EMDR THERAPY

My passion and expertise lie in the treatment of trauma-related symptoms and disorders. I find great meaning in reducing the unique suffering that often comes with having lived through a traumatic experience. It is an honor to accompany people as they work to recover.

I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), as well as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE). Using these therapies, I have worked with clients to resolve issues related to childhood trauma, combat trauma, sexual trauma, and more.

Over time, I have become increasingly impressed by the power of EMDR in particular. I use it frequently to alleviate not only trauma-related symptoms, but also many other difficulties. It is an effective tool to help resolve any situation that continues to influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in unwanted ways. See below for frequently asked questions about EMDR.

Frequently asked questions

  • Francine Shapiro, the founder of EMDR, says, “The goal of EMDR Treatment is to rapidly metabolize the dysfunctional residue from the past and transform it into something useful” (www.emdria.org).

    EMDR is an intervention that allows clients to become “unstuck” from difficult past experiences. It can turn trauma into something less raw and vivid and decrease feelings like shame, guilt, and anger. EMDR can help not only with trauma, but also with other forms of anxiety, as well as self-esteem, relationship difficulties, and many other issues.

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Originally, clients followed EMDR therapists’ fingers as they moved back and forth. Now, therapists often use other tools to facilitate brain activation. These include: a light bar, which allows clients to follow a light that moves back and forth; hand “tappers,” which buzz as you hold them; or “butterfly taps,” where the client taps their shoulders alternately.

  • Some clients know right away that they’d like to explore EMDR as an option for healing. In that case, you and I will work together to assess goals, memories you’d like to target, and readiness.

    Other clients present with concerns or goals that are not trauma-specific per se. They might have more general anxieties, or beliefs related to self or other that keep them stuck. After some time in therapy, it may become clear that current struggles are rooted in past experiences. In this case, I may broach a conversation about the use of EMDR.

    Before starting EMDR, I will explain to you the science and rationale behind it and prepare you for what to expect during and after EMDR sessions.

  • There are a few ways EMDR can be incorporated into therapy: EMDR can be used in weekly, 50-minute therapy sessions; EMDR can be alternated with typical “talk therapy” sessions; or EMDR can be offered in an “intensive” format. An EMDR intensive typically involved a 3+-hour session of EMDR. You and I can discuss whether or not you’d benefit from an intensive as part of our more general discussion about EMDR.

  • Collaborative, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and keep things moving.