EMDR Therapy in Oregon
A body-based scientific approach grounded
in reprocessing experiences that remain
stored in a maladaptive or reactive state.
EMDR therapy allows those experiences to integrate so they no longer feel present or continue to shape your responses.
UNDERSTANDING EMDR
What Is EMDR?
What Is EMDR?
EMDR helps reduce the emotional intensity of difficult memories and experiences; not by erasing them, but by helping your nervous system fully process them. Using gentle bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, EMDR supports the brain in releasing experiences that have become stuck in the body and nervous system.
Clients often describe EMDR as a way of finally feeling relief, clarity, or release after years of holding it all in.
How Does EMDR Work?
How Does EMDR Work?
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR helps your brain reprocess painful or overwhelming memories so they no longer feel as intense or stuck. During EMDR, we use gentle bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or sound) to activate both sides of the brain. This happens while you recall certain thoughts, feelings, or images.
This process helps the nervous system process unresolved experiences and move them from survival mode into long-term memory, where they begin to feel less emotionally charged. You remain fully in control, and we move at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
EMDR doesn’t erase the past. It helps you relate to it differently- with more clarity, groundedness, and self-compassion.
EMDR helps your brain reprocess painful or overwhelming memories so they no longer feel as intense or stuck. During EMDR, we use gentle bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or sound) to activate both sides of the brain. This happens while you recall certain thoughts, feelings, or images.
This process helps the nervous system process unresolved experiences and move them from survival mode into long-term memory, where they begin to feel less emotionally charged. You remain fully in control, and we move at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
EMDR doesn’t erase the past. It helps you relate to it differently- with more clarity, groundedness, and self-compassion.
What to Expect
Getting started with EMDR is a gentle and deeply relational process.
We’ll start with relationship building, grounding tools, and resourcing to help you feel safe and supported. When and if you're ready, we’ll integrate EMDR into our work as a tool for deeper healing.
The foundational work of EMDR happens at the beginning. We’ll focus on building a foundation of trust, safety, and clarity. In our early sessions, we’ll deepen our relationship as we explore your story, strengths, and goals at a pace that feels right for you. You’ll be invited to share only what feels comfortable. With EMDR, there is no pressure to go “deep” before you're ready.
Here’s what the process typically looks like:
Initial Sessions: We start with talk therapy, grounding, and exploring what brings you to therapy. We’ll assess whether EMDR is a good fit for your needs and collaboratively clarify what healing looks like for you.
Resourcing + Preparation: You’ll learn practical tools for nervous system regulation and emotional safety so you feel more equipped and supported going into deeper work. This phase of the process takes time, as we also learn to attune with the pace of our bodies and nervous systems.
EMDR Processing: When you’re ready, we’ll begin the EMDR re-processing phase. You’ll bring up specific memories, feelings, or beliefs while engaging in bilateral stimulation (like eye movements or tapping) to help your brain reprocess material. You’ll remain fully in control, and we’ll move slowly, checking in to make sure you feel supported every step.
Integration + Reflection: After re-processing, we’ll spend time helping you reflect, integrate insights, and reconnect with your strengths. This part is just as important as the re-processing itself.
We’ll check in often, adapt the pace as needed, and always center your choice and autonomy in the process.
Contrary to what we may have been taught to think, unnecessary and unchosen suffering wounds us but need not scar us for life. It does mark us. What we allow the mark of our suffering to become is in our own hands.
Contrary to what we may have been taught to think, unnecessary and unchosen suffering wounds us but need not scar us for life. It does mark us. What we allow the mark of our suffering to become is in our own hands.
bell hooks