EMDR helps people get unstuck — often alleviating negative reactions and beliefs associated with emotionally-charged memories. Some of the memories and issues this type of therapy can help includes:​

     • Encountering violence or abuse

     • Loss or injury of a loved one

     • Severe injures, illness,

        and/or chronic pain 

     • Performance and test anxiety

     • Trauma​

     • Depression
     • Anxiety or panic

     • Low self-esteem 

     • ​Relationship problems

     • Painful childhood incidents

     • Addiction

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EMDR is different from traditional talk therapy: it is a more structured approach which involves discussing negative memories and the accompanying emotions while the therapist uses eye-movements, alternating sounds, or physical sensations (ex. handheld “buzzers”), or tapping to induce “bi-lateral stimulation”.

 

What is Bi-Lateral Stimulation?

It is engaging both sides of the brain alternately and rapidly, much like Rapid Eye Movement (or REM) phase of sleep. It may sound unusual, but study after study, and story after story, has shown that EMDR really does work! Some clients report a change after only a few sessions of EMDR therapy.