You understand why you react the way you do. You've read about it, thought about it, maybe talked about it in therapy before. And it still happens.
That gap, between knowing better and still reacting, is exactly what EMDR is built for.
What EMDR is
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy method that helps the brain fully process distressing experiences that still feel "stuck." When something overwhelming happens, the memory can get stored with all its original charge: the images, the body sensations, the beliefs about yourself that came with it. Reminders hit that raw material and you're back in it, even if you know you're safe now.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or alternating tones) while you hold the memory in mind. As the brain reprocesses it, the emotional charge typically decreases. The memory doesn't disappear. It becomes something that happened, rather than something that's still happening.
It's one of the most researched treatments for PTSD and is recommended in the major clinical guidelines for trauma. I'm not going to oversell it. It works well for a lot of people. We'll talk honestly about whether it's the right tool for you.
What people use it for
- A specific traumatic event, recent or decades old
- Critical incidents (I work with a lot of first responders)
- Childhood experiences that still shape how you react under stress
- Grief that's stuck, especially sudden or traumatic loss
- Patterns that keep repeating in relationships despite your best effort
- Anxiety, panic, or reactivity with a clear origin
- Moral injury
- Medical trauma, accidents, and assaults
Does EMDR work over video?
Yes. Bilateral stimulation is done on screen or with self-tapping, and the structure of the session is the same. Research on remote EMDR has grown over the years; outcomes track closely with in-person. A few practical things matter: a private room, a decent connection, and a plan for what you'll do after the session, since you won't have a drive home to decompress. We set all of that up before we start.
How I do it
Carefully. EMDR is a tool, not a personality. We start with the same thing every therapy starts with: what's going on, what you've tried, what you want to be different. If EMDR fits, I'll explain why and how, and we'll spend real time on stabilization and resourcing before touching anything heavy. Some people need two sessions of prep; some need more.
You set the pace. You can stop at any point. I won't push you into material you're not ready for, and I'll keep the process contained so you leave sessions functional, not wrecked. When deeper work is clinically helpful, I'll say so and invite you into it. You decide.
EMDR often sits alongside the rest of our work, not instead of it. Concrete strategies for stress, boundaries, and reactivity run in parallel.
What it's not the right fit for, yet
If you're in an acute crisis, actively using substances in a way that makes the week unpredictable, or don't yet have enough stability to tolerate discomfort between sessions, we start somewhere else and build toward it. That isn't a rejection. It's sequencing. We'll talk it through in the consultation.
Practical details
Telehealth only, by secure video, for clients located in Oregon, Washington, or California at the time of the session. $225 per session. I accept PacificSource (commercial and OHP) and Blue Cross. If your insurance isn't listed, contact me anyway. There are often other ways to get sessions covered, and I can help you sort that out. See Fees & Insurance.
If EMDR isn't the right fit, I'll tell you and we'll talk about what is.
