EMDR Therapy in North York, Toronto, Mississauga & Across Ontario

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment is a specialized, evidence-based way to help people heal from trauma, anxiety, PTSD, and other distressing experiences. It helps your brain safely reprocess painful memories by employing bilateral stimulation, including moving your eyes or tapping. EMDR doesn’t involve talking in detail about the distressing issue; it helps your brain heal on its own, much like it does with physical wounds. The World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and the Canadian Psychological Association all advocate this strong method, which has been studied for more than 30 years.

EMDR is a treatment technique that helps clients access and deal with traumatic memories that are stuck in the brain in an unresolved manner. By engaging in bilateral stimulation processes, the brain can release the emotional charge associated with these memories. As a result, people feel calmer, more present, and less easily upset in their daily lives. You can use EMDR by itself or with other therapies like CBT or mindfulness.

The duration of EMDR therapy varies according to individual needs and history. Most start to see good changes after 6 to 12 sessions, especially if they’re working on something specific such as a car accident or a recent loss. If you’ve suffered from complex trauma — childhood abuse, neglect or long-term emotional pain — you may need more extensive therapy. Your therapist will work with you at a pace that feels safe for you and will modify the plan as you make progress and reach your goals.

Yes, EMDR is a safe and well-studied therapy when done by a trained mental health practitioner. Organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Canadian Psychological Association approve the use of EMDR therapy to treat trauma and PTSD. Some people may feel sad or fatigued following sessions, but this is normal, and your therapist will help you deal with it. Your emotional safety is our primary focus at Evolution Psychotherapy. We provide you with calming techniques and aways check in with how you are feeling to make sure you’re comfortable at all times.

When done by a competent practitioner, EMDR is thought to be a very safe and successful treatment. Some people may experience strong emotions, physical sensations, or exhaustion during or after a session, as it involves revisiting painful memories. This is a natural part of the healing process, and a trained EMDR therapist can help you navigate it. At Evolution Psychotherapy we make sure our clients have self-regulation tools so they feel comfortable and supported during the whole process.

Although EMDR is generally considered low-risk, clients may experience brief increases in emotional intensity, vivid dreams, or powerful emotions during or between sessions as their brains continue to process memories. Your EMDR therapist will help you navigate these emotions. Your therapist will tailor each session to your needs and prioritize your emotional safety at all times. It’s essential to choose a qualified and trained EMDR therapist, such as those at Evolution Psychotherapy, to ensure a safe and effective experience.

People used to think EMDR was controversial because it was distinct from regular talk therapy and employed eye movements that felt strange. Some early skeptics asked how or why it functioned. But clinical research over the past few decades have shown that EMDR works, especially for PTSD and trauma. Trauma professionals all around the world encourage it and respect it, although there is still considerable controversy about which components of the approach are most responsible for its efficacy.

Absolutely! At Evolution Psychotherapy, we use secure video platforms to conduct EMDR online with a qualified EMDR therapist. Similar to in-person sessions, our EMDR therapists use virtual bilateral stimulation strategies like eye movement, tapping prompts, or changing sounds to help your brain repair. EMDR online is beneficial for individuals who live in remote areas, have mobility concerns, or prefer to remain in the comfort of their own home. We offer EMDR online for individuals living in Ontario, including North York, Mississauga, Toronto, and other surrounding cities.

The main distinction is that EMDR helps your brain deal with trauma without having to talk about every painful event. You can talk about your feelings and thoughts in talk therapy. As you work on EMDR, you focus on the feelings and beliefs that go along with a memory. Your brain heals in the background. If you’ve already tried talk therapy but still feel stuck, overwhelmed, or triggered by things that happened in the past, EMDR can be very beneficial.

Your first EMDR session will be all about getting to know you better, including your past, your aspirations, and whether EMDR is the appropriate fit for you. You won’t have to deal with terrible recollections right away. Your therapist will instead help you feel comfortable and grounded, create trust, and teach you how to calm down. You’ll also learn how EMDR works and what to expect in future sessions, which will help you feel ready and confident.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tries to change the way you think and act, while EMDR helps the brain deal with trauma on a deeper emotional level. If your problems are caused by trauma that hasn’t been dealt with, PTSD, or emotional triggers, EMDR might work better. CBT can help a lot with anxiety, despair, or negative thinking that happens every day. At Evolution Psychotherapy, our therapists can use both methods to come up with a plan that works best for you.

Children as young as six who are having trouble with trauma, nightmares, separation anxiety, bullying, or past medical occurrences can safely and effectively use EMDR. Sessions for children are tailored to their age to ensure they are appropriate and fun. Our EMDR therapists work with kids by using games, art and stories. Parents tend to share the noticed improvements in their childrens confidence and emotional stability just after a few sessions.

Eye movements, taps, or sounds that switch back and forth can be used to stimulate both sides of the brain at the same time. This helps the brain shift “stuck” memories from the amygdala (the part of the brain that controls fear) to the prefrontal cortex (the part that controls reason). BLS is like what happens during REM sleep, when the brain organically works through what happened during the day. Studies have shown that BLS can swiftly and efficiently reduce emotional discomfort and modify negative thoughts.

There are eight steps in the EMDR process:
1. History-taking: Your therapist asks you questions about your past and current symptoms.
2. Preparation—You learn how to calm yourself down and create trust with your therapist.
3. Assessment: You pick a memory to focus on and the beliefs that go along with it.
4. Desensitization: You utilize eye movements or taps to calm your emotions.
5. Installation: You make good beliefs stronger to replace negative ones.
6. Body scan: You assess how the memory feels in your body and let go of any tension.
7. Closure: You calm down and talk about any sentiments that are still there.
8. Re-evaluation: At your next session, you look at what has changed and what you need to focus on next.
This methodology makes sure that EMDR therapy is safe, complete, and works at every phase.