ONLINE EMDR THERAPY

Therapy with me isn't about choosing the "right" modality from a menu. Most of our work will involve talking, exploring patterns, making connections, building skills & getting curious about what's happening underneath the things that brought you to therapy. When it makes sense for you & what we're working on, EMDR can become another piece of that work.

I integrate EMDR into therapy as a way to help us work with experiences, memories, beliefs or emotional responses that may feel difficult to shift through talking alone. It doesn't have to become the focus of every session, and you don't have to come to therapy already knowing whether you want EMDR. We can decide together whether it might be useful as our work unfolds.

  1. Eye
  2. Movement
  3. Desensitization
  4. Reprocessing

& yes, it's a mouthful

What is EMDR therapy?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It's a trauma therapy that can help the brain process experiences that continue to feel emotionally "stuck," even when you logically know they're in the past. Those experiences don't always have to be one obvious traumatic event. They can also include painful relationship experiences, rejection, shame, religious experiences or moments that shaped what you came to believe about yourself.

If we decide to incorporate EMDR, I'll help you understand what we're doing & why, and we'll move at a pace that feels right for you. EMDR is still part of our larger therapeutic relationship, not a separate treatment happening outside of everything else we've been exploring together.

What does EMDR actually look like?

bilateral stimulation can be as simple as following this with your eyes

Preparation

EMDR doesn't start with your hardest memories. First, we get to know your past (& figure out together which memories you want to desensitize), notice what feels activating & build grounding skills so you can steady yourself.

Processing

When we move into processing, you'll hold a memory or belief in mind while using bilateral stimulation, like following something moving side to side on your screen with your eyes or gently tapping.

You're in charge

You're awake, aware & in charge the whole time. You don't have to describe every detail out loud, you can pause or stop whenever you need to & we only move forward when you feel ready.

Feeling unsure about EMDR?

That makes a lot of sense! EMDR can sound strange or intimidating if you've only heard about it secondhand, and it's completely okay to feel skeptical, curious & nervous all at once. You can ask me as many questions as you want, we'll only move into processing when you feel ready, and choosing not to do EMDR is always an option. Therapy with me will still be meaningful either way.

Want to learn more first?

If you like to understand things before you try them (same), here are a few places to start.

Watch

What Is EMDR Therapy?EMDR International Association · a short, official introduction to how EMDR works

Listen

Thinking About EMDR? Here's What I Tell My Clients Before We StartTrauma Demystified · a 28-minute walk-through of the eight phases, the prep work & the most common mythsHealing Through Eye Movements: An Introduction to EMDRConvos From the Couch · a beginner-friendly conversation about how EMDR works & who it can help

Read

EMDR Therapy: What It Is, Procedure & EffectivenessCleveland Clinic · a clear overview, including what happens in each phaseYour Guide to a Successful Online EMDR Therapy SessionEMDR International Association · practical tips for doing EMDR virtually, like setting up your spaceWhat Is EMDR Therapy and Why Is It Used to Treat PTSD?American Psychological Association · the research side, if that's what helps you feel settled
Getting Past Your PastDr. Francine Shapiro · a book by the psychologist who developed EMDR, on how old experiences shape today's reactions
Emilee Crowder, EMDR therapist, smiling in a chair

Curious whether EMDR could fit what you're working on?

Fill out my Therapy Interest Form & we can talk about it during your free 15-minute consultation. You don't need to know whether you want EMDR yet. That's something we can figure out together, and EMDR happens online, wherever you are in Alaska, Arizona, Texas, Utah or Washington.

  • no EMDR experience needed
  • free 15-minute consultation
  • we decide together
get started