EMDR Therapy

EMDR Therapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Experiences That Still Affect You

Sometimes you know an experience happened in the past, but your body and mind still react as if it is happening now.

You may find yourself feeling anxious, overwhelmed, on edge, disconnected, or stuck in patterns you don't fully understand. Certain memories, situations, relationships, or even sensations may bring up reactions that feel bigger than the moment calls for.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused therapy that can help you process distressing experiences and develop a different relationship with memories, emotions, and beliefs that continue to affect you.

At Saltwater Wellness Counseling, I offer EMDR therapy for adults in Holladay and the Salt Lake City area, as well as secure telehealth throughout Utah.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.

EMDR is a structured therapy approach originally developed to help people process traumatic and distressing experiences. Rather than simply talking about what happened, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation—such as guided eye movements or other forms of alternating stimulation—while you briefly focus on aspects of a difficult experience.

The goal is to help your brain process experiences that may feel stuck or unresolved so that the memory becomes less emotionally and physically overwhelming.

You don't have to forget what happened.

Instead, the goal is for the experience to become something you remember as part of your history rather than something that continues to control how you feel in the present.

How Can EMDR Help?

EMDR is often associated with trauma, but difficult or overwhelming experiences can affect many areas of life.

EMDR may be helpful when you're experiencing:

Trauma or PTSD symptoms
Anxiety or chronic worry
Panic or feeling constantly on alert
Distressing or intrusive memories
Relationship patterns connected to past experiences
Shame or persistent feelings of inadequacy
Negative beliefs about yourself
Emotional reactions that seem difficult to explain
Difficult childhood experiences
Grief or other painful life experiences
Fear, avoidance, or feeling stuck after a distressing event
A sense that you understand something intellectually but still react emotionally or physically

Not every difficult experience needs to be treated with EMDR, and EMDR isn't the right approach for everyone. We'll work together to determine what makes sense for you and your goals.

You Don't Have to Relive Your Trauma

One of the most common concerns I hear about trauma therapy is:

“I don't want to have to talk about everything that happened.”

You don't have to tell your entire story in graphic detail for EMDR to be meaningful. There’s actually often not a lot of talking at all.

EMDR is not about forcing yourself to repeatedly relive a traumatic experience. Treatment is paced carefully, and we focus first on establishing safety, stability, and resources before moving into deeper processing.

You remain an active participant throughout therapy. We can slow down, pause, or adjust the process when needed.

What Happens During an EMDR Session?

EMDR therapy generally involves several stages rather than immediately beginning with traumatic memories.

Early sessions may focus on getting to know you, understanding what brings you to therapy, identifying your goals, developing coping and grounding skills, and making sure you have enough stability and support to begin processing.

When you're ready for reprocessing, we'll identify a specific experience, image, belief, emotion, or body sensation to work with.

During the processing phase, I'll guide you through bilateral stimulation while you briefly notice what comes up. You don't need to force anything or figure everything out.

Your mind may naturally make connections between memories, emotions, sensations, and beliefs.

Over time, distress associated with the experience may decrease, while more adaptive perspectives and beliefs can become easier to access.

How Many EMDR Sessions Will I Need?

There isn't one number of sessions that works for everyone.

The amount of time you spend in EMDR depends on factors such as your goals, the experiences you're working through, how your nervous system responds to processing, and whether there are multiple experiences that need attention.

Some people seek EMDR for a specific event, while others are working through more complex or longstanding experiences.

We don't have to rush the process. Your treatment plan can change as we learn more about what you need.

Is EMDR Only for PTSD?

No.

EMDR was initially developed in the context of trauma, and it is well established as a treatment for PTSD. It has also been used clinically with other concerns involving distressing memories, anxiety, phobias, grief, and other difficult experiences.

Whether EMDR is appropriate depends on your individual situation.

Sometimes another approach—or a combination of approaches—is a better fit.

Can EMDR Help With Anxiety?

Anxiety can sometimes be connected to experiences that taught your nervous system that the world is unsafe, unpredictable, or that you aren't capable of handling what happens next.

EMDR can help explore and process experiences that may be contributing to these patterns.

For example, you may intellectually know that you're safe now while still experiencing a strong physical response when something reminds you of the past.

EMDR may help reduce the intensity of those responses and create more room for you to respond to the present rather than automatically reacting from the past.

EMDR for Childhood Trauma

Childhood experiences can shape the beliefs we develop about ourselves and relationships.

You may have learned things like:

“I'm not safe.”
“I'm not good enough.”
“I have to take care of everyone.”
“My needs don't matter.”
“I can't trust people.”
“I have to be perfect to be accepted.”

Even when you understand as an adult that these beliefs aren't necessarily true, they can continue to influence your emotions, relationships, and behavior.

EMDR can be used to explore and process experiences that contributed to these beliefs while helping you develop more adaptive ways of understanding yourself and what happened.

EMDR and IFS

EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) can complement one another.

IFS provides a compassionate framework for understanding different parts of yourself and the protective roles they may play. EMDR provides a structured approach for processing distressing experiences.

Depending on your needs, therapy may incorporate elements of both approaches rather than relying on one method exclusively.

The goal is not to fit you into a particular therapy model. It's to find an approach that supports your individual healing process.

What Makes My Approach Different?

