Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing · Gilbert, Arizona

EMDR Therapy

A structured approach to processing distressing experiences.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a structured form of therapy that helps people work through distressing memories and experiences that continue to affect them. During parts of treatment, a therapist may guide you through recalling aspects of an experience while using side-to-side eye movements, alternating taps, or other bilateral stimulation. EMDR includes preparation and coping strategies, and you and your therapist decide together whether and when memory processing is appropriate.

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You might recognize this

You know the memory is in the past. Your nervous system does not always agree.

A memory can still bring up a wave of fear, shame, anger, or helplessness.
Certain places, tones of voice, smells, situations, or relationship dynamics trigger reactions that feel bigger than the moment.
You have talked through an experience many times but still feel emotionally stuck in it.
You avoid reminders because you do not want to feel pulled back into what happened.
Part of you knows you are safe now, but another part remains on alert.
Old beliefs such as “I am not safe,” “It was my fault,” or “I am not enough” still feel emotionally true.

What EMDR is

A structured way to process experiences that still feel stuck

EMDR therapy was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro and uses a structured treatment process that can include recalling aspects of a distressing memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as alternating eye movements, taps, tones, or gentle handheld pulsers.

The goal is not to erase the memory. Instead, treatment aims to help the memory become less emotionally charged and better integrated, so it feels more like something that happened in the past rather than something your system is still trying to survive.

What the process can look like

EMDR is more than eye movements.

Good EMDR treatment includes preparation, assessment, pacing, and follow-through—not simply jumping into the hardest memory.

1. Understand what is bringing you inWe identify current symptoms, patterns, triggers, and the experiences that may be connected to them.
2. Build preparation and stabilityBefore deeper processing, therapy can focus on grounding, coping strategies, and making sure the pace feels manageable.
3. Process targeted memoriesWhen appropriate, bilateral stimulation is used while working with specific memories, emotions, body sensations, and beliefs.
4. Notice what changesWe track whether distress, beliefs, physical reactions, and present-day triggers begin to shift over time.

How Kaelynn uses bilateral stimulation

A practical, grounded approach

One form of bilateral stimulation Kaelynn may use involves two gentle handheld pulsers that alternate soft vibrations between the left and right hands. Other forms of bilateral stimulation can also be used depending on comfort and clinical fit.

EMDR should be tailored to the person. Not every client begins memory processing immediately, and not every session needs to involve bilateral stimulation.

Common questions

What people often want to know before trying EMDR

Not necessarily. EMDR can often work with key parts of a memory, associated beliefs, emotions, and body sensations without requiring a detailed verbal retelling of everything that happened.

EMDR does involve contacting aspects of distressing memories, but the goal is not to overwhelm you. Preparation, pacing, grounding, and your ability to pause are important parts of the process.

There is no single timeline. The amount of time can vary depending on the concern, history, number of target memories, current stability, and how treatment progresses.

EMDR is well known for trauma and PTSD treatment, but clinicians may also use it when distressing memories or experiences contribute to anxiety, shame, relationship patterns, grief, phobias, or other concerns. Whether it fits depends on the individual situation.

You do not have to keep feeling pulled back into the past.

If painful experiences still feel emotionally present, you can reach out to see whether EMDR or another trauma-informed approach may be a good fit.

Contact KAE Days Counseling

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