 90-minute sessions often 4–10. Your therapist will give you a plan after the first phase.
We are not an emergency service. Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and available 24/7 (veterans can press 1). If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Your brain is capable of healing.
EMDR can help you move forward with a more positive and hopeful outlook.
Emily Brown, Client Care CoordinatorSchedule a consultation with Emily to be matched with the right therapist or coach for your needs and your timeframe.Individuals · In office and by telehealth