EMDR & Trauma Therapy
Process the past without letting it continue to define the present.
Difficult experiences can shape the way we see ourselves, relate to others, and respond to the world around us—even when we understand intellectually that the experience is behind us.
EMDR therapy can help you process experiences that still feel emotionally charged, shift beliefs that may have developed because of them, and create space to respond differently in the present.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based approach to psychotherapy designed to help the brain process distressing or traumatic experiences.
Sometimes an experience becomes “stuck,” and reminders of it can continue to trigger strong emotions, physical sensations, negative beliefs, or patterns of behavior long after the experience itself has ended.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation—often guided eye movements or other forms of alternating stimulation—while working with memories, emotions, thoughts, and sensations associated with an experience.
The goal isn’t to erase what happened. It’s to help the experience feel more like something that happened in the past, rather than something your mind and body are still responding to as though it is happening now.
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I may incorporate EMDR into therapy for experiences related to:
Trauma and difficult past experiences
Anxiety and persistent fears
Negative beliefs about yourself or your worth
Relationship and attachment wounds
Grief and loss
Birth or reproductive trauma
Difficult pregnancy, fertility, or medical experiences
Childhood experiences that continue to affect you as an adult
Experiences of rejection, criticism, shame, or not feeling “good enough”
Life experiences that continue to feel emotionally unresolved
EMDR isn't necessarily the right approach for every person or every experience. We'll determine together whether and when it makes sense to incorporate it into your therapy.
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We don't begin by immediately asking you to revisit your most difficult experiences.
Our work starts by getting to know you—your history, what brings you to therapy, the patterns you're noticing, and what you would like to feel different in your life.
Before beginning reprocessing, we'll spend time making sure you understand EMDR and developing strategies to help you stay grounded and regulated.
When you're ready, we'll identify experiences, beliefs, emotions, or patterns to work with. During EMDR processing, I'll guide you through bilateral stimulation while helping you notice the thoughts, emotions, memories, and physical sensations that arise.
You remain present and in control throughout the process.
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I don't view EMDR as something separate from the rest of therapy.
My approach is warm, collaborative, and individualized. Depending on your needs, our work may integrate EMDR with traditional talk therapy, mindfulness, body-based practices, and exploration of the relationships and experiences that have shaped you.
For some clients, EMDR becomes a significant part of therapy. For others, it is one tool we use at particular points in our work.
The goal is not simply to process individual memories, but to help you better understand yourself, develop greater compassion for the ways you've learned to cope, and create meaningful change in how you experience your life today.
You Don’t Need to Have Experienced a Single “Big Trauma”
One thing I especially want this page to communicate is that EMDR isn't reserved only for people who identify as having experienced severe trauma.
Sometimes what affects us most is a collection of experiences: criticism, rejection, difficult relationships, feeling unsafe or unseen, complicated family dynamics, loss, medical experiences, or moments that changed what we came to believe about ourselves.
EMDR may be helpful when you notice yourself thinking:
“I know this logically, but I still don’t feel it.”
“Why am I reacting so strongly to this?”
“I understand where this comes from, but I can’t seem to change it.”
That gap between understanding something intellectually and feeling differently emotionally is often where deeper processing can be valuable.
EMDR Therapy for Women & Girls in Ohio
I'm a Cleveland-based psychotherapist providing virtual therapy to clients throughout Ohio. I work with women and girls navigating trauma, anxiety, relationships, identity, perinatal mental health concerns, and major life transitions.
EMDR can also be incorporated into perinatal therapy when difficult experiences related to fertility, pregnancy, birth, loss, postpartum adjustment, or motherhood continue to carry emotional weight.
Ready to Get Started?
You don't need to know whether EMDR is right for you before reaching out.
I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation where we can talk briefly about what you're looking for, answer questions about therapy or EMDR, and determine whether working together feels like a good fit.
Virtual therapy available throughout Ohio.