Trauma & EMDR Therapy in Portland, OR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that helps people heal from trauma and distressing life experiences.

Numerous research studies show evidence that EMDR therapy is an effective treatment that can help your mind heal from psychological trauma and experience the benefits of therapy. Just like your body can heal from injuries, your mind can too.

EMDR is an 8-phased treatment plan that involves past, present and future.

If you’ve been through something painful—like an abuse, an assault, or a painful relationship—you may feel stuck in the past. EMDR helps your brain process those memories in a healthier way.

If you’re struggling with trauma, EMDR may be a powerful tool to help you heal.

Yes. EMDR is proven effective for PTSD, anxiety, abuse, and other trauma-related issues. It often leads to faster emotional relief than traditional talk therapy.

No. You won’t need to share every detail. EMDR works even if the memory is only briefly described. Many clients find this makes the process feel safer. 

It depends. Each person is different. It depends on your story, your history and the number of events you want to reprocess. A single events can be reprocessed in 3-6 sessions. But again, it depends on your history and number of events.

There’s also a preparation phase 1st where we’ll work on understanding your story, your symptoms and make sure you have good tools to self-sooth.

Some clients notice improvement in a few sessions, while others need more time. We will go at a pace that feels right for you.

Some clients might experience intense emotional reactions or body sensations during EMDR sessions. Some clients feel tired or emotional after sessions, and/or other dreams or memories might come back—that’s normal. EMDR is designed to be safe and manageable, and your therapist will always check in to keep things comfortable.

Yes—EMDR can be just as effective online as in person. Telehealth EMDR allows you to receive Trauma-Focused Therapy from the comfort and privacy of your own home.

During a virtual EMDR session, your therapist will guide you through the same phases of treatment used in an office setting. Many clients find Telehealth EMDR to be more convenient since, the is no traveling, no dealing with traffic, done in the comfort of your home.

All you’ll need is a private space, a stable internet connection, and a device with a camera and microphone.

If you’ve been putting off therapy because of scheduling, distance, or anxiety about being in an office—telehealth EMDR could be a flexible, powerful option for your healing.

EMDR is an evidence-based method for helping people heal from trauma.

It has been extensively researched and is recommended by many Trauma Organizations.

Visit the EMDR Institute, Inc. website, founded by Francine Shapiro, PhD and learn more about EMDR, the theoretical bases, the research behind it, etc. https://www.emdr.com/frequent-questions/

I would also encourage you to read “Getting Past Your Past” from Francine Shapiro, PhD. It will help you understand more about EMDR, familiarize yourself with this type of therapy, learn more about some of the strategies we’ll use and decide if this is something that you would like to do. It can also help you learn more about the mechanism of memory and trauma, big or small and the impact they can have in our present life.