TRAUMA-INFORMED PSYCHOTHERAPY
What happened matters.
So does what comes next.
EMDR Therapy for Trauma & PTSD
Sometimes an experience is over, but your mind and body continue responding as though the danger is still present.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that can help people process distressing memories and reduce trauma-related symptoms.
BOOK A CONSULTATION →In-person in Markham · Virtual appointments available
You can remember what happened without having to experience it in the same way.
A collaborative, paced approach to trauma recovery.
UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA
When the past still feels present.
Trauma can affect how we remember experiences, respond to stress, relate to others, and experience safety in everyday life.
Some people experience symptoms following a single overwhelming event. Others have lived through repeated or prolonged experiences that have shaped how they see themselves and the world around them.
EMDR offers a structured approach to working with distressing memories and the beliefs, emotions, and physical responses connected to them.
RECOGNIZING TRAUMA RESPONSES
Trauma doesn't always look the same.
Trauma-related difficulties can appear in thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and everyday behaviour.
01.
Intrusive Memories
Unwanted memories, nightmares, flashbacks, or distressing images that arise unexpectedly.
02.
Feeling on Edge
Hypervigilance, heightened startle responses, difficulty relaxing, or persistent feelings of danger.
03.
Avoidance
Avoiding places, situations, conversations, or reminders associated with difficult experiences.
04.
Emotional Changes
Anxiety, shame, guilt, anger, emotional numbness, or difficulty regulating intense feelings.
05.
Negative Self-Beliefs
Persistent beliefs such as "I'm not safe," "It's my fault," or "I'm not good enough."
06.
Disconnection
Feeling detached from yourself, your surroundings, other people, or your own emotions.
These experiences can occur with or without a PTSD diagnosis. A clinical assessment can help clarify your needs.
THE EMDR APPROACH
What is EMDR therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a structured psychotherapy developed to help people process distressing experiences.
During EMDR, your therapist may guide bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements or alternating tapping, while you briefly attend to aspects of a distressing memory.
EMDR is recommended in major clinical guidelines as a treatment for PTSD. Researchers continue to investigate the mechanisms through which it works.
What makes EMDR different?
You don't need to describe every detail.
EMDR does not require repeated,
detailed verbal retelling of traumatic events.
It works with more than thoughts.
Treatment attends to memories, beliefs,
emotions, and physical sensations.
Preparation matters.
Processing begins when there is sufficient
readiness and appropriate support.
You remain involved in the process.
Your therapist checks in regularly
and adjusts treatment collaboratively.
THE TREATMENT PROCESS
What does EMDR treatment look like?
EMDR follows an eight-phase treatment framework. These phases are individualized and may span multiple appointments.
01
History & Planning
Understanding your history, current concerns, goals, and treatment priorities.
02
Preparation
Developing grounding, stabilization, and coping strategies before processing.
03
Assessment
Identifying a target memory and related images, beliefs, emotions, and sensations.
04
Desensitization
Processing the memory using bilateral stimulation while monitoring distress.
05
Installation
Strengthening a more adaptive belief associated with the experience.
06
Body Scan
Noticing any remaining physical activation connected with the memory.
07
Closure
Ending the session with appropriate grounding, support, and stabilization.
08
Re-evaluation
Reviewing changes, current symptoms, and the next steps in treatment.
You do not need to complete every phase in a single session. Preparation and processing are paced according to your clinical needs.
INDIVIDUALIZED TRAUMA CARE
Different experiences call for different approaches.
SINGLE-EVENT TRAUMA
When one experience changed how you feel.
EMDR may be appropriate following experiences such as:
Car accidents or serious injuries
Medical emergencies or procedures
Assault or other frightening incidents
Sudden or traumatic loss
Natural disasters or other critical events
COMPLEX & DEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA
When the experiences happened over time.
EMDR may also be considered when difficulties are connected with:
Childhood adversity or neglect
Repeated relational trauma
Longstanding shame or negative self-beliefs
Attachment-related difficulties
Complex PTSD and dissociative symptoms
Complex trauma may require more extensive assessment, stabilization, and individualized treatment planning before memory reprocessing.
