Alex is a trained therapist in Somatic and Attachment-Focused EMDR approved by the International Association of EMDR.

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, such as self-esteem issues, anxiety, depression, panic disorders, and so much more.

EMDR is an eight-phase treatment that helps the brain reprocess distressing experiences so they no longer have the same emotional impact. As healing occurs, the meaning attached to past experiences often changes. For example, someone who has long carried the belief, "I'm not good enough," may come to recognize, "I did the best I could," or "My worth isn't defined by what happened to me." This shift often leads to greater self-confidence, healthier relationships, and a stronger sense of self.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, the insights gained through EMDR don't come from a therapist's interpretation. Instead, they emerge through your own brain's natural processing, allowing meaningful emotional and cognitive shifts to occur. Rather than simply learning ways to cope, many people find that the experiences which once felt overwhelming lose their emotional intensity, leading to lasting relief and a greater sense of resilience. EMDR can often achieve this without requiring you to talk through every detail of the experience or complete homework between sessions.

How does EMDR affect the brain?

Our brains have a natural way of recovering from traumatic memories and events. This process involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). While many times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, they may not be processed adequately without help.

Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows natural healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved. 

How is EMDR therapy different from other therapies?

EMDR therapy does not require extensive talking in detail about the distressing issue. EMDR therapy, rather than focusing on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, allows the brain to resume its natural healing process. EMDR therapy is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. For many clients, EMDR therapy can be completed in fewer sessions than other psychotherapies.