EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful, evidence-based psychotherapy approach that helps individuals heal from emotional distress and trauma. Originally developed to treat PTSD, EMDR has proven effective for a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, grief, phobias, and childhood trauma.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require clients to recount every detail of a painful memory. Instead, it helps the brain reprocess those memories in a way that reduces their emotional intensity. During EMDR sessions, bilateral stimulation—such as guided eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones—is used while the client briefly focuses on a troubling thought or memory. This process activates the brain’s natural healing abilities, similar to what occurs during REM sleep.
Through EMDR, clients can experience relief from distressing symptoms, develop new insights, and begin to see themselves and their experiences in a more balanced and empowering way.
At MendWell Counseling, EMDR is used with children, adolescents, and adults to support healing from both single-event and complex trauma. It is integrated thoughtfully and compassionately into the therapeutic process, always at a pace that feels safe and manageable for each individual.