Evidence-based therapy for trauma treatment.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
(EMDR Therapy)
What Is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy initially developed for folks with trauma and has since been recognized as an effective treatment for depression, anxiety, OCD, addictions, eating disorders, and many other mental health issues. The basic assumption of EMDR is that the brain is oriented toward health and healing and can achieve this (Shapiro, 2001, 2018). Like our bones’ natural healing process after a fracture, our brains want to heal from trauma. EMDR therapy stimulates the brain’s healing mechanisms to help achieve this goal.
What Does EMDR Help With?
Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
PTSD and other trauma and stress-related issues
Chronic Illness and medical issues
Depression and bipolar disorders
Dissociative and personality disorders
Grief and loss
Eating disorders
Performance anxiety
Sleep disturbance
Substance abuse and addiction
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
You will be asked to focus on a specific event and give attention to a negative image, belief, emotion, or body feeling related to this event. While focusing on the distressing event, your therapist will invite you to begin bilateral tapping/movement. From there, you will be guided to notice what comes to mind after each set. This may result in a shift in how you feel, perceive or remember the event. EMDR is an eight-phase protocol.
Allows your process trauma without reliving it
Does not require a great deal of detailed talking
No residual home work to follow
The Eight Phases of EMDR Treatment
History-taking and Treatment Planning: The therapist gathers information about the client’s history, current symptoms, and specific traumatic experiences. Together, they develop a treatment plan.
Preparation: The therapist educates clients about the EMDR process and helps them develop coping skills for managing emotional distress.
Assessment: The client identifies specific target memories or experiences to be processed during EMDR sessions.
Desensitization: The client focuses on the traumatic memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation. This phase aims to reduce the emotional charge associated with the memory.
Installation: Positive beliefs and self-affirmations are introduced to replace negative beliefs associated with the trauma.
Body Scan: The client explores any residual physical tension or discomfort associated with the trauma and processes it.
Closure: The therapist ensures the client is stable and provides self-soothing and emotional regulation techniques.
Reevaluation: In the final phase, the client and therapist assess the progress in reducing the distress associated with the target memories.
Our Therapists Offering EMDR
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Emily Collins
REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST (QUALIFYING)
In-Person & Online Therapy Available
Specialties: EMDR, Families of First Responders, First Responders
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![A woman with dark brown hair wearing a black blazer and white top sitting at a wooden desk with a silver laptop, a smartphone, a stack of books, a mug, and a wooden sign that reads 'MINDSHOP'.]()
Michelle Farrow
CLINIC OWNER & DIRECTOR, REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST
In-Person & Online Therapy Available
Specialties: EMDR, Families of First Responders, First Responders, Maternal Mental Health, Perinatal Health
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![A smiling woman sitting at a desk with a laptop, a stack of books, a mug, and a wooden sign that says 'MindShift'.]()
Vanessa Robertson
REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST (QUALIFYING)
In-Person & Online Therapy Available
Specialties: General Therapy, EMDR, Families of First Responders, First Responders
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![A woman with light brown hair tied in a ponytail, smiling, wearing a white button-up blouse and black pants, standing in front of a white, curtain background.]()
Alex Telford
REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST
In-Person & Online Therapy Available
Specialties: General Therapy, EMDR, Families of First Responders, First Responders, Maternal Mental Health, Perinatal Health
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![A woman with long brown hair, wearing hoop earrings and a light pink button-up shirt, smiling at the camera against a plain white background.]()
Tara Smith
REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST (QUALIFYING)
In-Person & Online Therapy Available
Specialties: General Therapy, EMDR, Families of First Responders, First Responders, Maternal Mental Health, Perinatal Health
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![A woman with blonde hair and blue eyes smiling, wearing a light-colored, short-sleeved button-up shirt, with her arms crossed, standing against a neutral background.]()
Courtney Toner
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK, PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Online Therapy Available
Specialties: EMDR, Families of First Responders, First Responders, Maternal Mental Health, Perinatal Health
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![A woman with long, wavy brown hair smiling in front of a light gray stone wall, wearing a maroon long-sleeve shirt.]()
Elyse Schweighofer
REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST
In-Person & Online Therapy Available
Specialties: General Therapy, EMDR, Families of First Responders, First Responders, Couples
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