Trauma & EMDR

Trauma has less to do with the incident that happened and more to do with the way an individual experienced the incident. When we experience a significantly distressing event, it impacts how our brains process and store that event in our memories. Rather than storing this event in the past with the wholehearted assurance that we are now safe and securely connected, the memory becomes frozen in a distressed neurological state and is susceptible to being triggered again. This can contribute to us (consciously or unconsciously) re-experiencing distress from a past incident and reacting to it in the present. Some examples of the effects of these memories (i.e. traumatic stress) might be: tense muscles when driving after having experienced a car accident; or, re-experiencing a childhood memory during an interaction with your significant other or with your own child.

It’s also important to recognize that trauma is not always a single incident, sometimes it’s the complex accumulation of multiple incidents over time. Abuse, emotional neglect, family violence, homelessness, and bullying are some examples of patterns that can contribute to complex trauma. Unresolved traumatic stress may also be passed down from parent to child, resulting in generational trauma.

Understanding trauma as a concern of memory+meaning rather than the event itself can help us recognize individual variability in the experience of flashbacks, sensations, negative thoughts, or distressing emotions after the original incident has passed. Not everyone develops PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) after a distressing event. It’s common for individuals to experience some degree of post-traumatic stress without necessarily having a disorder.

EMDR is a neuroscience-based therapy that’s designed for the treatment of distressing memories. Leveraging the understanding that trauma is a memory processing concern (see previous), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy uses your brain’s natural pathways to reconsolidate distressing memories and facilitate your healing process.

Compared to typical psychotherapy (or talk-therapy), EMDR focuses less on talking and more on your mind’s existing mechanisms for healing. Because EMDR relies on your inherent neurophysiology, it can yield faster results than traditional therapy—think of it like traveling on a highway compared to side-roads, both will get you where you need to go. Not everyone is a suitable candidate for this form of treatment and you can still process trauma through talk-therapy if you prefer the scenic route.

You can learn more about EMDR and how it works through the EMDR International Association.

Talking about trauma can often be uncomfortable, you may experience distressing emotions when recalling an event, or you may completely resist showing any emotion at all. This is all part of the process. My priority will be to keep you feeling emotionally safe as we explore your painful memories together. We will begin our work by building your skills for grounding and self-regulation so you have a “tool box” to turn to between sessions.

In talk-therapy, we’ll discuss your thoughts, emotions, sensations, and behaviors as they relate to your history of trauma. Based on your interest, we may also incorporate other interventions like mindfulness, breathing techniques, somatic awareness, guided visualization, art, or expressive writing to support your processing.

EMDR sessions can be done during our typical 50-minute therapy session. Some individuals may benefit from scheduling a 90-minute EMDR session for more intense and/or complex memories. During EMDR, we use eye movements to stimulate your brain’s natural mechanism for reconsolidating memories. EMDR therapy is effective through telehealth. Through EMDR, it’s common for clients to gradually move from “I can feel it now” to “it just feels like a memory;” my role is to guide you in that healing journey.

Your continued self-reflection between sessions will ensure that your healing journey continues beyond our therapy session. I may encourage you to practice expressive writing, art, or mindfulness after we’ve practiced and discussed those interventions during our session.

Whether we utilize EMDR or not, revisiting traumatic memories in therapy can lead to sensations, images, feelings, or thoughts surfacing in the days between sessions. This is a common experience as we work through distressing memories and loosen their hold on your mind. I encourage all my clients, especially those working on trauma, to be intentional with practicing the grounding/self-regulating techniques between sessions.

Nope! EMDR is just one of the many evidence-based trauma treatment methods that exist. It’s important to note that not everyone is a suitable candidate for EMDR and you can still successfully process trauma through talk-therapy or other treatments if you prefer.

You are not broken or damaged—for survivors of sexual trauma, there can a long road between knowing that in your mind and fully believing it in your heart. This form of trauma can have especially long-lasting effects on your well-being, life, and relationships.

You have the option to engage in therapy or EMDR with me to process these concerns based on your comfort level. Some of my clients who are survivors of sexual assault benefit from utilizing mindfulness, guided visualization, art, and/or expressive writing in therapy.

I have training and experience working with survivors of sexual assault, rape, abusive relationships, family violence, and childhood sexual abuse or molestation. My clients have the option to integrate their faith identity or challenges with faith with this therapeutic work.

Your struggle with drugs, alcohol, and/or compulsive behaviors may be a response to trauma—it’s your mind’s attempt to solve a problem, fulfill a need, and survive. I’m so glad you’ve survived and I would be honored to support you in finding deeper meaning, connection, and fulfillment in life.

You have the option to engage in therapy and/or EMDR with me to process your past concerns and present triggers based on your comfort level. You also have the option to decide between moderation and abstinence, my role is to support your goals, not to set goals for you. Either way, authenticity will be critical in our work together.

I have training and experience working with individuals who struggle with substance use (drugs, alcohol, medication misuse) and compulsive behaviors (sex, porn, masturbation). My clients also have the option to integrate their faith identity or challenges with faith with this area of therapeutic work.