SAFETY & PREPARATION
We don't rush into processing.
EMDR is not simply a technique that begins as soon as you enter the therapy room. Your therapist first considers your history, current functioning, available supports, and readiness.
Some clients are ready to begin memory reprocessing relatively early. Others benefit from a longer period of preparation and stabilization.
The goal is to create conditions that support meaningful, tolerable therapeutic work—not to push through distress as quickly as possible.
Preparation may include:
Grounding and present-moment orientation
Recognizing signs of overwhelm or dissociation
Developing emotion regulation strategies
Strengthening internal and external supports
Establishing pacing, consent, and stop signals
TREATMENT GOALS
The goal isn't to erase your memories.
EMDR does not remove what happened or change the facts of your experience. Instead, treatment aims to reduce the distress associated with traumatic memories and support more adaptive beliefs and responses.
Depending on your circumstances, progress may involve fewer intrusive memories, reduced avoidance, improved emotional regulation, or a greater sense of safety in everyday life.
Each person's response to treatment is different, and outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
OUR CLINICAL TEAM
Meet our EMDR-trained therapists.
Finding a therapist whose approach feels appropriate for you is an important part of the process.
EMDR-TRAINED CLINICIAN
Bonny
Integrates trauma-informed psychotherapy with attention to nervous-system responses, stabilization, and individualized treatment planning.
VIEW BOOKING OPTIONS →EMDR-TRAINED CLINICIAN
Charlie
Integrates EMDR with somatic and nervous-system-informed approaches for trauma, PTSD, and neurodivergence.
VIEW BOOKING OPTIONS →EMDR-TRAINED CLINICIAN
Jennifer
Offers EMDR-informed trauma work alongside her clinical focus on anxiety, grief, and relationship concerns.
VIEW BOOKING OPTIONS →EMDR training and professional registration are distinct credentials. Please review individual clinician profiles for current qualifications, services, and availability.
FLEXIBLE APPOINTMENT OPTIONS
EMDR in a setting that works for you.
In-Person EMDR
Attend appointments at our Markham, Ontario clinic, subject to clinician availability and suitability.
Virtual EMDR
Remote EMDR may be available where clinically appropriate, with consideration for privacy, technology, safety, and professional jurisdiction.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions about EMDR?
Do I have to describe my traumatic experience in detail?
No. EMDR does not require repeated, detailed verbal retelling. Your therapist will still need enough information to assess and plan treatment safely.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
Treatment length varies. A single-event trauma may require a different approach from prolonged or complex trauma. Your therapist can discuss a preliminary plan after assessment.
Can EMDR help with experiences from many years ago?
Yes. EMDR may be used to address distressing memories from earlier periods of life. Suitability depends on your current needs and clinical history.
Is EMDR hypnosis?
No. EMDR is not hypnosis. You remain awake and actively involved in the therapeutic process.
What if I become overwhelmed or dissociate?
Your therapist will assess for dissociative symptoms and discuss appropriate pacing and stabilization. Reprocessing may be postponed or modified when clinically indicated.
Is virtual EMDR effective?
Emerging research supports the feasibility and potential effectiveness of remotely delivered EMDR. Your therapist will assess whether virtual treatment is appropriate for you.
What if I'm not sure whether my experience counts as trauma?
You do not need to determine that on your own. A consultation can help explore your symptoms, experiences, and possible treatment options.
EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS
Looking for a different pace of treatment?
Théla also offers EMDR intensives for eligible clients who may benefit from an extended, focused treatment format. Suitability is determined through assessment.
ASK ABOUT EMDR INTENSIVES →BEGIN WITH A CONVERSATION
You don't have to have everything figured out before reaching out.
Whether you're navigating the effects of one event or experiences that have accumulated over time, we're here to explore what support might look like for you.
BOOK A CONSULTATION CONTACT OUR TEAMQuestions? hello@thelaclinic.com
