BEING AND BECOMING COUNSELLING AND WELLNESS SERVICES

EMDR Therapy

A structured approach that empowers you to heal from past trauma and restore peace.

EMDR Therapy can help you:

EASE DISTRESSING MEMORIES

MANAGE STRESS & TRIGGERS

REDUCE EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

The burden of trauma can be heavy.

Having to live with the impact of unresolved trauma can be very difficult. You may experience anxiety, depression, emotional instability or find it difficult to function.

EMDR therapy can help you release the burdens of trauma and reconnect with inner strength, resilience and peace.

Eye Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is an evidence-based approach for the treatment of trauma and PTSD. It has been proven to help individuals recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms.

The Eight Phases of EMDR Therapy

  • History & Treatment Planning

    Through conversation your therapist will inquire about your reason for seeking therapy and your history, including trauma history (specific details will not be discussed), as well as your strengths and resources. This understanding will help your therapist develop a plan about how to move forward.

  • Preparation

    Your therapist will help you develop strategies for managing emotional distress. You will be taught coping strategies and self-soothing techniques that you can use in session and between sessions to help reduce distress and increase stability in your life. This will also prepare you for processing traumatic or difficult memories in future sessions.

  • Assessment

    You and your therapist will identify the specific memories that will be targeted in future sessions during the reprocessing phases of EMDR (the desensitization, installation and body scan phases). You will assess the images or sounds, physical sensations, emotions and beliefs associated with the target memory.

  • Desensitization

    Your therapist will use eye movements (or other bilateral stimulation such as taps or tones) while you focus on the target memory. Your therapist will regularly stop to check-in with you. With time the level of distress associated with the memory will start to subside until the memory has been desensitized (i.e., it no longer elicits distress).

  • Installation

    After desensitization is complete your therapist will help you recall positive beliefs that you identified earlier. Through bilateral stimulation, your therapist will help you reprocess the targeted memory in association with these positive beliefs, helping to install these new positive beliefs.

  • Body Scan

    You will be asked to hold the target memory in mind with the positive belief while scanning your body from head to toe. Any lingering disturbance experienced in the body will be reprocessed until bodily sensations are pleasant.

  • Closure

    Regardless of whether processing is complete or not, you will be assisted to return to a sate of calm in the present moment at the end of an EMDR therapy session. Your therapist will help ensure you have closed up any material processed that still feels distressing and that you are calm and ready to re-engage with the world.

  • Re-Evaluation

    During follow-up sessions, the therapist checks in on the progress, reassesses the memories processed, and ensures that any remaining distress or unprocessed material is addressed. This phase helps ensure lasting healing and integration of the positive changes.

EMDR Therapy can help you cope with and learn to manage:

  • Nightmares or flashbacks

  • Panic attacks

  • Difficulty sleeping

  • Intrusive thoughts

  • Distressing memories

  • Emotional reactivity

  • Feeling shutdown or numb

  • Excessive worrying

  • Feelings of shame or guilt

  • Difficulty trusting others

  • Difficulty connecting

  • Difficulty concentrating

Benefits of EMDR Therapy

As you engage in EMDR Therapy, you may begin to notice improvements such as:

  • Greater emotional stability

  • Decreased feelings of distress, anxiety, shame or guilt

  • Ability to identify and manage your triggers

  • Increased ability to focus

  • Increased ability to be present and engaged with others

  • Improved ability to connect with others

  • Improved sleep

  • Decreased experience of nightmares, flashbacks and intrusive thoughts

Common Questions about EMDR Therapy

  • Everyone’s experience with EMDR therapy will be different. The therapy involves revisiting painful and distressing memories, but you are taught strategies to be able to manage your emotional distress before you work directly with these memories. Your therapist will be with you every step of the way and will be monitoring you and checking in to make sure that you stay within your window of tolerance and do not become overwhelmed by emotion.

  • The length of EMDR therapy depends on your individual situation, the complexity of your trauma, and the rate at which you process your experiences. Generally, sessions last between 60 and 90 minutes and the number of sessions can range from just a few to several over a period of months. This is something that can be discussed in detail during initial sessions with your therapist to get a better understanding of your needs. 


  • Each client’s progress will look different, but generally you might notice a decrease in the intensity of distress linked to the target memories, reduced anxiety and depression, and having new skills to cope with stressful situations. It’s important to remember that progress is not often linear and there will be ups and downs, but movement towards healing is a positive step.

  • Like all therapeutic approaches, EMDR can have some potential risks or side effects. This might include temporary increases in distress or emergence of new insights or memories. However, EMDR has a strong evidence basis (has been tested across many client situations) and your therapist will take care to ensure you have effective strategies for managing any distress that arises, both during and outside of sessions. 


  • We understand the intensity of the work involved in EMDR. If the process feels overwhelming at any point, we can pause and employ any grounding or other regulating strategies to help you feel regulated and at ease. You are in control of the pace we progress in and your safety is always our top priority. The goal is to always ensure you feel secure, even when processing the most challenging memories. 


  • EMDR therapy can be effective for a wide range of issues, particularly those related to trauma. However, it may not be the best fit for everyone. Together, we can discuss your specific needs, concerns and therapeutic goals to determine if EMDR Therapy is right for you.

Therapists Offering EMDR Therapy

  • Semhar Ghedela

    Canadian Certified Counsellor

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  • Dr. Margaret Brennan

    Registered Psychologist

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