EMDR therapy

EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy for adults, in person in Kitsilano and online across BC and Saskatchewan.

You do not need to know whether EMDR is right for you before reaching out. We can talk it through in a free 20-minute consultation, and there is no need to have it all figured out before you arrive.

Book a free introduction call

I offer EMDR as part of my work with trauma and anxiety to get to the deeper roots of whats going on. It is for folks who are carrying difficult experiences that still feel present: memories that intrude, reactions that seem bigger than the moment, or a body that stays braced long after the danger has passed.

What EMDR is

EMDR is a structured therapy developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It works with memories that have stayed "stuck", the ones that still bring up the same feelings, body sensations and beliefs about yourself as when they happened. While you hold part of a memory in mind, we use bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements, in short sets. Over time the memory usually becomes less charged, and the beliefs attached to it can shift (EMDR International Association).

EMDR has a substantial research base for post-traumatic stress. The World Health Organization's 2013 guidance on mental health care after trauma names EMDR, alongside trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, as a treatment to consider for people living with PTSD (World Health Organization, 2013).

What folks bring to EMDR

I commonly use EMDR with:

  • traumatic experiences, recent or long ago

  • accidents, injuries and medical experiences

  • hypervigilance, and feeling constantly on alert

  • anxiety, panic attacks and phobias

  • performance anxiety, including a specific moment that keeps replaying

  • grief and loss

  • guilt and shame tied to a particular memory

  • distressing memories that are not "big" traumas but still shape how you see yourself

EMDR is one tool within my broader practice. Many folks I work with never use it, and it can sit alongside narrative, somatic and ACT approaches in the same course of counselling.

What EMDR sessions are like

EMDR does not start with the hardest memory. The first sessions are about getting to know you, what you want from this work, and how your nervous system responds under stress. We spend time building ways to settle and steady yourself, so that you have them before we go anywhere difficult. You stay in charge of the pace. We can pause, slow down or stop at any point.

Some sessions are intense, and some are quiet and practical. You might feel tired afterwards, or notice that something has loosened. We check in at the end of each session and plan for the days in between.

Common questions about EMDR therapy

  • EMDR is best established as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is also used to address distressing memories associated with anxiety, grief and other difficult experiences, although the evidence for these applications varies. Your therapist will assess whether EMDR is appropriate for your particular circumstances.

  • No. People sometimes seek EMDR after experiences that may not seem traumatic from the outside but continue to affect how they feel or respond to certain situations. These might include childhood experiences, painful relationships, bullying or other distressing events. You do not need a PTSD diagnosis to discuss whether EMDR would be appropriate for you.

  • Your therapist will discuss your experiences, current symptoms and treatment goals to determine whether EMDR is a suitable approach. They will also consider your emotional stability, available support and readiness to work with distressing memories. If EMDR is appropriate, you will have an opportunity to ask questions and prepare before processing begins.

  • Yes. I offer EMDR both in person in Kitsilano and online, and we can decide together which suits you and the work.

  • EMDR is generally considered safe when provided by a properly trained therapist. However, processing distressing memories can temporarily bring up strong emotions, physical sensations or uncomfortable thoughts. Your therapist will help you prepare for these experiences and assess your readiness before beginning trauma processing.

Finding a good fit and relationship with a counsellor is a part of the process. Booking a consult is a low-pressure way of meeting to see how it feels.

Book a free consultation