EMDR therapy

Processing what talking about it never quite reached

EMDR for adults in Austin and across Texas, paced so your nervous system stays with you the whole way.

Schedule a free consultation
In short

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, like eye movements or alternating taps, while you hold one foot in a memory and one foot in the present. That dual attention helps your brain reprocess experiences that got stuck, so they stop carrying the same charge.

What to expect

How a course of EMDR works

We don't jump into processing. Most of the work is making sure you have the ground to stand on first.

1

Preparation

We build resourcing skills and get clear on what feels steady in your body, so you have somewhere to return to.

2

Targeting

We identify a memory and the belief attached to it, big T or little t, and check your capacity before we begin.

3

Reprocessing

Using bilateral stimulation, we work through the target in short sets, pausing often, and stop when you need to.

Schedule a free consultation

Watch

EMDR, explained in a few minutes

Sometimes it's easier to hear it than read it.

The road map

The eight phases of EMDR

EMDR is a structured protocol, not a single technique. Most of it is groundwork. Here's the whole arc in plain language.

PreparationProcessingIntegration
1
History & treatment planning

We get to know your story and map out what we might work on, without diving into anything yet.

2
Preparation

We build resourcing and grounding skills so you have somewhere steady to return to. This phase often takes a while, and that's the point.

3
Assessment

We choose a specific memory, the belief attached to it, and the feeling in your body, so we know exactly what we're working with.

4
Desensitization

Using bilateral stimulation in short sets, we let the memory move. One foot in the memory, one foot in the present.

5
Installation

We strengthen a truer belief, such as "I'm safe now" or "I did what I could," until it feels real rather than recited.

6
Body scan

We check where your body still holds tension around the memory and keep going until it settles.

7
Closure

Every session ends with you regulated and back in the present, whether or not the memory is fully processed.

8
Reevaluation

Next session we check what shifted, what stuck, and where to go next. This is how the work stays paced to you.

Good to know

What EMDR is not

It isn't hypnosis. You're awake, aware, and in control the whole time.

It isn't reliving the memory on repeat.

It doesn't erase what happened. It changes how it sits in you.

It isn't one size fits all. Pacing depends entirely on your system.

"The goal isn't forgetting. It's remembering without your body reacting like it's happening again."

Common questions

EMDR, answered

What does EMDR stand for?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It's an evidence-based trauma therapy with strong research support.
Does EMDR work over telehealth?
Yes. Bilateral stimulation adapts well to virtual sessions using visual cues or self-administered tapping.
How long does EMDR take?
It varies. Single-incident trauma can move quickly. Complex trauma usually takes longer because we build capacity first, and that phase matters.
Will it be overwhelming?
We work to prevent that. Preparation comes first, sets are short, and we stop and stabilize whenever you need to. I often use IFS alongside EMDR to build that capacity.
When you're ready

Let's start with a conversation.

Wondering whether EMDR is right for you? That's exactly what a consultation is for.

A steady space is here whenever you are.