EMDR Therapy

EMDR Therapy Online

EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a therapy approach that can help people process distressing memories, painful experiences, and emotional patterns that feel difficult to shift through talk therapy alone.

I use EMDR as part of an integrative approach to therapy, especially when working with trauma, anxiety, grief, painful memories, negative beliefs about the self, and nervous system responses that may feel stuck or overwhelming.

EMDR is not about forcing you to relive the past. When used thoughtfully, it can help your mind and body process experiences that may still feel emotionally charged, unfinished, or present in your daily life.

What EMDR May Help With

EMDR is most commonly associated with trauma and PTSD, but it may also be helpful for people navigating:

distressing or intrusive memories
anxiety or panic
complicated grief
painful relationship experiences
negative beliefs about yourself
shame, fear, or self-doubt
performance anxiety
phobias
emotional reactivity
body tension or nervous system overwhelm connected to past experiences

Not every concern requires EMDR, and EMDR is not the right fit for everyone. In our work together, we would talk about whether EMDR feels appropriate for your needs, your history, and your current capacity.

How EMDR Works

When something overwhelming happens, the brain and nervous system may not fully process the experience at the time. The memory may continue to feel emotionally intense, or it may show up through anxiety, body sensations, protective patterns, relationship triggers, or beliefs such as “I’m not safe,” “I’m not enough,” or “It was my fault.”

EMDR uses structured phases and bilateral stimulation — such as eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds — to support the brain’s natural ability to process and integrate difficult experiences.

A simple way to think about it is this: sometimes the mind knows something is in the past, but the body and nervous system still react as if it is happening now. EMDR can help those parts of you begin to update.

My Approach to EMDR

I do not use EMDR as a one-size-fits-all technique. I was trained in Attachment-Focused EMDR with Dr. Laurel Parnell, and I integrate EMDR with somatic therapy, psychodynamic therapy, parts work, and polyvagal-informed approaches.

Before doing any trauma processing, we spend time building resources, understanding your nervous system, and making sure you have enough support to stay within a workable window of tolerance. For some people, EMDR becomes a central part of therapy. For others, we may use it gently and selectively, alongside other forms of therapeutic work.

The pace matters. Your sense of safety matters. We move carefully and collaboratively.

Attachment-Focused EMDR

Attachment-Focused EMDR is a relational, client-centered approach that is especially attentive to early attachment experiences, relational wounds, and the importance of safety and resourcing before trauma processing.

Rather than using EMDR as a rigid protocol, Attachment-Focused EMDR allows the work to be more responsive to you — your history, your pace, your nervous system, your relationships, and the resources that help you feel grounded.

This fits the way I work: warm, collaborative, carefully paced, and attentive to the whole person — not just a symptom or a single traumatic event.

EMDR and the Body

Because distressing experiences often live not only in memory, but also in the body, I pay attention to what your nervous system may be communicating through tension, shutdown, agitation, numbness, pain, or bracing.

EMDR can pair well with somatic therapy because both approaches recognize that healing is not only about insight. It can also involve helping the body and nervous system experience more choice, steadiness, and relief.

Online EMDR Therapy in Colorado and California

I offer EMDR therapy online for adults located in Colorado and California. Online EMDR can be appropriate for many clients, especially when there is enough privacy, stability, and emotional support to do the work safely.

During our consultation and early sessions, we can talk about whether online EMDR feels like a good fit for you.

More Information on EMDR

Here are a few resources to learn more on EMDR

Frequent questions on EMDR

EMDR from the words of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Trauma expert

Begin EMDR Therapy

If you are interested in EMDR and wondering whether working together might be a good fit, I invite you to reach out for a free 20-minute video consultation.

EMAIL ME TO BOOK A FREE 20-MINUTE VIDEO CONSULTATION