You Don't Have to Relive It to Heal From It
Many people avoid therapy because they don't want to talk about what happened over and over again. With EMDR, you don't have to.
EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — helps your brain process painful memories in a way that takes away their power. You don't need to describe every detail. You don't need to relive the worst moments. Your brain does the healing work — EMDR just gives it the right conditions to do so.
At Théla Psychotherapy Clinic in Markham, EMDR is offered by Bonny — a trained EMDR therapist with deep experience in complex trauma, immigration-related trauma, and adverse childhood experiences. Sessions are paced carefully, with your safety and comfort always leading.
✓ In-person in Markham | ✓ Virtual across Ontario, BC & Alberta | ✓ Insurance accepted
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR is a structured, research-supported therapy that uses bilateral stimulation — such as guided eye movements or gentle tapping — to help your brain reprocess memories that feel stuck.
When something traumatic or deeply distressing happens, the brain sometimes can't fully process it. The memory gets frozen — and it keeps showing up as if it's still happening now. Flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, anger, shame — these are often the signs of unprocessed trauma.
EMDR helps your brain finish what it started. After processing, the memory doesn't disappear — but it stops feeling so intense. It becomes something that happened in the past, not something that's still happening now.
EMDR is proven effective for:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Complex trauma and childhood trauma
- Anxiety, panic, and phobias
- Distressing or intrusive memories
- Immigration and refugee trauma
- Grief and loss
- Attachment wounds and relationship trauma
- Racial trauma
- Single-incident trauma (accidents, assaults, medical events)
You do not need to remember everything clearly for EMDR to work.
What Does EMDR Actually Feel Like?
A lot of people worry that EMDR will be overwhelming. Here is what most clients actually experience:
Before processing begins, Bonny will spend time helping you feel safe and prepared. You will learn grounding techniques and build what's called a "calm place" — a mental resource you can return to anytime things feel like too much.
During processing, you will be asked to bring a memory or feeling to mind while following a gentle bilateral stimulus — usually eye movements or tapping. Most clients describe this as strange at first, then calming. You stay in control the whole time.
After each session, Bonny makes sure you feel settled and grounded before you leave. EMDR sessions sometimes stir things up — she will not end a session and leave you activated.
You are never pushed to go faster than feels safe. The pace is always yours.
Who EMDR Can Help
EMDR may be right for you if you are experiencing any of the following:
Trauma & PTSD Childhood abuse or neglect, sexual trauma, domestic violence, refugee or immigration trauma, accident trauma, medical trauma, complex PTSD
Anxiety & Panic Generalized anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, health anxiety, phobias, OCD
Grief & Loss Traumatic loss, complicated grief, pregnancy loss, pet loss
Relationship & Attachment Wounds Betrayal trauma, attachment difficulties, patterns from early childhood relationships
Neurodivergent Experiences Trauma linked to masking, bullying, or years of feeling misunderstood
High-Functioning but Struggling You appear fine on the outside but something from the past keeps showing up in your present — in your relationships, your body, your reactions
Newcomers & Immigrants Immigration stress, displacement trauma, cultural identity wounds — sessions available in English, Mandarin (普通话), and Cantonese (廣東話)
Two Ways to Do EMDR — Which Is Right for You?
Standard EMDR Sessions
Weekly or bi-weekly sessions to work through trauma at a steady, sustainable pace.
50-minute session — $200 80-minute session — $295
Best for clients who:
- Are new to EMDR and want to build slowly
- Prefer weekly support and continuity
- Are working through multiple or layered trauma targets
- Want to fit therapy into their regular schedule
In-person in Markham or virtual across Ontario, BC & Alberta.
EMDR Half-Day Intensive
A focused, extended 3-hour session for clients who want to go deeper in a single concentrated block.
Half-Day Intensive — $650
Best for clients who:
- Want to accelerate their healing
- Have limited availability for weekly sessions
- Are preparing for a significant life event
- Are already established in therapy and ready for deeper processing
- Are traveling to Markham from another city or province
A free 15-minute screening call is required before booking an intensive. This ensures the format is the right fit for where you are right now in terms of stabilization and readiness.
In-person in Markham or virtual across Ontario, BC & Alberta.
How EMDR Works at Théla
Step 1 — Free 15-Minute Screening Call We start here for all new EMDR clients. Bonny will ask about your history, your goals, and your current level of stabilization. This call is free and helps us figure out the right starting point for you.
Step 2 — Preparation Phase Before any processing begins, Bonny builds your resourcing toolkit — grounding techniques, a calm place, and stabilization skills. You won't start processing until you feel ready.
