EMDR Therapy in Denver, Colorado
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy is a structured therapy that is designed to help individuals heal from trauma or experiences that feel stuck.
In EMDR, the client focuses on an aspect of their distressing memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (oftentimes eye movement). This helps to reprocess the traumatic or stuck memories to reduce the lingering effects and symptoms, enabling individuals to recover from and thrive after trauma.
EMDR therapy is unlike traditional talk therapy and is structured as an eight-phase approach.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
EMDR therapy involves using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, taps, or tones, to help the brain reprocess traumatic or stuck memories. This bilateral stimulation allows the brain to integrate these memories more adaptively, reducing their emotional charge and helping you gain insight into your experiences.
The eight phases of EMDR therapy include:
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This is the getting to know you phase! I'll gather information from you about your past, current experiences, relationships, etc. We will also come up with a treatment plan!
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We will explore coping mechanisms that feel best for you. We will talk more about the next phases in the EMDR therapy process and ensure you are ready for the next steps.
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We will identify specific memories to focus on and the negative beliefs associated with them.
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We will start using bilateral stimulation here, and I will guide you in reprocessing the traumatic memory until its distressing impact is reduced.
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Positive beliefs are reinforced to replace the negative beliefs associated with the traumatic memory.
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I will help you identify and process any physical sensations related to the traumatic memory.
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We will close the session by ensuring you're grounded, using relaxation and coping techniques tailored to your needs.
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We will check in at the start of each session how you’re doing and what's been coming up for you. From there, we will determine how you want the session to look.
How to Know When You Need EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy can help if the past feels like it’s constantly intruding on your present.
Maybe you wake up with a pit in your stomach, unsure why anxiety is gripping you so tightly.
Social events leave you overthinking every detail—Who’s going to be there? What’s the plan?—or you avoid them altogether because the idea feels overwhelming.
Certain memories play on repeat in your mind, like that relationship you wish you could move past, but you still feel stuck.
One moment, you’re fine, and the next, sadness or anger hits you like a wave you can’t control.
You catch yourself wondering, Why can’t I just get over this?
Even relationships feel like a minefield. You ask yourself, Are they mad at me? Did they actually want to spend time with me?
Your body carries the weight of it all—tight shoulders, an aching back, or a constant upset stomach that doesn’t seem to have a cause.
If any of this feels familiar, EMDR therapy offers a way to process these experiences in a safe, structured way. It can help you release what’s holding you back so you can finally find peace and move forward with more confidence and ease.
How EMDR Therapy in Denver, Colorado Can Help You
As an experienced trauma therapist specializing in childhood trauma and emotional neglect, I bring a compassionate and empathetic approach to EMDR therapy. My extensive experience working with children, teens, and adults who have experienced various forms of trauma allows me to tailor EMDR therapy to meet your unique needs.
While EMDR therapy is a structured therapeutic approach, I ensure that your needs, sense of safety, and readiness are considered above all else. I am passionate about helping you gain clarity and understanding as you process your trauma, and I am dedicated to supporting you every step of the way on your healing journey.
If you are hoping to start healing and feeling better NOW, check out my EMDR Therapy Intensive.
