Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy in Vancouver, WA

What is EMDR?

EMDR is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain finish processing what it couldn't at the time. You may not think of yourself as having unresolved experiences. You may just notice that certain things hit harder than they should, or that understanding a pattern hasn't been enough to change it.

When something overwhelming happens, the memory can become stored in a way that keeps it alive in the present. It shows up as anxiety, reactivity, intrusive thoughts, or a sense that something is wrong even when things look fine on the outside.

EMDR works by activating those memories while simultaneously engaging bilateral stimulation, typically eye movements, tapping, or sound. This allows the brain to process and integrate what it couldn't at the time. The result is not forgetting what happened, but no longer being hijacked by it.

What does EMDR help with?

EMDR is best known for trauma and PTSD (big T, little t, complex, and single event trauma) but its applications go further than most people expect. It can also be effective for:

  • Anxiety and chronic worry

  • Depression

  • Shame and self-criticism

  • Panic

  • Grief and loss

  • Experiences that feel disproportionately charged or hard to move past

What does an EMDR session look like?

EMDR is more structured than a typical talk therapy session, but it is not rigid. Sessions involve identifying what we are working on, establishing a clear target, and moving through a defined process using bilateral stimulation. You do not need to describe events in detail. The processing happens internally, with me tracking and adjusting as we go.

I use standard EMDR protocol as well as R-TEP (Recent Traumatic Event Protocol) for more recent experiences, and the Flash Technique for material that feels too activating to approach directly. The approach is matched to what you bring and what your system is ready for.

Adjunctive EMDR: for clients already working with a therapist

If you are currently working with a therapist and want to add EMDR, I offer adjunctive sessions alongside your existing care. This is a focused arrangement. We work on specific targets while you continue your primary therapy elsewhere.

Adjunctive work requires coordination. I will ask you to sign a release of information so I can be in contact with your primary therapist. This keeps your care consistent and avoids working at cross-purposes.

If you are a clinician looking to refer a client for adjunctive EMDR, feel free to reach out directly.

Ready to get started or learn more?

If any of this resonates, I'd encourage you to reach out. You don't have to have it figured out to take the first step. I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can get a sense of fit before committing to anything. Click here to fill out the Client Inquiry Form or email, call, or text my office.