Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured form of psychotherapy that helps people move through trauma and other distressing experiences. Developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, it pairs elements of cognitive behavioural therapy with bilateral stimulation, most often guided eye movements, to reprocess painful memories and ease the emotional weight they carry.
We offer EMDR in person at The Cottage on Dawson in Thunder Bay, and virtually anywhere in Ontario.
How it works
You do not have to retell every detail for a memory to lose its grip.
Bilateral stimulation means engaging both sides of the brain, through side-to-side eye movements, alternating tones or gentle tapping, while you hold a memory in mind. EMDR follows eight phases:
- History and treatment planning. EMDR can be intense, so we take a detailed history first to make sure the work is safe for you.
- Preparation. We explain the process, build trust and safety, and practise coping and calming skills you can lean on.
- Assessment. Together you identify the target memory and the beliefs, emotions and body sensations attached to it.
- Desensitization. Bilateral stimulation while you recall the memory, so its emotional charge begins to ease.
- Installation. A more helpful belief about yourself is strengthened in place of the painful one.
- Body scan. You check for any tension or discomfort still tied to the memory, and it is addressed.
- Closure. Each session ends with you back on steady ground, with tools for self-care until next time.
- Re-evaluation. You and your therapist review progress and decide whether other memories need attention.
What EMDR can help with
EMDR is best known as a treatment for post-traumatic stress, but people also come to it for:
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Grief and loss
- Depression
- Addictions
- Anger
- Phobias and performance anxiety
- Sleep problems
- Traumatic memories
- Low self-esteem and trust issues
Why people choose it
- You do not have to retell everything. EMDR does not require you to describe your trauma in detail, which lowers the risk of being re-traumatized.
- It works with the whole of you: thoughts, feelings and the body are all part of the process.
- Change can come sooner than people expect. Some notice a shift within a few sessions. Others need more time, and that is normal too.
EMDR has been extensively researched and is considered an evidence-based treatment for PTSD.
Is it right for you?
You do not have to decide on your own. Your therapist will talk it through with you, and if EMDR is not the right fit yet, there are other paths. When you are ready, book an intake and ask for a clinician trained in EMDR.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for counselling.