Trauma & EMDR

Trauma is the emotional, psychological and often times physical response to experiences that overwhelm your ability to cope. Trauma can result from a single event, ongoing stress, childhood experiences, abuse, neglect, loss, or situations where you felt unsafe, powerless, or unsupported. Trauma therapy helps you understand how these experiences may continue to affect your emotions, relationships, thoughts, and daily life and then reprocessing the memories to create space for change.

Unresolved trauma can affect people in many different ways. Signs may include frequent anxiety, emotional overwhelm, difficulty trusting others, relationship challenges, low self-worth, feeling disconnected from yourself, or patterns that feel difficult to change. Some people may have limited memories of their past or experience dissociation, which can involve feeling detached from yourself, your emotions, your body, or your surroundings.

Complex trauma develops from repeated or ongoing experiences of harm, instability, neglect, or feeling unsafe—often beginning in childhood. It can impact emotional regulation, relationships, identity, and a person’s sense of safety in the world. Trauma therapy for complex trauma focuses on understanding these patterns, building emotional safety, and assisting the brain in reprocessing and healing.

Healing from trauma does not mean forgetting the past—it means no longer being controlled by it. Many people experience greater self-understanding, improved relationships, increased emotional regulation, stronger boundaries, and a greater sense of connection and confidence as they work through trauma.

Trauma therapy begins with building safety, trust, and understanding. Together, we explore your experiences, identify patterns that may be affecting your life, and develop strategies to support healing. Depending on your needs and goals, treatment may include approaches such as EMDR therapy, trauma-focused CBT, Parts Work, and skills to help manage emotions and stress.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy approach designed to help the brain process and heal from distressing memories and experiences. EMDR therapy helps reduce the emotional intensity connected to traumatic experiences so that painful memories feel less overwhelming and more integrated.

EMDR therapy is commonly used to treat PTSD, childhood trauma, anxiety, and the emotional impact of distressing life experiences. It may also help with difficult memories, negative beliefs about yourself, relationship patterns, and experiences that continue to affect your emotional well-being.

EMDR therapy begins with understanding your history, goals, and current challenges while building safety and coping skills. During sessions, we identify specific experiences to target and use bilateral stimulation techniques to support the brain’s natural healing process. EMDR is a collaborative process, and you remain in control throughout treatment.

EMDR therapy is a powerful treatment approach, but the experience and outcomes can vary from person to person. Successful EMDR treatment depends on factors such as having a strong therapeutic relationship, feeling emotionally prepared, addressing underlying concerns, and working with a therapist who is properly trained and experienced in EMDR. A personalized approach is important because every person’s healing process is different.

I am a Certified EMDR Therapist with specialized training in trauma treatment, complex trauma, and dissociation. I provide EMDR therapy within a safe, supportive therapeutic relationship and tailor treatment to each client’s unique experiences, needs, and goals. My goal is to help adolescents and adults process painful experiences, reduce distress, and move toward greater emotional freedom and healing.

See this YouTube Video from the EMDR International Association.