Therapeutic Approach
EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR)
About EMDR
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps individuals heal from trauma and emotional distress. By using bilateral stimulation (like guided eye movements), EMDR allows the brain to reprocess distressing memories and reduce their emotional charge. It’s especially effective for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other trauma-related conditions, offering lasting emotional relief and healing.
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EMDR works by helping the brain process traumatic memories that have been "stuck," often causing emotional and psychological distress. Through bilateral stimulation, the brain’s natural healing mechanisms are activated, enabling the memory to be reprocessed and stored in a healthier way. Over time, this reduces emotional intensity and helps individuals develop more effective coping strategies.
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EMDR benefits a wide range of individuals, including but not limited to:
Those with PTSD: Ideal for anyone struggling with trauma, whether from military service, accidents, or abuse.
Military Personnel and Veterans: Helps process combat-related trauma and reduce anxiety or flashbacks.
Law Enforcement and First Responders: Effective for those with repeated exposure to trauma, helping to manage stress and emotional impact.
People with Addictions: Addresses emotional wounds beneath addictive behaviors, supporting lasting recovery.
Athletes and High-Performers: Reduces mental blocks, performance anxiety, and stress to improve focus and confidence.
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EMDR provides a wide range of benefits, including emotional healing, reduced anxiety, and improved emotional resilience. It helps individuals process and reframe distressing memories, leading to long-term relief from trauma and stress. It can also enhance focus, reduce mental blocks, and improve overall coping skills.
For specific populations, EMDR has been shown to be effective for those with PTSD, individuals recovering from addiction, high-performance professionals, and those with repeated exposure to trauma, such as military personnel, law enforcement, and first responders.
8-Phases of EMDR Therapy
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Phase One: History Taking and Treatment Planning
Gather information about your history
Gain insight into your traumatic events + potential targets to reprocess
Assess your internal & external resources -
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Phase 2: Preparation
Establish therapeutic alliance
Explain EMDR process & set expectations
Address your questions & concerns
Build your tool kit full of resources to lean on if/when processing becomes difficult
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Phase Three: Assessment
Identify memories + events to reprocess
(Images, negative beliefs, emotions, body sensations)
Have you rate how disturbing these memories/ events are on a scale of 1-10 (SUD Score) to get a baseline assessment before reprocessing
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Phase Four: Desensitization
Begin BLS (eye movements, alternating tapping, or sounds) while thinking of the traumatic event. Continue until the subjective units of distress (SUD) reduces to a 0 or as low as you feel is appropriate.
Allowing for new images, thoughts, emotions & body sensations to emerge.
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Phase Five: Installation
Focus on stengthening the positive belief that you want to think/ believe about yourself when you look back on this memory/ event.
Continue with this phase until it feels completely true on a gut level.
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Phase Six: Body Scan
While holding the memory of the traumatic event & the newfound positive belief, you will be asked to do a body scan to see if any negative / lingering disturbance is left in your body.
If yes, we will continue with EMDR to move this energy until the body feels calm & clear
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Phase Seven: Closure
If a target is “completed” by the end of a session then you will notice the SUD score is a 0 (or close to), the positive belief feels completely true, and the body scan is calm/ clear.
If a target is not “completed” at the end of the session, we will guide you towards re-establishing a sense of calm in your body prior to leaving the office.
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Phase Eight: Re-Evaluation
At the start of each new session, you will be asked to re-evaluate the target you were previously working on at the session before, to ensure that no new disturbing material has came up & that the target is still considered “closed”
If the target is not “closed” you will continue the previous phases until it feels complete.
If the target is “complete” then you will move on to choosing the next target!
EMDR for Couples
EMDR can also be used in couples therapy to help partners address past trauma and build stronger connections.
Benefits of EMDR for couples
Empathy: Partners can develop a deeper understanding of each other through sharing thoughts and feelings
Attachment: EMDR can help partners feel safer and more connected
Resilience: EMDR can help partners build resilience and grow together
Reconciliation: EMDR can provide a structured environment for partners to reconcile
When is EMDR appropriate for couples?
When partners are committed to their relationship
When partners can be vulnerable with each other
When partners have a sense of emotional safety or attachment
When partners share similar traumatic experiences
How does EMDR work in couples therapy?
Partners work together in EMDR sessions to process shared traumatic events
Partners take turns reprocessing traumatic events in front of each other
Additional considerations
Not all couples are appropriate for EMDR
EMDR can be integrated into couples "talk" therapy
Start Healing with EMDR
Book a FREE 15-minute consultation call with someone off our team, today.
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![EMDR Therapist Kingston]()
Brittnee Stewart, RP
In-person EMDR Therapy
EMDR Certified Therapist
EMDRIA Consultant in Training
IFS Institute - Trained IFS TherapistEMDR Specialties
EMDRIA approved Consultation for EMDR trained therapists working towards certification
Advanced training in IFS-EMDR, to administer a blended approach interweaving EMDR and Internal Family Systems (EMDR + IFS)
EMDR + IFS with low-dose Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
EMDR for psychedelic preparation & integration
EMDR for Complex Trauma (C-PTSD)
EMDR for Therapists
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Zack Revell, RP (Q)
In-Person EMDR Therapy
EMDR Trained TherapistEMDR Specialties
EMDR for trauma & PTSD
EMDR for addictions & substance use concerns
EMDR for first responders, law enforcement & correctional officers
EMDR for peak performance
EMDR for Athletes
EMDR for performers
EMDR for High Achievers
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![EMDR for Military and Veterans]()
Kristin Harriet, RSW
In-Person EMDR Therapy
EMDR Trained TherapistEMDR Specialties
EMDR for Military & Veteran Populations
EMDR for trauma & PTSD
EMDR for Sexual Trauma
EMDR for Children, Youth & Adolescents
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Yasmin Goldie, RP/ RN
Virtual EMDR Therapy
EMDR Trained TherapistEMDR Specialties
EMDR for Trauma & PTSD
EMDR for addictions & substance use
EMDR for chronic pain
EMDR for eating disorders (bing eating)
Advanced training in facilitating EMDR for Couples
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Cathy Lumsden
Virtual EMDR Therapy
EMDR Trained TherapistEMDR Specialties
EMDR for trauma & PTSD
Blended approach using EMDR + Brainspotting
EMDR for stress
EMDR for anxiety and depression
EMDR for domestic violence survivors
EMDR for relationship trauma and divorce
Feeling overwhelmed & not sure where to start?
Unsure which service / practitioner would be most supportive for you?
Let us take the decision fatigue & overwhelm off of your plate.
Help us help you by completing our quick & easy ‘matching form’ below.
Once completed, we will match you with someone off our team who would be a good fit for you & you can start your journey to health & healing.
