EMDR Therapy

Your Path to Trauma Healing & Recovery

✔ Standard 55-minute sessions

✔ Private, comfortable office or therapy room

✔ Options for weekly, multiple times per week, or monthly sessions

✔ We adjust meeting frequency based on your progress and evolving needs

a person wearing sunglasses smiling in a field

Inspiring

〜

Committed

〜

Growing

〜

Caring

〜

Inspiring 〜 Committed 〜 Growing 〜 Caring 〜

At South Hills Counseling, we believe EMDR Therapy offers a powerful opportunity for meaningful change and trauma resolution.

Our approach creates a comfortable, supportive atmosphere where you can address traumatic memories, discover new neural pathways, and develop strategies that promote lasting healing and growth.

We tailor our therapeutic methods to your unique needs, helping you transform overwhelming traumatic experiences into integrated memories with less emotional distress.

SESSION ENVIRONMENT

✔ Relaxed, welcoming space with comfortable seating

✔ Structured protocol that guides you through the EMDR process

✔ Complete confidentiality, with clear explanation of legal exceptions

✔ Safe, contained approach to accessing and processing difficult memories

Understanding EMDR Therapy

EMDR, sometimes called eye movement therapy, is a research-backed trauma therapy that uses our understanding of neuroscience to change how our brain deals with traumatic memories and traumatic stress.

It works by helping to reprocess traumatic memories to make them less emotionally intense and overwhelming.

As a result, your body, emotions, and brain can heal after years of feeling disconnected and distressed. With the help of EMDR Therapy, you may notice that feelings that previously felt too intense or overwhelming have less of a hold over you. You may also notice your relationship with others improve, as well as an overall improved functioning in various areas of your life.

How Does EMDR Therapy Work?

During EMDR therapy sessions, your therapist will use a combination of exercises such as eye movement, auditory tones, or tapping, while you talk about your traumatic memories. When you combine bilateral stimulation with other techniques, you transform how traumatic memories are integrated within your brain.

Trauma often causes the signals between the different parts of your brain as well as your brain and body to stop working properly. EMDR trauma therapy helps rebalance these connections. As a result, your brain can process traumatic memories in a healthier and less stressful way.

The 8-Phase EMDR Protocol

At South Hills Counseling, we follow the complete 8-phase EMDR protocol to ensure comprehensive treatment:

Phase 1

History Taking

Understanding your background, identifying traumatic memories, and developing a treatment plan

Phase 2

Preparation

Learning self-regulation techniques to manage emotional distress.

Phase 3

Assessment

Identifying specific memories to process and their associated negative beliefs

Phase 4

Desensitization

Processing the traumatic memory using bilateral stimulation

Phase 5

Installation

Strengthening positive beliefs to replace negative ones

Phase 6

Body Scan

Ensuring the memory no longer causes physical tension

Phase 7

Closure

Ensuring stability at the end of each session

Phase 8

Reevaluation

Checking progress and determining next steps

Goals of EMDR Therapy

EMDR Therapy at South Hills Counseling addresses your specific concerns and aspirations.

Personalized Objectives

  • Processing traumatic memories to reduce their emotional intensity

  • Alleviating symptoms of PTSD and trauma-related distress

  • Reconnecting brain pathways disrupted by traumatic experiences

  • Developing adaptive coping skills and beliefs

  • Reducing triggers and reactivity in everyday situations

  • Building resilience against future stress

  • Integrating fragmented traumatic memories

Growth-Oriented Approach

Our therapy goes beyond trauma resolution to foster comprehensive healing:

  • Focusing on whole-person integration of mind and body

  • Building new neural connections for healthier responses

  • Enhancing self-awareness and emotional regulation

  • Creating meaningful change that extends beyond therapy sessions

  • Developing a renewed sense of personal strength and capability

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

✔ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

✔ Childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences

✔ Single-incident trauma (accidents, assaults, natural disasters)

✔ Anxiety and panic disorders with traumatic origins

✔ Grief and loss processing

✔ Performance anxiety and blocks

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Research on EMDR shows it reduces negative trauma and PTSD symptoms like intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks. It also helps people who have experienced trauma let go of past events that have been keeping them stuck. The feelings of powerlessness and distress change as your brain learns to soothe itself. When you think of a past traumatic event, you'll be able to use new strategies to help your brain, body, and emotions feel grounded and centered.

  • The duration of EMDR therapy varies based on your history, the complexity of your trauma, and your personal response to treatment. Some clients with single-incident trauma may experience significant relief in 5-12 sessions. More complex trauma histories typically require longer treatment. We'll provide a better estimate after your initial assessment and history-taking phase.

  • Unlike some forms of therapy, EMDR doesn't require you to discuss every detail of your traumatic experiences. You need only share what feels comfortable, and the processing can still be effective. Many clients appreciate that EMDR allows them to process trauma without extensive verbal recounting of painful memories.

  • EMDR is designed with safety in mind. Before processing any traumatic memories, we spend time in the preparation phase ensuring you have adequate coping skills and emotional regulation techniques. Sessions are carefully structured to minimize distress, and we always end sessions with stabilization exercises. The goal is to process trauma in a way that's challenging but manageable.

  • Yes, EMDR can be effective regardless of when the trauma occurred. Whether your traumatic experiences happened recently or decades ago, the brain's natural healing mechanisms can still be activated through EMDR. Many clients are surprised to find relief from long-standing trauma symptoms they thought were permanent.

Ready to Begin Your Healing Journey Today?

We look forward to supporting you on your journey toward trauma healing, integration, and enhanced well-being. South Hills helps you process trauma and discover renewed freedom and resilience!