EMDR Therapy

EMDR Therapy: Healing Through the Brain and Body

Release the Past. Rewire the Future.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, evidence-based psychotherapy that helps people heal from trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress by working directly with the brain’s natural processing systems.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR bypasses the thinking mind and targets the parts of the brain where trauma and unprocessed memories are stored—allowing the body to release stuck emotions, images, and beliefs in a way that feels safe, efficient, and lasting. While Brainspotting therapy has similar components, EMDR provides a more in-depth process.

At Attuned Therapy + Wellness, we are here to support you as an EMDR therapist in Ontario, both virtually and in-person in Kincardine, to support you in healing past experiences that continue to impact your present life.

How EMDR Works in the Brain

When we experience something overwhelming—especially in childhood or during trauma—the brain may struggle to fully process the event. These moments can become “frozen” in the nervous system, complete with the thoughts, emotions, body sensations, and beliefs felt at the time.

EMDR helps unblock this frozen material by activating both hemispheres of the brain through bilateral stimulation (typically through eye movements, tapping, or sounds). This bilateral activity helps the brain reprocess and integrate the memory so it no longer feels distressing, intrusive, or defining.

EMDR therapy engages multiple brain regions, including:

• The amygdala (emotional memory and threat detection)

• The hippocampus (memory organization and time-stamping)

• The prefrontal cortex (rational thought, regulation, and decision-making)

By reprocessing stored trauma with EMDR, these brain systems begin to work together in a healthier, more integrated way, helping you feel more present, calm, and in control.

A New Way to Heal

If you’ve tried talking about your experiences—but still feel triggered, overwhelmed, or stuck—EMDR might offer the relief you’ve been seeking.

This therapy is particularly helpful if:

• You feel flooded by emotion or shut down when you try to talk

• You’ve experienced repeating life patterns you can’t seem to shift

• You feel like you “should be over it by now” but aren’t

• You want a healing experience that works with the brain and body, not against them

Our EMDR therapists are here to walk with you through this process—at a pace that feels right for you.

Is EMDR Right for You?

EMDR therapy can be life-changing for people who:

• Struggle with PTSD or trauma (including childhood, medical, relational, or complex trauma)

• Live with anxiety, panic attacks, or chronic worry

• Experience emotional triggers or flashbacks

• Hold negative core beliefs like “I’m not good enough,” “I’m unsafe,” or “I can’t trust anyone”

• Want to heal from abuse, neglect, bullying, or loss

• Have phobias, performance anxiety, or chronic shame

• Find themselves stuck in repetitive patterns or reactions

• Have tried other therapies but haven’t found relief

EMDR therapy is also being used successfully with grief, attachment wounds, body image issues, birth trauma, and more. It’s a versatile modality that meets you where you are and works with the brain’s natural healing process. Our EMDR therapist supports clients across Ontario through a secure online platform.

What to Expect in an EMDR Therapy Session

Before we begin reprocessing, your therapist will work with you to create a strong foundation of safety, stabilization, and trust. This ensures that your nervous system is supported before accessing any distressing memories.

Here’s how the process typically unfolds:

1. History + Target Planning

You’ll identify past experiences, current triggers, or future fears that feel distressing or stuck. Your therapist will help determine the “targets” for EMDR processing and ensure that you feel resourced and ready.

2. Resourcing + Grounding

Before reprocessing begins, we’ll build tools to support your nervous system, including calming strategies, visualization, or inner resource development. These are tailored to your needs and are available to use throughout your journey.

3. Reprocessing with Bilateral Stimulation

While focusing on a target memory, you’ll be guided through sets of eye movements, tapping, or tones. You’re not required to talk through the memory—the brain does much of the healing below the surface.

As memories shift, clients often notice reduced emotional charge, new insights, or a sense of closure and release.

4. Integration + Closing

Each session ends with grounding and reflection. Many clients notice that distressing memories begin to feel more distant or neutral—and that new, more empowering beliefs begin to take root.

EMDR Therapist in Ontario — In Person & Online