Step 3 — Processing Using bilateral stimulation, Bonny guides you through targeted memory processing. You stay in control throughout. Sessions always end with grounding and closure.
Step 4 — Integration Between sessions, Bonny may give you simple practices to support what's being processed. Healing continues outside the room too.
What Clients Say
Client testimonials have been anonymized to protect privacy
"I didn't think I'd feel normal again after what happened. EMDR helped me process the trauma without having to relive every detail. My nightmares stopped and I could finally move forward. Bonny created such a safe space."
— M.L., Markham
"As a newcomer to Canada, I carried so much pain from what I left behind. Finding a Cantonese-speaking therapist who understood cultural trauma was life-changing. EMDR helped me put down a weight I had been carrying for years."
— Virtual client, Toronto
"As a newcomer to Canada, I carried so much pain from what I experienced back home. Finding a Cantonese-speaking therapist who truly understood cultural trauma was life-changing. EMDR helped me finally put down burdens I'd carried for decades."
— W.C., Virtual Client, Toronto
"After trying talk therapy for years with minimal progress, EMDR was the breakthrough I needed. The work was intense but incredibly effective."
— K.R., Richmond Hill
EMDR Therapy Fees and Insurance
- Standard Session (50 min) — $200
- Extended Session (80 min) — $295
- Half-Day Intensive (3 hrs) — $650
- Free EMDR Screening Call — $0
EMDR sessions are billed as psychotherapy and may be covered by your extended health insurance plan. We offer direct billing to most major providers including Green Shield, Manulife, and Sun Life. EAP referrals are accepted and billed directly to your provider. Contact us before your first session to confirm your coverage.
Ready to Start?
You don't have to carry this alone. EMDR is one of the most effective tools available for trauma — and Bonny will make sure you are fully prepared before any processing begins.
Book your free 15-minute EMDR screening call today.
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR Therapy
The length of EMDR treatment varies based on trauma complexity:
- Single-incident trauma (car accident) may resolve in 3-6 sessions
- Complex trauma from childhood may require 12-24+ sessions
- Multiple traumatic events may need extended treatment
During your assessment, we'll provide a realistic timeline based on your specific needs.
Yes, EMDR is a safe, evidence-based therapy when conducted by a trained professional. You may experience temporary emotional intensity during processing, but you'll be equipped with coping strategies and remain in control throughout. We'll proceed at a pace that feels manageable for you.
No. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn't require detailed verbal description of traumatic events. You'll need to identify the memory and its associated emotions, but you can process it without narrating what happened. Many clients find this less overwhelming than talk therapy.
Most clients describe it as neutral or even calming. You might:
- Follow the therapist's fingers with your eyes
- Hold buzzers that alternate vibration between your hands
- Listen to tones that alternate between ears
We'll find what works best for you during preparation sessions.
Absolutely. Virtual EMDR is just as effective as in-person sessions. We use secure video platforms and guide you through self-administered bilateral stimulation techniques (like tapping) that work well remotely. Many of our Ontario clients prefer the convenience of online sessions.
You're always in control. We can pause or stop processing at any time. We'll teach you grounding techniques before beginning processing work, and we'll check in regularly during sessions. We also ensure you're stable and grounded before ending each session.
Yes. EMDR can still be effective even when memories are fragmented or unclear. We can work with your current symptoms, triggers, and whatever pieces of memory you do have. Your brain knows what needs healing, even if you don't consciously remember everything.
Single-incident trauma (like an accident) typically has one clear target memory and resolves more quickly.
Complex trauma involves multiple traumatic experiences, often from childhood, and requires more time to address the network of related memories and beliefs.
We specialize in both, adjusting the approach to your specific situation.
No. EMDR doesn't erase memories—it changes how they're stored in your brain. You'll still remember what happened, but it will feel less distressing. The memory becomes like something that happened in the past rather than something that feels like it's happening now.
Yes. We provide EMDR within couples therapy to address:
- Individual trauma impacting the relationship
- Relationship trauma like infidelity or betrayal
- Attachment wounds affecting connection
Both partners can benefit from EMDR as part of comprehensive couples counselling.
PTSD involves specific symptoms that persist beyond normal stress responses:
- Intrusive memories or flashbacks
- Avoidance of reminders
- Negative changes in mood and thinking
- Heightened reactivity and hypervigilance
During your consultation, we'll assess whether your symptoms suggest PTSD or another concern, and discuss appropriate treatment approaches.
Yes, EMDR is adapted for children and can be very effective. We work with children and adolescents using age-appropriate approaches, often incorporating play and creative elements. Parental involvement is typically part of the treatment process.
Areas We Serve
EMDR therapy in Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Mississauga, Brampton, Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and Oshawa. Virtual EMDR available across Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.
