A Trauma Therapist In Seattle Explains an EMDR Therapy Session

You’ve heard about EMDR therapy for a while now and are curious to find out if it's right for you. Friends and family tell you about the great results they are getting. You’d like to try it, but you want to understand what happens in an EMDR therapy session before scheduling it.

I’m Diane Dempcy, a Certified EMDR therapist. I’ve helped many men and women heal from a traumatic event, difficult childhood experiences, anxiety, and even phobias using EMDR.

But first, let’s start with a quick explanation about EMDR therapy. For a more comprehensive explanation of EMDR, see my blog, An EMDR Therapist in Seattle Explains EMDR.

What is EMDR Therapy in Seattle?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This therapy is highly effective in healing trauma or other difficult life events, whether it’s from a single event or ongoing trauma from childhood. EMDR is also effective for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addition recovery, and more

The idea behind EMDR is that distressing events can overwhelm the body and brain system, leaving the memory stuck. Typically, an event will occur and the brain processes it so, after a while, you remember the difficult event, but not the distressing feelings associated with it. If the memory is “stuck”, EMDR helps the stuck memory heal and take its proper place in your memory system.

As an EMDR therapist, my goal is to help my clients process their memories in a way that reduces symptoms such as anxiety, dissociation, numbness, and emotional hijacking to name a few. EMDR helps people reach important goals and enjoy their lives.

Check out this 2-miniute video about EMDR.

What to Expect from EMDR Therapy in Seattle

An EMDR session typically unfolds in several phases. Here's an overview of what to expect during a session:

1. Building Resources & Self-Soothe Techniques

Before addressing trauma, we’ll create a toolkit of self-soothing techniques to help regulate strong emotions during therapy.
This ensures you feel empowered and supported throughout the process

2. Identifying Present Symptoms & Relevant Memories

Next, we’ll identify current symptoms (such as anxiety or flashbacks) and explore how past experiences may have started them.
We’ll list memories tied to these symptoms to focus on healing their root causes.

3. Reprocessing Memories with Bilateral Stimulation

In this phase, we’ll reprocess key memories using bilateral stimulation (BLS), which involves eye movements or tapping to activate both sides of the brain. This helps release emotions and physical sensations tied to the memory, enabling more effective processing.

While we focus on the memory, I’ll encourage you to pay attention to any thoughts, feelings, or bodily sensations that arise. This allows us to uncover and process any “stuck” aspects of the memory, often leading to a sense of relief or resolution.

4. Processing and Integration

After several rounds of BLS, we’ll assess how you’re feeling. This phase often reveals new insights or shifts in how you experience the memory, promoting healing and personal growth. Many clients report feeling more grounded, in control of their emotions, and less affected by past traumatic experiences.

How Long Does EMDR Therapy in Seattle Take?

The length of EMDR therapy depends on many factors. For example, if you’ve recently experienced a traumatic event like a car accident and want to be able to drive without anxiety, you might need between four and ten sessions. However, if you have a more complicated trauma history, it may take longer to reprocess everything.

The phrase “slower is faster” is often used in trauma therapy because moving too quickly can cause emotional flooding. Processing trauma at a manageable pace helps prevent this and allows for deeper healing.

Wrapping It Up

It’s important to know that EMDR therapy is not a quick fix. Healing from trauma takes time, effort, and commitment. While EMDR can be a powerful tool, it requires patience and persistence. For many people, though, it provides a pathway to reclaiming their lives and finding peace and well-being.

If you're interested in exploring EMDR therapy in Seattle, I’m here to help guide you through the process, whether you're dealing with trauma, anxiety, or depression. Together, we can work toward healing and building the life you want.

Diane Dempcy Counseling

I hope this information helps you feel more confident about EMDR. Remember, therapy isn’t just about chatting about your week; it’s about getting the support you need to live the life you want. You've got this!

If you would like to know more about how I can help you reach your goals, please email me at therapy@dempcycounseling.com or visit my website at www.dempcycounseling.com/contact.

Diane Dempcy provides therapy in Seattle to adults experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma. She utilizes brain-based tools such as EMDR, DBT, and other types of therapy. Diane’s clients experience her as direct, empowering, and accepting.

She provides online and in-person therapy in Washington.