Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)

Establish Safety & Nervous System Relief through EMDR

Instead of constantly fighting with your nervous system to feel in control, strong, and capable after trauma or periods of high stress… Shared Stories Counseling is here to help you fully appreciate what your mind, body and spirit are needing to feel your safest and most authentic self.

Individual EMDR sessions are scheduled for 1 hour and are available in-person or online.

Individual Sessions

EMDR Intensives

EMDR Intensives are individual sessions scheduled for 3 - 4 hours and are available in-person or online.

Reduce anxiety, irritability, dissociation & emotional shut down related to:

Childhood Trauma

Sexual Assault or Exploitation

Single Event PTSD

Complex Trauma

Panic, Phobias

Depression

Grief, Loss

Chronic Stress

Attachment Based Trauma

Relationship Issues

Family Conflict

Parenting Stress

School or Career Stress

It may be more common then you think for people who are impacted by trauma and nervous system distress to not fully benefit from traditional talk therapy. Many individuals looking to heal from chronic stress connect with well-intentioned providers who aren’t able to fully understand all that their clients’ bodies have been holding after trauma.

Shared Stories Counseling believes that healing happens when the body’s wisdom is centered as part of the therapeutic process. Our hope is that once you are connected with the right provider who is able to offer personalized, trauma-informed, somatic care, you’ll feel seen, validated, and leave with a deeper understanding of what your body is needing to heal.

Many of our clients present to therapy to discuss difficulty with tolerating distress while trying to keep up with the demands of daily life. As they get acclimated to the EMDR process, they are able to safely float back in their memories to reprocess the difficult life experiences, beliefs, and sensations that are causing present day nervous system pain. EMDR is a powerful tool that helps reprocess blocked memories that are causing present day anxiety, irritability, nightmares, panic, flashbacks, emotional numbness, and fear.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is an 8 phase approach designed to help you process blocked memories and associated negative beliefs that are causing you present day distress.

    Through use of Bilateral Stimulation (visual, auditory or tactile), you will be able to safely reprocess the difficult memories that are keeping you stuck in survival mode.

    EMDR is considered standard best practice for the treatment of PTSD and trauma related disorders including complex trauma and dissociative disorders.

  • Shared Stories Counseling is committed to making sure trauma-focused therapy is accessible and stays at a pace that feels safe for you.

    It is very common to have hesitation when trying to decide if you’re ready to begin trauma-focused therapy. Our bodies and minds often protect us by telling us not to “go there” in our memories. However, we know that present day anxiety attacks, irritability, flashbacks, nightmares, dissociative amnesia, and negative beliefs are often caused by insufficiently processed or blocked memories.

    We believe that you’re ready for EMDR if you’re motivated to establish a trusting relationship with a provider who prioritizes your safety, goals and preferred pace throughout treatment. It’s important to know that throughout EMDR therapy, you are 100% in control.

  • In most cases, you’ll be asked to identify turning points, challenging events, or traumatic memories as part of the assessment and treatment planning phases of EMDR. After working to establish a safe and trusting relationship with your therapist and after learning useful coping techniques, you may be asked to recall aspects of distressing memories. When reprocessing these memories, you are not required to say much out loud about what you remember, feel, or think. Your internal experience of reprocessing is entirely your own. You’re able to share as little or as much as you’d like.

  • EMDR intensives are a great option for those who have already established a safe and trusting relationship with their therapist and are ready to take a deep dive into their healing process.

    Intensives offer an accelerated path of healing. EMDR Intensives are often experienced as gentler than weekly one hour sessions, as there is plenty of time to take care of yourself before during and after reprocessing.