What Is EMDR Therapy—and How Do I Know If It’s Right for Me?
“I’ve tried talk therapy, but I still feel stuck.”
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and EMDR might be the missing piece.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful, evidence-based therapy used to help people heal from trauma and overwhelming experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require you to explain or analyze everything that happened. Instead, it helps your brain and body process what got stuck—so that painful memories and emotional responses lose their charge.
I use EMDR with many of my clients because it often leads to deep, lasting change, especially when other forms of therapy have hit a wall.
What Is EMDR, Exactly?
EMDR is an eight-phase therapy approach that uses bilateral stimulation—like eye movements, tapping, or sound—to help the brain process unhealed trauma. It’s based on the idea that trauma overwhelms our brain’s natural healing system. EMDR helps restart that system.
That might sound a little abstract, so here’s what it means in real life:
You may know something is “in the past,” but your body still reacts like it’s happening now. EMDR helps you shift that. It can bring relief from:
Intrusive thoughts or emotional flashbacks
Body tension or chronic anxiety
Panic attacks or sleep issues
Shame, guilt, or beliefs like “I’m not safe” or “I’m too much”
It’s commonly used for PTSD, but also for:
Childhood emotional and physical neglect
Relational trauma
Dissociation
Performance anxiety
Phobias
Medical trauma or birth trauma
Feeling “stuck” in talk therapy
What Happens During an EMDR Session?
If you’ve never experienced EMDR, it can feel a little different—but most clients tell me it feels strangely natural.
A typical session might include:
Talking about what’s coming up in your life and how it connects to earlier experiences
Identifying a target memory or sensation to process
Using bilateral stimulation (usually through eye movements or tapping) while you bring that memory or belief to mind
Letting your brain make new connections—without needing to “figure it out”
You don’t have to relive everything in detail. You stay grounded in the present while your system processes what was overwhelming at the time.
You might feel shifts immediately—or over a few sessions, notice that things that used to trigger you now feel neutral. Clients often say things like, “It still happened, but it doesn’t feel like it controls me anymore.”
How Do I Know If It’s Right for Me?
EMDR might be a good fit if:
You feel stuck, even though you’ve done therapy before
You struggle with anxiety, people-pleasing, shutdown, or self-blame
You notice strong emotional reactions that don’t always make sense
You suspect trauma is stored in your body, not just your thoughts
You want to heal—not just manage—old wounds
You don’t need a trauma “label” or a clear memory to benefit. EMDR works with how your body holds experience, even if your mind can’t fully explain it.
Let’s Explore Together
I offer EMDR therapy in-person and online to clients across Ontario. I also offer longer EMDR sessions (sometimes called “mini intensives”) for clients who want to go deeper with support.
If you’re curious but unsure, I offer free 15-minute consultations to talk about whether this might be right for you.
You deserve a therapy that meets you where you are—and helps you finally feel safe inside.
Sarah Moore, MSW, RSW
Trauma Therapist | EMDR Certified | Parts-Informed Therapy
