EMDR

There are several common ways EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is used in therapy, especially relevant to trauma, grief, and complex presentations:

Processing single-incident trauma
 EMDR helps clients reprocess specific distressing memories (e.g., accidents, assaults, medical trauma, sudden loss) so they become less emotionally charged and no longer trigger intense reactions.

Treating complex and developmental trauma
 For clients with childhood neglect, abuse, or attachment wounds, EMDR targets early relational memories, negative core beliefs (e.g., “I’m unsafe,” “I’m not enough”), and patterns that still affect adult relationships.

Reducing anxiety and panic
 EMDR can target the first time anxiety or panic was experienced, as well as recurring triggers, helping decrease physiological reactivity and anticipatory fear.

Addressing grief and complicated loss
 Clients can process painful moments related to loss, unresolved goodbyes, traumatic aspects of death, or guilt and regret that block natural grieving.

Healing negative self-beliefs EMDR works directly with entrenched beliefs such as “I’m broken,” “I’m powerless,” or “I don’t matter,” replacing them with more adaptive, compassionate beliefs. 

Supporting attachment and relationship issues 
EMDR can process memories connected to rejection, abandonment, betrayal, or emotional neglect that shape how clients relate to others.

Chronic pain and somatic symptoms 
By targeting trauma stored in the body, EMDR may reduce pain intensity or distress associated with conditions that have a stress or trauma component.