Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in Stratford & Online Across Ontario

Helping Your Mind Process and Heal

If you're struggling with distressing memories or traumatic experiences that continue to affect your daily life, it's natural to seek relief and healing. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic approach designed to help you process these experiences and reduce their emotional impact.

What is EMDR?

EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy that facilitates the processing of traumatic memories through bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements. Developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR aims to change the way distressing memories are stored in the brain, making them less vivid and emotionally charged. This process helps individuals integrate these memories more adaptively, reducing their ongoing impact.

What Can EMDR Help With?

EMDR has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of conditions, including:​

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Alleviating symptoms by processing traumatic memories.​

  • Anxiety and Panic Disorders: Reducing the intensity of anxiety-provoking memories and associated responses.​

  • Depression: Addressing underlying traumatic experiences that contribute to depressive symptoms.​

  • Phobias: Desensitizing and reprocessing fear-inducing stimuli.​

  • Chronic Pain: Altering the perception of pain linked to past experiences.​

By targeting the root causes of these conditions, EMDR helps individuals achieve relief and fosters resilience.

How Does EMDR Work in Therapy?

EMDR therapy involves an eight-phase protocol:​

  1. History Taking: Assessing your background and identifying target memories.​

  2. Preparation: Establishing trust and explaining the EMDR process.​

  3. Assessment: Activating the target memory by identifying its components.​

  4. Desensitization: Processing the memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation.​

  5. Installation: Strengthening positive beliefs related to the memory.​

  6. Body Scan: Noticing and addressing any residual physical tension.​

  7. Closure: Ensuring stability and equilibrium at the end of each session.​

  8. Reevaluation: Reviewing progress and identifying new targets as needed.​

This structured approach allows for the safe and effective processing of distressing memories.

Side profile of a woman sitting and smiling with closed eyes. There are orange and yellow flowers with green foliage in the background.

Why Choose EMDR at Reclaim & Rise?

At Reclaim & Rise, our therapists are trained in EMDR and are dedicated to providing a compassionate and supportive environment. We understand that each individual's experiences are unique, and we tailor our approach to meet your specific needs, ensuring that therapy aligns with your personal healing journey.​

You Don’t Have to Keep Reliving It to Heal from It

If certain memories still hijack your body, your relationships, or your sense of safety—you’re not broken. Your nervous system has just been doing its best to protect you.
EMDR can help you process those experiences without having to relive them, so they no longer control your present.

Book your free consultation below. You deserve relief, and we’re here to walk with you toward it—gently, safely, and at your pace.