Title: “What Is EMDR Therapy—and Could It Help You Heal?”
Have you ever felt stuck in the past, as though an old experience keeps playing on a loop in your body and mind, no matter how much time has passed? Or maybe you have triggers in your body that won’t clear even if you haven’t connected it specifically to a trauma. Do you ever notice that you get nervous around certain people (example a specific gender, stature of a person etc.), in certain situations such as a crowded movie theatre, or in certain situations you become enraged, terrified, or frozen?
Maybe you’ve tried to talk it out, journaled, practiced mindfulness, or even started therapy—but something inside still doesn’t feel fully resolved. You might notice anxiety in your chest, a racing heart, flashbacks, nightmares, or even a constant feeling of unease that you can’t quite name.
This is where EMDR therapy can help.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a powerful, evidence-based therapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro to help people heal from traumatic and distressing experiences. EMDR doesn’t require you to retell your whole story in detail. Instead, it helps your brain reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer feel overwhelming or stuck.
Our brains have a natural way of healing from difficult experiences—just like our bodies know how to heal a cut. But sometimes trauma can block this healing process. EMDR helps clear the blockage and allows your nervous system to do what it was built to do: move toward balance, peace, and resolution.
How Does It Work?
EMDR uses a structured 8-phase approach that includes resourcing (building up your strengths and coping skills), identifying stuck memories, and then using bilateral stimulation—often in the form of eye movements, tapping, or gentle tones—to help your brain reprocess those memories.
You’ll still remember the memory after EMDR, but it will no longer carry the same emotional charge. Clients often say things like:
“It still happened, but it doesn’t hurt the same way anymore.”
“I can think about it without shutting down.”
“I finally feel free.”
What Can EMDR Help With?
While EMDR is widely known for treating trauma and PTSD, it can also be helpful for:
Childhood emotional wounds
Grief and loss
Anxiety and panic
Low self-worth or chronic shame
Medical trauma
Phobias
Painful breakups or betrayal
First responder or caregiver fatigue
Essentially, EMDR can support anyone carrying something heavy—something that continues to impact your life, even when you wish it wouldn’t.
What to Expect in a Session
Before we start reprocessing, we’ll spend time making sure you feel grounded, safe, and ready. You’ll never be rushed or pressured. EMDR isn’t something that’s done to you—it’s a collaborative process. You remain in control the whole time.
During a reprocessing session, your therapist will guide you through brief sets of bilateral stimulation while you notice what comes up: thoughts, feelings, images, sensations. There’s no “right” way to do it. We trust your brain and body to lead the way—and I’ll be right there with you.
Is EMDR Right for Me?
If you’ve been living with the impact of past experiences that just won’t let go—if you feel triggered, shut down, anxious, or haunted by things others tell you to “just get over”—EMDR could be the missing piece.
You deserve to feel safe in your body. You deserve to reclaim your sense of wholeness. You deserve to heal.
If you’re curious about EMDR or want to explore whether it’s a good fit, I’d love to talk with you. Therapy is a brave step, and EMDR might just be the bridge between surviving and truly living.
Ready to learn more? Reach out for a consultation or visit www.counselnature.com to learn how we can begin your healing journey together.
