EMDR Therapy in Surrey, BC
You've probably heard the phrase "just talk about it." And talking helps to a point. But sometimes the things we most need to heal from aren't stored in the part of the brain that responds to conversation. They're stored in the part that responds to sensation, memory, and the nervous system.
That's where EMDR comes in.
What is EMDR?
Have you been feeling stuck lately? Like there’s a painful memory that keeps playing on repeat or certain emotions that keep flooding back, their intensity as strong as the very first day you felt them?
Wanting to forget doesn’t always mean it’s easy to forget.
Moving past an unexpected or life-changing experience sometimes requires more than the desire to let it go. If you’ve reacted to trauma with a flight, fight or freeze response, it can cause that event to become “trapped” in your memory. As if no matter how hard you try, you can’t find the peace you need to move forward and alleviate the mental and physical pain you’re experiencing.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It sounds clinical, but the experience of it is actually quite different from what the name suggests.
Here is the basic idea: when something traumatic or overwhelming happens, your brain sometimes doesn't process it the way it does ordinary memories. Instead of filing it away as something that happened in the past, it stays with you and almost “live”. Meaning that when something happens that reminds you of it, your brain responds as if it's happening right now (even if it’s a totally different situation). That's why trauma can feel so present even years after the event.
EMDR uses guided eye movements (or other forms of bilateral stimulation) while you briefly focus on a distressing memory. This process helps your brain do what it couldn't do at the time and fully process the experience, reduce its emotional charge, and move it into the past where it belongs.
It is one of the most well-researched trauma treatments available, and it is recognized by the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association.
What does an EMDR session actually feel like?
We don't jump straight into processing. We start by building a clear picture of what you're carrying and what you want to change, and we spend time making sure you have the grounding tools you need before we begin.
During processing, I'll guide you through a series of eye movements or tapping while you hold a specific memory in mind. Most people describe the experience as surprisingly manageable, even when the memories themselves are painful. Sessions are thoughtfully paced, and you are in control throughout.
One of the things that I really appreciate about EMDR is that we keep stopping and connecting…interrupting the memory and the charge…so you can have a voice in how the session and connection with those emotions goes.
After processing, many people notice that the memory feels different…less charged, less immediate. Like something that happened, rather than something that is still happening.
EMDR may be a good fit for you if you…
✓ Have a specific event or experience that continues to affect your daily life
✓ Find yourself reacting to situations in ways that feel disproportionate or hard to explain
✓ Have struggled to make progress with talk therapy alone
✓ Are dealing with PTSD, relational trauma, grief, or anxiety rooted in past experiences
A note on my approach to EMDR
I use EMDR as one tool within a broader, integrative approach to trauma therapy. Not everyone needs EMDR, and not every session will involve it. What matters is that we find the approach that is actually right for you.
I offer EMDR therapy in person in Surrey, BC and online for clients throughout British Columbia.