EMDR & BRAINSPOTTING
EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION & REPROCESSING
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) is a treatment method that has been widely researched and proven very effective in processing traumatic memories so they don’t hold “power” over you anymore. Normally, when events happen to us in our lives, our brain can process them so they don’t have the same impact as when it happened. Sometimes our brain isn’t able to process it effectively so when the memory is accessed again, it brings on the same emotional distress & intensity. We often think trauma is only big things like abuse or violence (which are “big T” traumas) but we also all experience smaller things like bullying, a coach yelling at us, comments made by others, an embarrassing moment, etc (which are “small t” traumas).
All of these can lead to low-self esteem, confidence, anxiety, etc. Talking about them helps and can elevate part of their effects but EMDR gets to the core. Memories are housed in parts of the brain and body that words don’t get to but EMDR can. EMDR allows the brain to go back and reprocess those memories correctly thus reducing or eliminating those negative reactions and beliefs they once caused so you can live in freedom from the event…even the hard ones. It doesn’t erase the memory, it reprocesses them so they become less vivid, powerful, or distressing; in essence faded or blurry.
The EMDR Institute explains it like this:
EMDR therapy facilitates the accessing and processing of traumatic memories and other adverse life experience to bring these to an adaptive resolution. After successful treatment with EMDR therapy, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs are reformulated, and physiological arousal is reduced.
It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes.
EMDR is not hypnosis and doesn’t use drugs as a form of treatment. EMDR is used to treat PTSD, depression, anxiety, single incident or complex trauma and eating disorders to name just a few.
Courtesy of EMDRIA
I also often use a specific platform built on clinical research using a patented algorithm designed for desensitization work. It’s great for desensitizing specific triggers you react to or emotionally intense memories but also calming anxiety and emotions to regulate yourself. It’s created by a group in the Netherlands who work closely with PTSD experts there who do most EMDR research and have the largest PTSD clinic in the world. It is incredibly effective very quickly.
BRAINSPOTTING
The motto of Brainspotting is “Where you look affects how you feel.” And it really is true! Clients often say, “That’s crazy -I felt it so much more or way deeper looking over there!” Let me explain.
Brainspotting is a powerful, brain-based therapy that taps into the body’s natural ability to heal itself. It was discovered by an EMDR therapist who noticed that when clients were processing, their eyes would sometimes pause, “bobble,” or stay fixed for a moment before continuing to move bilaterally. This observation revealed something profound: our brains store unprocessed memories, trauma, and even deeply held beliefs in very specific “spots” within the brain and body.
By identifying these visual “brainspots,” we can focus directly on the area of the brain connected to the issue at hand. This allows the brain to access and release what has been stuck—whether that’s trauma, emotional pain, limiting beliefs, or overwhelming stress. Unlike talk therapy, which works primarily with the thinking brain, Brainspotting reaches into the deeper survival areas of the brain and into the body where experiences are often held. This makes it uniquely effective for resolving experiences that feel “stuck” or continue to trigger us long after the event has passed and tends to process quickly.
Brainspotting also works with the nervous system, helping regulate and calm overwhelming emotional states. Because the eyes and brain are closely connected, our vision becomes a direct doorway to healing—helping us safely process at a pace that feels right for each individual.
Many clients find that Brainspotting helps them access insights, release stored tension, and heal in ways that feel natural, lasting, and often surprisingly gentle. It can be used for trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, performance issues, creativity blocks, and so much more.
BEGIN YOUR HEALING JOURNEY wITH ME
Contact me today to schedule a therapy session or learn more about how counseling can help you feel more like yourself again. You don’t have to keep doing this alone—healing is possible.