EMDR Therapy

At Rivertown Wellness, we are proud to offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy as part of our individualized and collaborative services. Backed by decades of research, EMDR is a highly effective therapeutic approach that can help individuals overcome the impact of big and small traumatic experiences, reduce distressing symptoms, and promote emotional healing.

What is EMDR?

EMDR is a scientifically validated psychotherapy technique that was developed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic events or distressing life experiences. This technique replicates the body’s natural process of REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement), in which the body processes and stores information, emotions, and experiences. It is based on the understanding that distressing memories can become "stuck" in the brain, leading to ongoing emotional and psychological difficulties. EMDR works by activating the brain's natural healing processes through bilateral stimulation, which can include eye movements, taps, or sounds.

How Does EMDR Work?

During an EMDR session, your therapist will guide you through a structured process that involves identifying the specific memories or distressing experiences. While using bilateral stimulation, such as tapping your arms or following the therapist's finger movements with your eyes, you will be able to access and re-process these memories that are stuck in a safe and controlled environment.

EMDR helps to reprocess these memories to store them correctly in the brain, allowing you to gain new insights, release negative emotions, and develop healthier coping mechanisms. By integrating the distressing or traumatic memories into your overall life experiences, EMDR can help you find resolution, reduce symptoms, and restore a sense of emotional well-being.

It’s important to note that the EMDR process involves eight phases. You might not begin bilateral stimulation right away. EMDR requires some preparation work to gather history and equip you with healthy coping skills.

The eight phases of the EMDR process

Is EMDR For Me?

Although EMDR is considered a trauma treatment, it has been proven to be effective for many other issues you might face such as anger management, addiction, anxiety or OCD. Oftentimes, we refer to trauma as either “Big T” trauma (such as natural disasters or combat in war) or “Little t” trauma (such as moving to a new state or a marital dispute). EMDR can be used for past memories to make them feel less distressing, but it can also be used for future situations that may provoke anxious thoughts and feelings. 


Examples of memories or situations addressed in EMDR:

  • A serious car accident

  • An upcoming public speaking event

  • Abuse or bullying from childhood

  • Relationship distress or divorce

  • Compulsive behaviors or urges

  • Anger or lashing out

  • A specific phobia

Why Choose Rivertown Wellness for EMDR?

At Rivertown Wellness, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care and support to our clients. We create a safe and nurturing environment where you can feel confident exploring and processing difficult emotions and experiences.

As a team, we collaborate to ensure our treatment decisions are in alignment with other care you are receiving. Even if your therapist does not offer EMDR, you can work with an EMDR therapist on our team who can collaborate with your primary therapist. 

Have more questions? Reach out today. We’d love to chat more with you.