EMDR for Trauma

Process your past. Find peace in the present.

If life has felt heavier than usual, you're not alone. You don't have to carry that weight forever. Whether it’s childhood memories, workplace stress, or recent heartbreak, trauma often leaves a mark that talk therapy alone can’t always heal. That’s where EMDR therapy comes in.

What is EMDR?

When you've been through trauma, it doesn’t just live as a memory.

It’s a sensation in your chest when someone raises their voice.

It’s flinching when nothing’s actually wrong.

It’s feeling numb, overwhelmed, or like you’re always on guard.

These aren’t overreactions.

They’re your nervous system doing its best to protect you.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps your brain and body finish processing those overwhelming moments, so you can finally move forward. It uses simple techniques like tapping to help reduce emotional weight and give your body a sense of safety again.

At Shift Change, we specialize in EMDR sessions online, so you can begin your healing process wherever you're most comfortable, in an anonymous way. 

Curious if EMDR is a good fit for you? Let’s connect!

If you’ve tried talk therapy but still feel stuck, EMDR can offer a different kind of relief. 

Why EMDR works so well for trauma treatment

EMDR doesn't require you to retell your story in detail. Instead, we use gentle bilateral stimulation (like tapping) while you revisit a headline memory in short bursts, allowing your brain to integrate the missing pieces, essentially “unstick” from it.

EMDR supports trauma recovery by:

  • Helping the nervous system stabilize

  • Reducing the intensity of painful memories

  • Building resilience and a felt sense of safety

Creating new pathways of thought, belief, and self-trust.

And because EMDR doesn’t require you to speak in detail about the trauma, it’s especially helpful if talking feels too activating or unsafe, or if you don’t have the words.

You don’t have to carry it forever.

What trauma really means (and why it’s not your fault)

Even if the event is in the past, trauma can still live in your body.

Maybe you grew up walking on eggshells and now you have panic or anxiety that seems to come from nowhere.

Maybe something happened suddenly that changed your sense of safety and you now have flashbacks or emotional waves that feel out of control. 

Maybe no one ever believed you. And for some reason, you have trouble sleeping, relaxing, or trusting others.

Or maybe nothing “big” happened, but you’ve felt anxious, numb, detached from yourself, or unsafe for years. 

This is trauma. And it’s real.

You don’t need a diagnosis to start healing. Just a willingness to try.

All our EMDR sessions are online and fully anonymous.

How EMDR trauma therapy works at Shift Change

We know that safety is the foundation of healing. Every EMDR session is structured to protect your nervous system and not overwhelm it.

  • We guide you through the reprocessing in a non-verbal way. All you have to do is show up and be ready to put the weight down.

  • We guide them through a relaxation and breathing first. Then we guide them through the process then we begin. We guide this part. You'll learn how to calm your nervous system and stay present, so you're in control every step of the way.

  • When you're ready, we'll begin short rounds of bilateral stimulation (we only use bilateral tapping in our online sessions) while gently holding a target memory or emotion.

  • You don't have to talk at all. Just notice what comes up and write it down in your notes. Your brain naturally begins reprocessing through bilateral stimulation, like it’s finally processing and making sense of an unresolved chapter.

  • Every session ends with a return to calm, so you leave feeling stable and supported. The goal is to reach a 0-3/ 10 by the end of each session.

One of the most powerful things about EMDR is that it doesn’t require you to retell your story out loud. You can process memories internally, while still experiencing the full benefits of reprocessing and nervous system regulation.

In our sessions, you will not see anyone else in the virtual space. Your camera is required to stay on for the therapist only. As we guide you, you learn how to finally let go.

If that sounds like a relief, book a free EMDR session to get started.

Your Questions, Answered

  • EMDR therapy works by stimulating both hemispheres of the brain using bilateral movements. This stimulates the brain's natural healing process, allowing disturbing memories to become less vivid, less emotionally intense, and easier to process. It’s particularly beneficial for individuals struggling with trauma-related issues like PTSD, anxiety, stress, and depression.

  • The number of sessions required for EMDR trauma therapy can vary based on the individual and the complexity of their trauma. Many clients report significant relief from symptoms after just 3–6 sessions. We offer a stepped-care approach. If the Assyst was helpful and you are ready to process more deeply, we have groups for that. Also virtual and anonymous. Reach out for more information.

  • EMDR differs from other trauma therapies in that it focuses on processing the traumatic memory rather than discussing it in detail. It uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements or other methods) to activate the brain’s natural healing process. Unlike talk therapy, where the focus is on verbalizing trauma, EMDR works with the body and mind to reprocess and heal emotional wounds. For many, we don’t have the words to make sense of trauma.

  • EMDR can be an excellent choice if you are struggling with trauma, PTSD, or anxiety and haven’t found lasting relief with other treatments. If you feel overwhelmed by past experiences and want to work through them in a safe, structured way without reliving the painful details, EMDR could be a good solution.