Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
What is it?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured, evidence-based therapy designed to help your brain process and heal from overwhelming or distressing experiences.
When something difficult happens—especially trauma, chronic stress, or experiences where you felt unsafe, unseen, or overwhelmed—your nervous system can store that experience in a “stuck” way. Instead of becoming a past memory, it continues to feel present. This is why you might notice:
Strong emotional reactions that feel out of proportion
Anxiety, shutdown, or irritability that seems to come out of nowhere
Repeating patterns in relationships or daily life
A sense of “I know this isn’t logical, but my body reacts anyway”
EMDR works by helping your brain reprocess these experiences so they can be stored in a more adaptive, integrated way. This often leads to:
Reduced emotional intensity
Increased sense of safety in your body
More flexibility in how you respond to triggers
A shift from “this is happening to me again” → “that happened, and I’m okay now”
EMDR is widely used for trauma and PTSD, but it’s also highly effective for:
Anxiety and chronic stress
ADHD and executive functioning overwhelm
Autism-related burnout and sensory overwhelm
Negative self-beliefs (“I’m not good enough,” “I’m too much”)
Relationship and attachment wounds
How does it work?
Neurodivergent-Affirming EMDR
EMDR can be especially helpful for neurodivergent adults, including those with ADHD and Autism, because it works with the nervous system—not against it.
Many neurodivergent clients come into therapy feeling like:
“I’ve tried everything and nothing sticks”
“I understand it logically, but I can’t change it”
“My nervous system feels constantly overwhelmed”
That’s often because the issue isn’t a lack of insight—it’s that your brain and body haven’t had the chance to fully process what you’ve been carrying.
In this practice, EMDR is adapted to be neuro-affirming by:
Prioritizing regulation and consent over rigid protocols
Moving at a pace that respects your processing style
Incorporating sensory preferences (visual, auditory, or tactile bilateral stimulation)
Supporting executive functioning and energy limits
Respecting masking, burnout, and lived experience
This means therapy is not about forcing you into a system that doesn’t fit—but creating one that actually works for your brain.
Why EMDR (Instead of Just Talking About It)?
Traditional talk therapy can be incredibly helpful—but sometimes it stays at the level of understanding, without fully shifting how things feel.
EMDR goes deeper by targeting the way memories and experiences are stored in the brain and body.
This is why many people notice:
Faster shifts compared to talk-only therapy
Less need to retell painful experiences repeatedly
Changes that feel both emotional and physical (not just intellectual)
I provide virtual EMDR therapy for adults across Colorado, including those navigating trauma, ADHD, Autism, and burnout. All sessions are offered online, allowing you to access therapy from your own space—without the stress of commuting or sensory overload from in-person environments.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements, tapping, or audio tones) to activate your brain’s natural processing system—similar to what happens during REM sleep.
In sessions, we don’t just “talk about” what happened. Instead, we work with your nervous system and memory networks to help your brain actually process the experience.
A typical EMDR process includes:
Identifying a memory, belief, or pattern you want to shift
Noticing what comes up in your body, thoughts, and emotions
Using bilateral stimulation to help your brain reprocess the experience
Allowing your brain to naturally move toward resolution and integration
You are always in control of the pace. You don’t have to share every detail of your experience for EMDR to be effective.