EMDR Therapy

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based trauma therapy that helps people process and heal from painful or overwhelming experiences. It is widely used in counselling for PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, and other distress rooted in past events.

I offer EMDR therapy in-person in Squamish, BC, as well as online across British Columbia. It can be an incredibly insightful and supportive approach, especially if you are feeling stuck or hitting a wall with more traditional talk-based therapies.

Yes. EMDR therapy can be just as effective online as it is in person. Research and clinical experience both show that virtual EMDR works well for processing trauma, reducing anxiety, and supporting nervous-system regulation.

Online EMDR uses the same structured approach as in-person sessions. Your therapist guides you through the EMDR phases while using digital forms of bilateral stimulation, such as on-screen eye-movement tools, alternating tones through headphones, or guided tapping. Most clients find the process smooth, comfortable, and equally impactful.

I offer online EMDR therapy across British Columbia and in-person EMDR sessions in Squamish, so you can choose the format that best fits your needs, comfort, location, and schedule.

EMDR therapy is well-known for treating trauma and PTSD, but it can also be effective for many other emotional and psychological concerns. EMDR can be used to work through both past experiences and present-day triggers that feel overwhelming or stuck.

EMDR can help with:

• Anxiety and chronic worry

• Stress and burnout

• Panic attacks, flashbacks, and body-based fear responses

• Certain phobias

• Depression and low mood

• Grief and loss (death of a loved one, end of a relationship, major life changes)

• Low self-esteem and negative self-beliefs

• Performance anxiety (sports, public speaking, work-related pressure)

• Recurring patterns of self-defeating behaviour or thinking

• Anger that feels out of control or hard to regulate

• Situations where people have “tried everything” and still feel stuck

EMDR supports the nervous system in processing what once felt overwhelming, helping you respond with more stability, clarity, and confidence.

Evidence-Based Efficacy: Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of EMDR therapy in treating various mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, and more. It has been recognized by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) as a recommended treatment for trauma-related conditions

Versatile Applications: While EMDR therapy is widely recognized for its effectiveness in treating trauma-related conditions, it has also proven beneficial for a range of other mental health issues. These include panic disorder, phobias, grief, performance anxiety, self-esteem issues, and more. This can be adapted to suit the unique needs and goals of each client, making it a versatile therapy approach.

How Is EMDR Different From CBT?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a widely used, evidence-based approach that helps people understand how their thoughts, emotions, sensations, and behaviours are connected. CBT—and DBT skills—are incredibly helpful for managing triggers, cravings, anxiety, strong emotions, and day-to-day stress. I often use these tools to help clients build grounding skills, increase emotional regulation, and feel more steady in the present moment.

EMDR takes a different approach. Instead of focusing mainly on changing thoughts, EMDR works with how the body and brain store past experiences. Distress in the present is often tied to older memories, beliefs, or survival responses that were never fully processed. EMDR helps the brain update these old experiences so they no longer trigger the same patterns of fear, avoidance, shame, or reactivity.

Where CBT is often top-down (working with thoughts and behaviours), EMDR, IFS/parts work, and somatic therapy are more bottom-up approaches. They support deeper healing by exploring:

• How past experiences—including trauma, family dynamics, attachment wounds, or overwhelming situations—shape current stress

• Protective parts of us that developed to keep us safe

• Body sensations that hold unprocessed emotions

• Core beliefs such as “I’m not enough,” “I’m unsafe,” or “I have to be perfect”

Together, these approaches offer both present-moment tools (from CBT/DBT and ACT) and deeper processing (through EMDR, IFS, and somatic work).

This integrated method helps people move beyond symptoms alone and into lasting positive change—responding from values, clarity, and safety rather than old survival patterns.

While EMDR can be highly effective for many people, there are some situations where it may not be the best therapeutic approach. EMDR may not be appropriate for individuals who:

• Have certain dissociative disorders—such as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or Dissociative Amnesia.
  In these cases, it can. behelpful to seek an EMDR therapist with training in structural dissociation.

• Are prescribed certain medications, particularly benzodiazepines, as these can interfere with the brain’s ability to fully engage in trauma reprocessing.

• Cannot tolerate focusing on distressing memories, even briefly.
  Although EMDR begins with extensive resourcing and preparation to help clients build coping capacity, some individuals may still find the process too overwhelming.

• Feel significantly disconnected from their body or experience high levels of depersonalization.
  EMDR relies on noticing somatic sensations—like tightness in the chest, tension in the stomach, or shifts in breathing—which can be difficult for clients who are not yet able to access bodily awareness.

• Are experiencing active suicidal ideation or severe instability.
  Stabilization, safety planning, and other therapeutic approaches are prioritized before engaging in EMDR.

Who Is EMDR Appropriate For?

EMDR can be a powerful and effective therapy for a wide range of people, but certain conditions help ensure that the process feels safe and supportive. EMDR may be appropriate for individuals who can:

• Stay present in mind and body and notice thoughts, emotions, and sensations during a session.

• Tolerate short-term discomfort. EMDR does not create symptoms, but it does involve briefly noticing disturbing memories as the brain processes them.

• Manage some level of emotional distress without becoming overwhelmed.

• Use coping tools between sessions. During early phases of EMDR, your therapist helps you build “resourcing” skills—such as grounding strategies, positive imagery, and nervous system regulation—to support you throughout treatment.

• Access at least one supportive person outside of therapy for grounding or connection between sessions.

What About More Complex Trauma?

For individuals with complex PTSD, attachment trauma, or long histories of dysregulation, EMDR may still be highly effective—but the process often looks different from the traditional approach.

Instead of using the standard protocol immediately, therapy may focus first on:

• Resourcing and stabilization to expand your window of tolerance.

• Developing emotional regulation skills tailored to your nervous system.

• Highly contained processing, such as working with one image, one sensation, or very small pieces of a memory at a time to prevent overwhelm.

• Strengthening internal supports and building safety before moving into deeper trauma reprocessing.

This flexible, individualized approach ensures EMDR is safe, paced, and aligned with each client’s capacity—especially when working with complex trauma.

If you’re unsure, a free consultation can often help determine the right pace and approach so your system feels safe and supported. It’s an opportunity to ask questions or gain more information about this approach and whether it could be a good fit for what you are looking for.

Trauma is an emotional and psychological response to an overwhelming or distressing experience—one that exceeds a person’s ability to cope in the moment. While trauma is often associated with events like accidents, natural disasters, violence, or abuse, it can also stem from less obvious but deeply impactful experiences. These may include the end of a significant relationship, ongoing bullying, medical procedures, or growing up in a home with conflict, instability, or emotional neglect.

Trauma is not defined by the event itself, but by how your mind and body respond to it. Two people can live through the same situation and be affected in completely different ways. What matters is the impact on your sense of safety, connection, and control.

Common signs of trauma may include:

• Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares

• Anxiety, panic, or persistent fear

• Feeling on edge or hypervigilant

• Emotional numbness or disconnection

• Avoidance of reminders

• Difficulty trusting others or maintaining healthy relationships

• Low mood, shame, or self-blame

Counselling offers a safe, supportive space to process and heal from these experiences. Evidence-based approaches—such as EMDR, somatic therapy, and parts work—have shown to be a gentle yet powerful way to approach trauma therapy.