Virtual EMDR Therapy for Trauma and PTSD
Don’t let your past define your present.
Depression, anxiety, trauma, and EMDR therapist serving BIPOC women in Colorado and Texas.
Put trauma in your rear view where it belongs.
“I haven’t driven since the accident.”
“I have to sleep with the lights on.”
“I keep sabotaging my relationships.”
“Will I ever feel like myself again?”
“I have these terrible nightmares.”
If your past continues to haunt your present, EMDR therapy for trauma and PTSD can help.
Trauma makes a single moment seem to last forever.
Perhaps you were involved in a car accident. Now you find yourself nervous whenever you have to drive and will go out of your way to avoid being near where it happened.
Perhaps you were in a violent relationship in the past but find yourself closed off and distrustful in your current relationship.
Perhaps you experienced a catastrophic medical event. Even though the doctor has given you the “all clear,” you just don’t feel like yourself anymore.
Trauma is an unwelcome guest showing up unannounced.
Perhaps something happened to you as a child that you’ve never told anyone. You thought it was part of the past, but recently it has been on your mind.
Perhaps you witnessed something that you still can’t unsee. Occasionally, you still have nightmares about it.
Perhaps you were raised in a neighborhood that people don’t just leave, they escape. Whenever you see, smell, or hear something that reminds you of the old neighborhood, you can’t catch a deep breath.
EMDR Therapy can help you process the past and release future potential.
Imagine a life without flashbacks and chronic worry. Imagine restful sleep without nightmares.
Imagine a life where you can discuss past events without it affecting the rest of your day, week, or month.
Imagine a relationship without comparing your current partner to one from the past.
Together we can work to help you process negative, painful, and traumatic memories. Together we can help you find a safe way to grieve what has been lost while creating space for something exciting and new.
EMDR Therapy can help you rediscover your true self.
Thoughts can just be thoughts.
Phobias can become simple nuisances.
Realize you are not broken or defective.
Rid yourself of guilt or shame about your past.
It’s always darkest before the dawn.
Step into the sunlight.
Frequently Asked Questions about EMDR and Trauma Therapy
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A: EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy. It is a body-based therapy that helps process, desensitize, and reorganize traumatic memories.
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A: Historically EMDR has been done with a therapist directing the client to move their eyes while processing a traumatic event. Newer methods include alternating sounds using headphones, tapping on either side of the body, or having the client give themself “butterfly hugs” by tapping on either side of their own chest.
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Conducting EMDR Therapy virtually is very similar to face-to-face EMDR. The therapist will introduce a visual stimulus for you to follow with your eyes. This may be a graphic of a ball, square, or other shape. It may also include alternating sounds for you to listen to in your headphones. Some therapist direct the client to tap on alternating sides of their bodies. You and your therapist will work together to find a solution that works for you.
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According to research by EMDRIA, the governing body for EMDR Therapy and Therapists, virtual EMDR Therapy is as effective as in-person. It is often more effective because individuals can process traumatic events in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by items that bring them comfort in challenging times.
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A: Sometimes events happen to us that are so painful, traumatic, or overwhelming that our brains cannot properly process them. Instead of being filed away in the “past” part of our brains, they remain stuck in the “present” part. When this happens, reminders of the events become overwhelming and we have the same emotions and body sensations like we are re-experiencing the event, not just remembering it.
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A: Most people can process traumatic events without assistance. Although there are many theories surrounding why some people develop PTSD and others don’t, the research is far from conclusive.
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A: Everyone’s therapeutic journey is unique. EMDR requires a great deal of trust between therapist and client, so it is not something that will happen on a first, second, or even third session. Additionally, resolving one traumatic event often illuminates other needs that have been neglected or overshadowed. Generally, expect treatment for a specific traumatic incident to last several months.
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A: No, there are several evidence-based treatments for PTSD, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE). You and your mental health professional will discuss your unique experience and which treatment modality will potentially work best for you. Of course, you always have the final say in what treatment you receive.