EMDR Therapy for Trauma
Has a traumatic experience left you feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or helpless?
You don’t have to stay stuck. EMDR therapy helps people process trauma so it loses its grip — emotionally, physically, and in day-to-day life.
EMDR therapy for trauma can help you:
Be more present in your life
feel safer in your surroundings
free yourself from shame
Why can’t I move forward?
Trauma doesn’t always show up as one clear memory. It can show up as panic, fog, body pain, headaches, stomachaches, sleep disruption, or a constant sense of threat. Over time, it can lead to isolation, withdrawal, and feeling unworthy of love or connection — even when you “know” you should be okay.
EMDR therapy helps you get past what’s keeping you stuck by working with what your nervous system is still carrying.
The effects of trauma aren’t always easy to identify.
You may be experiencing unresolved trauma if you :
- Feel constantly on edge, like something bad could happen at any minute
- Can’t stop replaying the event in your mind
- Feel disconnected from your body or emotions and “check out” often
- Feel isolated or misunderstood
- Struggle with everyday tasks — even leaving the house can feel hard
EMDR therapy helps you process the emotions and protective instincts
your system developed after traumatic experiences.
How EMDR works
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a structured, evidence-based trauma therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they carry less emotional intensity and less physiological charge.
EMDR follows an eight-phase process, and throughout treatment we assess how you’re doing and move only as you feel safe and ready.
“Trauma is a psychic wound that hardens you psychologically that then interferes with your ability to grow and develop.
It pains you and now you’re acting out of pain. It induces fear and now you’re acting out of fear. Trauma is not what happens to you, it’s what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you.”
– Gabor Mate
Our approach to trauma therapy
We use a simple, steady framework:
1) We get to know you
Your story matters. Understanding your lived experience helps us build the right plan.
2) We work toward your goals
We use EMDR (and an integrative lens when appropriate) to help you work through what happened and what it left behind.
3) We help you move forward — at a pace you can handle
We focus on safety, pacing, and capacity so the healing phase doesn’t
overwhelm your system.
Depending on the complexity of the history of trauma this can take 10-20 sessions, with more complex cases taking up to 2 years.
What you can expect from EMDR therapy
Many clients come to EMDR hoping for relief from anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and triggers. EMDR work often supports:
- Reduced distress (including anxiety and intrusive thoughts)
- Healthier coping skills for stress and triggers
- Increased self-awareness and pattern recognition
- Greater self-compassion and self-esteem
Reconnect with yourself so you can live fully.
How to get started
We offer in-person therapy in Toronto and online sessions across Ontario and British Columbia.
Book a free 15-minute consult to get your questions answered and be placed with the right therapist — or book an appointment directly through the portal.
3,000+
Client’s Served
24
Years Experience
15,000+
Sessions Delivered
20+
Psychotherapists, Clinical Social Workers Specialized in Trauma Care
Therapists Specializing In EMDR Trauma Therapy
Armin Ovaisy-Moakhar
REGISTERED psychotherapist (qualifying)
Kristina Kutsitaru
REGISTERED psychotherapist
Linda Esser
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Travis Morrison
Registered social worker
Neda Naghavi
Registered Psychotherapist
Camille Lloyd
Registered social worker
Clare Peddle
Registered social worker
Ashley Davidson
Registered social worker
Clare Amirault
Registered social worker
Iva Keighley
Registered social worker, Registered Psychotherapist
Eliza Fernandes
Registered social worker, Psychotherapist
Michelle Nathan
Registered Social Worker
Gabrielle Arruda
Registered Psychotherapist
Sarah Azzam
Registered Psychotherapist
Mariel Rovillard
Registered Social Worker
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need trauma therapy?
The effects of trauma can show up in a variety of ways. Persistent symptoms such as anxiety, depression/low mood, intrusive thoughts, feelings of shame, low self confidence, mood swings, and sleep disturbances can be signs that unresolved trauma is affecting your life.
If you notice that these unwelcome symptoms are negatively impacting your daily life, it may be a sign that trauma therapy could be beneficial.
