If you’re currently in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy or even if you’re just wondering what it would be like to experience this type of trauma healing, you’re probably wondering what you can expect after your EMDR sessions. I hear this from people considering EMDR all the time - what’s going to happen afterwards?

In my work as a psychotherapist specializing in trauma therapy, I’ve seen how pervasive misunderstandings about trauma and memory can be. These misconceptions are more than just innocent errors - they can significantly impact how survivors of childhood trauma view their experiences and healing journeys. Understanding the truth behind these myths has been extremely helpful for many of my clients and for anyone on the path to healing from trauma. Empowering survivors with accurate information, which can be a game-changer in their recovery process, is key to creating a more trauma-informed world.

Surviving childhood trauma is a journey that often leaves deep emotional scars. You might find yourself grappling with feelings of fear, mistrust, or an overwhelming sense of being stuck. Perhaps there are moments when the past seems to echo loudly in your present, making it hard to find peace or joy in everyday life.

You may be asking yourself, “How can I truly heal from my past traumas and live a life not overshadowed by those experiences?”

The eye movements in EMDR are part of what is called bilateral stimulation, a core component of EMDR Therapy. Bilateral stimulation aims to engage both hemispheres of the brain, allowing for the full processing and integration of distressing memories…While eye movements are a key feature, they are not the only form of bilateral stimulation that can be used in EMDR.

“This is going to be our last set for today,” I say, after pushing our time just a little longer than I should have. While I usually prefer to have a full 10 minutes after a reprocessing session to help the client come back to the present and soothe the nervous system, on this day I’ve done what I’ve done so many times before - eagerly pushed the boundaries of our time together to help them get just a little more out of the meditative and connected state they’ve achieved with me.

My client sighs, nods in understanding, and as we start to wrap up I find myself thinking one again, “Damn, 50 minutes just isn’t enough time for this.”

If you’ve been failed by therapy, you might recognize the feeling – nerves leading up to the first appointment, feeling unsure if this is going to work for you, and slowly losing interest in your sessions until you finally cancel and ghost this therapist. You might repeat the cycle a few times until ultimately giving up on therapy.

I know for a fact that this therapy can be transformational, empowering, moving, and deep.

I also know that it doesn’t always go that way.

One way I work with clients (individually or as a couple) when we’re trying to resolve conflict in a healthy way, without escalating to the point of saying or doing things that hurt one another.

Learn five somatic strategies to reduce anxiety, calm the nervous system, and get more grounded and present.

How can we honor our history while staying grounded in the present?

Five books that I would recommend to trauma survivors who want to better understand their experiences and learn more about what the path to healing looks like.

How do we be with big feelings? Plus a cover that I’ve been listening to on repeat and a little more of my own story.

Just because a mental health professional or a doctor diagnosed you with depression, doesn’t mean that your brain doesn’t make enough neurotransmitters.

The big myth about trauma healing and how to actually get it right.

What does EMDR stand for, what happens in a session, and why is my client calling it “witch magic?”

How do I use a superbill to pay for therapy? How can I use my out-of-network benefits? A licensed therapist makes it easy to understand how to use out-of-network insurance to help pay for therapy or to make therapy more affordable for you.