EMDR
(Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

That moment won’t let go.

It keeps coming back – the sounds, smells, and feelings. It keeps taking you back to that moment – when it happened.

You freeze, start sweating, your heart races, and you are in danger – once again. But you’re not!

You don’t have to keep living through That Moment over and over.

You can break free with EMDR.

Reprogram your brain.

EMDR is a relatively recent development in the therapy world, and with recent media attention, many people have heard of it, but don’t know exactly what it is. Appropriately used, EMDR is a powerful tool for working with trauma of all kinds to move past that initial reaction, that reflexive response, and begin truly healing from it.

I am trained in the “traditional” EMDR method. We begin the process by focusing on a traumatic incident. We drill down to the core belief about yourself that resulted from that incident; this belief causes discomfort or even reflexive reactions that are inhibiting your ability to live in your life.

After that, we will use one of several techniques to reprocess and integrate that belief, effectively disarming it by guiding eye movements using a set of lights or sounds. Slow eye movements are used to comfort your nervous system, while quicker eye movements are used to process the belief.

A combined approach works best.

My preferred approach combines somatic work and talk therapy with EMDR to help you find your best path toward healing and wholeness.

I have trained to use this for both singular-event “big-T” trauma and complex trauma stemming from multiple small events.

I blend safety tools, comforting somatic exercises, and imagination work, so that we can work more broadly and you are not reliant on therapy, but can take some coping skills and adaptive thoughts into your whole life.

Here’s what EMDR isn’t.

While it has received considerable attention in recent years, like any other therapeutic technique, EMDR is not a one-size-fits-all miracle cure. It is another tool in the therapist’s belt to be used in the right situation. It is a potent tool in the right circumstances, but it does not apply to every problem.

Unfortunately, several online spaces tout EMDR as a cure-all for anyone suffering from trauma and/or PTSD. This is not true.

It is another therapeutic technique, and if you feel it might be of help in your situation, we will assess whether it is the proper tool to use in your circumstances, and ensure you have the appropriate resources and support networks for the highest chance of success.

Misused, EMDR can cause more problems than it solves.

Traumatic experiences hate this Simple Trick.

EMDR is a powerful tool. Carefully applied and directed. It can allow you to re-process your trauma so it no longer has a stranglehold on your awareness, reactions, feelings, or even your whole life.

I learned this technique specifically to help people, and I am eager to use it. If you think EMDR can help you, don’t be afraid to ask! Even if we decide it isn’t, it certainly isn’t the only tool in my belt!

You can reach me by calling or texting (925) 325-4239, emailing fey@feytherapy.com, sending a message through my Contact page, or using the form at the bottom of this page.

Working together, you can take back control of your life.