emdr in vancouver, bc
trauma processing modality
what is it?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-healing approach that helps your system process old emotional pain in a way that’s gentle, embodied, and surprisingly efficient.
Instead of just talking about what happened, EMDR helps your brain actually digest those memories, so the emotional charge eases and your body isn’t carrying them around on high alert.
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In session, I’ll guide you through slow eye movements or other rhythmic stimulation (think tapping, sounds, etc.) to help your nervous system reprocess experiences that once felt impossible to be with. People often describe it as old memories becoming less sharp, less overwhelming, and more like “something that happened” rather than “something that’s happening inside me right now.”
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When those memories soften, you get more space for clarity, calm, curiosity, vitality, and that feeling of coming back into your own agency — which is one of my favourite parts of this work.
what to expect
To make the 8 Phases of EMDR feel more human and practical, I like to simplify them into three fluid stages: Preparation, Processing, and Integration.
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Preparation is where we settle in, get curious, and slowly understand the emotional landscape you’re carrying. I’ll learn more about who you are, what you’ve lived through, and how those experiences show up in your body today — the tension, the beliefs, the nervous system habits that were once protective. Together, we build a foundation of support, safety, and resources so that your body feels held. This part is gentle, collaborative, and it takes the time it needs. We don’t rush.
Processing is where we begin shifting those old experiences using bilateral stimulation and movement. Instead of reliving trauma, we’re helping your system digest it. We focus on reducing emotional and somatic distress, loosening shame that was never yours to carry, and making space for a sense of confidence, clarity, and felt safety. Sometimes your nervous system asks us to pause and return to Preparation — and that’s not a setback, it’s a sign we’re listening to your body with respect.
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Integration is where everything starts to land. We take the wisdom, relief, and insight that has emerged and help it become part of your daily life, your choices, your sense of self. We reflect on your progress, honour what has shifted, and deepen embodiment so that the change isn’t just cognitive — it’s lived, felt, and sustainable. We lean on the foundation built in Preparation to help your system truly take in the healing you’ve worked so hard for.