Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

It is said that the eyes are a window into the soul.

I practice Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help people process traumatic experiences and distressing memories that continue to affect how they think, feel, and respond in the present. Trauma can disrupt the brain’s ability to fully process an experience, leaving behind anxiety, emotional reactivity, avoidance, or coping patterns that no longer serve you.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, while you focus on aspects of a distressing memory. This allows the experience to be reprocessed so it carries less emotional intensity and has less control over your present life. The goal is not to erase the memory, but to change how it is stored and experienced. EMDR can help reduce the emotional charge of traumatic experiences while strengthening more adaptive beliefs, emotional regulation, and a greater sense of control.

I also incorporate the Desensitization of Triggers and Urge Reprocessing (DeTUR) protocol when appropriate. DeTUR is an EMDR-based approach that can be helpful for working with triggers, cravings, and urges associated with compulsive or unwanted behaviors, including problematic drinking, excessive porn use, or other patterns used to manage difficult emotions. Rather than focusing only on stopping a behavior, the work explores what happens in the body and nervous system when an urge arises, helping you develop greater awareness, choice, and capacity to respond differently.

I continue to deepen my EMDR practice through ongoing training and consultation.