How does EMDR help heal trauma? How does it work?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. The therapy uses structured eye movements to help minimize or eliminate the physiological effects of past trauma and works by allowing the brain to reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity and fostering a sense of resolution.
By targeting the neurological underpinnings of traumatic memories and incorporating a structured, client-centered approach, EMDR therapy can effectively promote healing and recovery from trauma. Many individuals who undergo EMDR therapy report lasting improvements in their symptoms and overall well-being, demonstrating the transformative potential of this evidence-based treatment.
The process of EMDR therapy follows 8 phases:
- History taking
- Preparation
- Assessment
- Desensitization
- Installation
- Body scan
- Closure
- Re-evaluation
During each phase of the treatment, we assess how you are doing emotionally, and proceed only as you feel safe and ready. EMDR therapy takes time, but has proven to be effective in minimizing distressing emotions so you can heal.
How many sessions does it take to see progress?
As each person’s healing journey is so different, there is no set number of sessions we set aside for EMDR therapy. We move through each of the 8 steps as quickly or slowly as you feel comfortable.
Your unique circumstances, emotional wellbeing, and the complexity and severity of the trauma you have experienced are all factors that play into the length of time you will need extra support to heal.
Patience, perseverance, and a commitment to your healing journey will be essential factors in achieving lasting improvements in your well-being. We will work to monitor your progress and support you every step of the way.
How does EMDR therapy impact the brain's processing of traumatic memories?
Bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, taps, or tones, is a core component of EMDR therapy that facilitates communication between the brain’s two hemispheres. It is believed that this stimulation helps to integrate and process traumatic memories more effectively, allowing the individual to reprocess and reframe their experiences, leading to reduced distress and increased adaptive functioning.
Can EMDR be combined with other therapeutic modalities
For many individuals particularly those with complex or developmental trauma moving straight into processing can be overwhelming. Therefore, we place a critical emphasis on the Stabilization Phase, ensuring that all procedural steps are met before active EMDR begins.
To build this foundation of safety and nervous system capacity, we often integrate:
Somatic Psychotherapy: To help you connect with and regulate the physical sensations associated with trauma.
Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP): A non-invasive acoustic intervention designed to “reset” the nervous system from a state of defense to a state of safety.
Ego State Therapy & Internal Family Systems (IFS): These “parts work” models help us understand and stabilize the different internal defense strategies or “protector” parts of the self that may feel hesitant about the trauma-processing journey.
Nervous System Regulation: Real-time tools to help you manage physiological arousal so that processing remains therapeutic rather than re-traumatizing.
By combining these modalities, we don’t just “do EMDR” we create a comprehensive, trauma-informed environment where your brain and body have the actual capacity to heal.
Is EMDR therapy appropriate for individuals with complex trauma or dissociative disorders?
EMDR therapy has shown effectiveness in treating complex trauma and dissociative disorders, but it’s crucial to work with a therapist who has specialized training and experience in these areas. A modified approach to EMDR may be needed, with a focus on stabilization, grounding techniques, and careful pacing to ensure client safety and efficacy.
Why this matters
Processing trauma requires a "dual awareness" the ability to stay grounded in the present while revisiting the past. By utilizing SSP, IFS, and Somatic work first, we expand your system's capacity, ensuring that when we begin EMDR, it is deep, effective, and above all, safe.
How To Get Started
Starting therapy can feel like a lot. We make the first step simpler.
Step 1 — Book a Free Consultation
Get your questions answered, tell us what you are looking for, and let us help place you with the right therapist or service.
Step 2 — Get Matched Thoughtfully
Based on your needs, goals, age, symptoms, and preferences, we help guide you toward the best-fit next step.
Step 3 — Begin Care at the Right Pace
We start by understanding your history and present concerns, then create a plan that supports meaningful change without overwhelming your system.
Request a Session
Let us guide you toward healing.
Healing does not have to feel vague, endless, or out of reach. With the right support, it can become clearer, steadier, and more possible than you think.