I believe effective trauma therapy requires more than a particular technique.

It requires a strong therapeutic relationship, a sense of safety, and respect for your pace.

My approach is trauma-focused, mindfulness-based, and relational. I draw from EMDR, IFS, CBT, and other evidence-informed approaches to create therapy that is responsive to your individual needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all formula.

You don't have to arrive knowing exactly what you need.

We'll work together to understand what's happening, identify your goals, and determine what approach makes the most sense.

You Can Heal Without Erasing Your Story

Your past is part of your story, but it doesn't have to determine how you experience the present.

If you're tired of feeling controlled by anxiety, painful memories, old beliefs, or reactions you don't fully understand, EMDR may offer a way to begin processing what you've been carrying.

You don't have to know whether EMDR is right for you before reaching out.

EMDR Therapy in Holladay and Throughout Utah

I offer in-person EMDR therapy in Holladay, near Salt Lake City, as well as secure telehealth for clients throughout Utah.

Telehealth can be a convenient option if you live outside the Salt Lake City area or feel more comfortable doing therapy from home.

Start With a Free Consultation

I offer a free 15-minute consultation where we can talk about what you're experiencing, what you're hoping will change, and whether EMDR or another therapeutic approach may be a good fit.

Call 385-275-6441 or contact me to schedule a consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR Therapy

What does EMDR feel like?

EMDR can feel different for everyone. During a session, you may notice emotions, thoughts, memories, physical sensations, or images coming up as you focus briefly on a difficult experience while following bilateral stimulation.

Some people experience a sense of relief or emotional distance from a memory. Others notice connections between experiences, thoughts, or feelings that they hadn't recognized before.

You don't need to force anything to happen. Your role is simply to notice what comes up while we work together at a pace that feels manageable. I'll guide you through the process and help you stay grounded throughout the session.

Do I have to talk about my trauma in EMDR?

No. You don't have to share every detail of a traumatic experience for EMDR to be helpful.

Before beginning reprocessing, we'll spend time developing safety, trust, coping skills, and a clear understanding of your goals. When you're ready, we can identify the experiences or patterns you want to work on without requiring you to describe everything in detail.

You remain in control of what you share. If something feels too overwhelming, we can slow down, pause, or focus on stabilization instead.

Is EMDR painful or emotionally overwhelming?

EMDR can bring up difficult emotions, particularly when we're working with painful experiences. However, therapy should not require you to become overwhelmed in order for healing to occur.

A significant part of EMDR involves preparing for processing and developing resources that can help you manage difficult emotions. We'll work collaboratively and at a pace that respects your needs and sense of safety.

You can always let me know if you need to pause, slow down, or take a break.

How long does EMDR therapy take?

There isn't a set number of EMDR sessions that applies to everyone.

The length of therapy depends on what you're working through, whether you're addressing a single event or multiple experiences, your goals, and how you respond to treatment.

Some people seek EMDR for a specific distressing event, while others are working through longstanding or complex experiences. We'll regularly check in about your progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed.

Is EMDR effective?

EMDR has been extensively studied for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and major clinical guidelines recognize trauma-focused therapies, including EMDR, as evidence-based treatments for PTSD.

Research has also explored EMDR for other concerns, although the strength of evidence varies depending on the condition.

Whether EMDR is appropriate for you depends on your individual circumstances, goals, and clinical needs. During therapy, we'll consider whether EMDR—or another approach—makes the most sense for you.

Can EMDR be done through telehealth?

Yes. EMDR can be adapted for telehealth in appropriate circumstances.

Virtual sessions can use different forms of bilateral stimulation, and we can determine together whether online EMDR feels comfortable and appropriate for you.

Telehealth can be especially convenient if you're outside the Salt Lake City area or prefer participating in therapy from the privacy and comfort of your own home.

I offer secure telehealth therapy throughout Utah.

How do I know if EMDR is right for me?

EMDR may be worth considering if you feel affected by a traumatic or distressing experience, have memories that continue to trigger strong emotional or physical reactions, or find yourself stuck in patterns that seem connected to your past.

It may also be helpful if you experience anxiety, avoidance, shame, negative beliefs about yourself, or a sense that you understand something intellectually but still react as though you're back in the original situation.

You don't need to know whether EMDR is the right treatment before contacting me. We can talk about what you're experiencing, what you'd like to change, and whether EMDR or another approach would be a good fit.

What is the difference between EMDR and IFS?

EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) are different therapeutic approaches, but they can complement one another.

EMDR focuses on helping you process distressing memories and experiences that may continue to affect you. IFS focuses on understanding different parts of yourself and the protective roles they may play.

Depending on your needs, therapy may incorporate one approach or elements of both. The goal isn't to choose a technique simply because it has a particular name. It's to find an approach that fits your experiences, goals, and pace.

What should I expect during my first EMDR session?

Your first session is generally about getting to know you, understanding what brings you to therapy, discussing your goals, and determining whether EMDR is appropriate.

We won't necessarily begin processing a traumatic memory during your first appointment.

Depending on your needs, early sessions may include education about EMDR, identifying patterns you'd like to change, developing grounding or coping strategies, and establishing a foundation of safety and trust.

When you're ready, we'll create a plan for beginning EMDR processing at a pace that feels manageable for you.