If past experiences are still affecting how you feel, think, or react today, EMDR therapy can help. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a proven, evidence-based therapy that helps your brain process difficult memories so they stop controlling your present.
I offer EMDR therapy in Ottawa, Ontario, in a safe, supportive space where your comfort and emotional stability come first.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro and is widely used to treat trauma, anxiety, PTSD, and stress-related issues. It works by using guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation (such as tapping or sound) to help the nervous system reprocess distressing memories.
Once processed, these memories lose their emotional intensity and become neutral — meaning you can remember what happened without reliving it.
What can it help with?
EMDR therapy is effective for a wide range of concerns, including:
- Trauma and PTSD
- Childhood emotional wounds
- Anxiety and panic
- Stress and overwhelm
- Negative self-beliefs
- Flashbacks and nightmares
- Emotional triggers that feel “out of proportion”
- Unresolved life experiences
Trauma doesn’t have to mean one major event. Ongoing stress, difficult relationships, or early life experiences can all leave a lasting impact on the nervous system.
How EMDR Therapy Works
EMDR follows a structured, client-centred process designed to keep you grounded and supported throughout treatment.
Sessions may include:
- Learning relaxation and grounding skills
- Reviewing personal history and identifying key experiences
- Installing resources to manage anxiety and intense emotions
- Creating a calm or safe place
- Reprocessing and desensitizing distressing memories
- Working through trauma-related symptoms like flashbacks or dreams
- Body scanning for lingering sensations
-
Ongoing re-evaluation and integration
You don’t need to relive everything in detail. EMDR works with how your brain naturally processes information.
Why Choose EMDR Therapy?
Trauma memories are often stored differently in the brain. Instead of being fully processed and integrated, they remain “stuck,” leading to emotional, physical, or behavioural reactions in the present.
EMDR helps restart the brain’s adaptive information processing, allowing memories to move into the past — where they belong — and making space for healthier beliefs and emotional responses.
EMDR Therapy in Ottawa
As an EMDR-trained therapist in Ottawa, Ontario, I follow established clinical protocols to ensure that treatment is safe, effective, and tailored to your needs. EMDR is recognized internationally and used across Canada by mental health professionals to treat trauma and related concerns.
Sessions are paced carefully, with your emotional safety always being the priority.
EMDR Therapy in Ottawa
If you’re curious about EMDR therapy or wondering if it’s right for you, I’d be happy to talk.
📞 Call or text: 613-295-9987
Taking the first step can feel hard — but you don’t have to do it alone.
Client Testimonial
“Anna is an excellent therapist. With her help and guidance using EMDR, I was able to regain focus, confidence, and peace. I’ve tried many types of therapy over the years, and none has been as effective as my work with Anna. I finally feel free from my past and able to live fully.”
— January 2015