EMDR Therapy in Ontario
Distressing experiences can continue to affect how you think, feel and respond long after the original event has passed. You may experience intrusive memories, strong reactions to reminders, anxiety, emotional numbness or a persistent sense of being unsafe.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, commonly known as EMDR, is a structured psychotherapy approach used to address distressing memories and trauma-related symptoms.
EMDR can also be integrated with somatic, or body-based, awareness. This means paying attention to physical sensations and nervous-system responses while proceeding at a pace that respects your comfort, readiness and individual needs.
Virtual EMDR therapy is available to adults located across Ontario.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR was developed to help people process distressing experiences that continue to feel emotionally active in the present.
During EMDR, you may briefly focus on aspects of a distressing memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation involves alternating attention between the left and right sides and may include:
Guided eye movements
Alternating sounds
Self-administered tapping
Other structured bilateral methods appropriate for virtual therapy
The purpose is not to erase a memory or convince you that it did not matter. EMDR is intended to help reduce the memory’s present-day emotional intensity and support more adaptive ways of understanding the experience.
What Does “Somatic EMDR” Mean?
“Somatic EMDR” generally refers to EMDR therapy that includes additional attention to physical sensations, movement impulses and nervous-system responses.
EMDR already considers thoughts, emotions, images and physical sensations. A somatic-informed approach places more deliberate emphasis on how these experiences are felt in the body throughout treatment.
This may involve noticing:
Muscle tension or heaviness
Changes in breathing
Warmth, pressure, tingling or numbness
An urge to move, withdraw or protect yourself
Shifts in alertness or energy
Moments of settling or increased activation
Difficulty remaining connected to the present
Somatic awareness is not a replacement for established EMDR procedures. It is one way of individualizing treatment and monitoring how you are responding during the process.
How Trauma Can Affect the Mind and Body
Distressing experiences can influence memory, attention, emotion, relationships and physiological stress responses.
Some people may notice:
Intrusive memories or images
Nightmares
Avoidance of reminders
Feeling constantly alert
Difficulty relaxing
Emotional numbness
Shame or self-blame
Muscle tension
Changes in sleep or concentration
Strong emotional or physical reactions to triggers
Difficulty feeling safe in relationships
People sometimes describe trauma as being “stored in the body.” This can be a useful metaphor, but it should not be taken to mean that trauma is literally stored in a muscle or another body part.
Somatic-informed EMDR works with present-day thoughts, memories, emotions and physical responses. It does not require the body to release stored energy or produce a dramatic emotional reaction.
How EMDR Therapy Works
EMDR follows a structured process that includes assessment, preparation, memory processing and evaluation of progress.
Treatment does not begin by immediately confronting the most painful memory. We first develop an understanding of your concerns, history, current circumstances and available supports.
History and Treatment Planning
We discuss:
What is bringing you to therapy
The symptoms or patterns affecting you
Relevant experiences and history
Current stressors
Your therapy goals
Existing coping strategies and supports
Factors that may affect the pace or suitability of EMDR
You are not required to describe every detail of a traumatic experience during the initial assessment.
Preparation
Before memory processing, we develop ways to recognize and respond to emotional activation.
Preparation may include:
Present-moment orientation
Grounding
Somatic awareness
Identifying internal and external resources
Recognizing signs of overwhelm or disconnection
Practising how to pause the process
Developing a plan for support between sessions
The amount of preparation needed varies considerably. Some clients require more time to establish sufficient stability before processing distressing memories.
Identifying a Target
An EMDR target may include a memory, image, belief, emotion, physical sensation or current situation connected to your concern.
Together, we identify:
The distressing experience
A negative belief associated with it
A preferred or more adaptive belief
Emotions connected to the experience
Physical sensations that arise
The current level of distress
The target is selected collaboratively.
Bilateral Stimulation and Processing
During the processing phase, you briefly notice aspects of the target while engaging in sets of bilateral stimulation.
After each set, you are invited to notice what comes up. This may include:
Thoughts
Images
Emotions
Memories
Physical sensations
Changes in perspective
No noticeable change
There is no correct response. We use what you notice to guide the next step.
Closure and Reevaluation
A session includes time to return attention to the present and review what you experienced.
At a later session, we reevaluate the target to determine:
What has changed
What remains distressing
Whether additional preparation is needed
Whether to continue with the same target
Whether another concern has become more relevant
EMDR treatment may involve several sessions or a longer course of therapy, depending on your history and goals.
Do I Have to Relive or Describe Everything?
EMDR does not necessarily require you to describe every detail of what happened.
However, therapy may still involve remembering aspects of a distressing experience and noticing related thoughts, emotions or physical sensations. It would not be accurate to promise that EMDR will never feel emotionally difficult.
You remain involved in decisions about pacing. You can ask to pause, stop or redirect the work at any time.
We regularly monitor your level of activation and ability to remain connected to the present.
How Somatic Awareness May Be Integrated
Somatic awareness can be used throughout the different phases of EMDR.
This may include:
Noticing physical signs of activation before processing
Identifying sensations associated with support or stability
Tracking changes during bilateral stimulation
Recognizing when you begin to feel overwhelmed or disconnected
Adjusting posture or using comfortable movement
Orienting to the room between processing sets
Slowing down when the work feels too intense
Noticing whether a sensation changes, remains steady or becomes less distinct
A physical shift is not treated as proof that healing has occurred. It is one source of information about how you are responding.
What Can EMDR Therapy Support?
EMDR may be considered for adults experiencing:
Trauma-related distress
Post-traumatic stress symptoms
Distressing or intrusive memories
Anxiety connected to past experiences
Strong emotional or physical reactions to reminders
Emotional numbness or disconnection
Shame or negative beliefs connected to earlier experiences
Grief associated with a distressing event
Relationship patterns influenced by past experiences
Difficulty feeling safe despite recognizing that the danger has passed
EMDR may also be adapted to address other concerns when clinically appropriate.
An assessment is necessary because EMDR is not the right approach for every person or every stage of treatment.
EMDR and Complex Trauma
People who have experienced repeated, developmental or relational trauma may require a more gradual approach.
Treatment may place additional emphasis on:
Establishing safety and trust
Strengthening present-day supports
Understanding protective responses
Developing emotional-regulation skills
Working with dissociation or shutdown
Approaching memories in manageable amounts
Integrating IFS-informed or somatic approaches
Monitoring the effect of therapy between sessions
Complex trauma does not automatically prevent someone from participating in EMDR. It may affect how treatment is planned and paced.
What to Expect in a Virtual EMDR Session
Virtual EMDR follows the same general clinical framework as in-person EMDR, with bilateral stimulation adapted for online therapy.
Before beginning, we confirm:
Your location in Ontario
Your privacy during the session
A stable internet connection
A device that allows us to see and hear each other
A plan if the connection is interrupted
An emergency contact or support plan when clinically appropriate
Which form of bilateral stimulation is most suitable
For virtual sessions, you may use guided eye movements, alternating audio or self-administered tapping.
Not every session will involve memory processing. Some appointments may focus on assessment, preparation, stabilization or reviewing how you responded after previous work.
Possible Reactions During and After EMDR
People respond to EMDR differently.
During or after a session, you may notice:
Emotional activation
Fatigue
Changes in dreams
New memories or associations
Temporary increases in awareness of sensations
Shifts in how you understand an experience
Little immediate change
These responses do not automatically indicate success or failure.
We discuss what to expect, how to monitor your response and when to contact the therapist or seek additional support.
Is EMDR Right for Everyone?
EMDR may need to be postponed, modified or supplemented when a person:
Does not have sufficient present-day stability
Experiences significant dissociation
Is navigating an immediate crisis
Has difficulty maintaining safety
Has certain medical or neurological concerns requiring consultation
Does not feel ready to work with distressing memories
Prefers another therapy approach
You are not required to proceed with EMDR simply because it is available. Treatment decisions are made collaboratively.
What Therapy With Me Looks Like
My approach is warm, collaborative and trauma-informed.
I integrate EMDR with somatic awareness, Internal Family Systems-informed therapy, mindfulness and other evidence-informed approaches when appropriate.
We begin by understanding what you are experiencing, what you would like to change and what helps you feel sufficiently supported. Preparation and pacing are based on your individual needs rather than a predetermined timeline.
The goal is not to force emotional release, erase your past or promise a particular outcome. It is to help you process distressing experiences where appropriate, reduce their present-day impact and develop greater awareness, flexibility and self-trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EMDR only for PTSD?
EMDR is widely associated with trauma and post-traumatic stress. It may also be adapted for other concerns when an appropriate assessment identifies distressing memories or learned responses contributing to present difficulties.
Will EMDR erase my memories?
No. EMDR is not intended to erase memories. You may still remember what happened, but the memory may become less emotionally distressing or disruptive.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no universal number. The length of treatment depends on your goals, history, current stability, number and complexity of concerns, and response to therapy.
Can EMDR be provided virtually?
Yes. EMDR can be adapted for secure virtual psychotherapy using guided eye movements, alternating sounds or self-administered tapping.
Do I need to talk about every detail?
Not necessarily. EMDR may require awareness of aspects of a distressing experience, but you may not need to provide a detailed verbal account of everything that occurred.
Book a Free Consultation
If you would like to learn more about EMDR therapy, you are welcome to book a free 15-minute consultation with AL.
We can briefly discuss what you are experiencing, what you hope therapy may help you address and whether an assessment for EMDR may be appropriate.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation
Virtual psychotherapy is available to adults located across Ontario.
Welcome to the EMDR therapy, where we explore a unique approach to healing that combines Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with Somatic therapy.
Phone: 437-747-6416
Somatic & trauma-informed virtual psychotherapy and education for adults across Ontorio
