Healing from Trauma: How EMDR and Counseling Can Help You Move Forward
A lot of my clients ask me about EMDR and why it is important to address past traumas at some point in therapy. Trauma is something nearly everyone carries in some form, though it affects each of us differently. For some, it’s an experience from childhood that left a mark; for others, it’s a more recent event like a breakup, loss, or crisis. Trauma doesn't only come from life-altering events—it can stem from moments when we felt abandoned, misunderstood, or unsafe. Even if we’ve tried to bury it, the impact of trauma often lingers, showing up in our relationships, our sense of self-worth, and our ability to feel joy or calm in our daily lives.
The good news is that there are ways to work through trauma, understand it, and ultimately let it go. One effective approach used in counseling to treat trauma is called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and it has proven life-changing for many people seeking freedom from past pain.
What is EMDR, and How Does It Work?
EMDR may sound complicated, but at its core, it’s actually quite simple. EMDR helps you process painful memories in a way that allows your brain to "file" them differently. When we experience trauma, our brain can sometimes “freeze” that memory, leaving it unprocessed. This unprocessed memory can get triggered by other situations, leaving us feeling stressed, anxious, or fearful without fully understanding why.
Here’s where EMDR comes in. During EMDR sessions, a therapist will guide you through recalling the traumatic memory in small, manageable parts while also engaging in “bilateral stimulation,” often by using hand tappers or moving your eyes back and forth. This bilateral stimulation helps activate the brain's natural ability to reprocess memories, allowing the mind to work through the trauma safely and at its own pace.
Why EMDR Works
The power of EMDR lies in how it helps the brain process stuck memories. By recalling traumatic experiences while doing bilateral stimulation, you’re allowing your mind to reframe how it responds to those memories. Rather than feeling overwhelmed or “stuck” in the past, you can begin to see the trauma as something that happened to you rather than something that defines you. This makes it possible to move forward with a new sense of freedom.
People who have done EMDR often say they feel lighter, more in control of their emotions, and more at peace. They report that memories which used to trigger anxiety or pain now feel more neutral, like part of their history rather than an emotional weight they carry every day.
How Counseling and EMDR Work Together
In counseling, EMDR can be a powerful tool, but it’s only part of the healing process. Therapy helps clients develop self-awareness, resilience, and new perspectives that allow them to thrive even after difficult experiences. With the help of a therapist, you can explore your feelings, recognize patterns, and learn ways to manage stress, set boundaries, and feel safe in relationships again.
During counseling sessions, I want to support you in defining what you want to work on, whether that’s improving your relationships, finding peace in daily life, or setting healthy boundaries. Together, we will create goals that align with your healing journey, and EMDR can be one of the methods to help you achieve those goals by addressing unprocessed trauma.
Taking the First Step Toward Healing
If you’re carrying memories or feelings that feel too heavy to handle alone, know that support is available. Working through trauma isn’t about forgetting the past—it’s about learning how to live fully in the present. Through EMDR and counseling, you can release old burdens, improve your relationships, and feel empowered to reach your goals.
If you're curious to know more about how EMDR and counseling could benefit you, reach out to schedule a consultation by clicking on the Contact Me button on my webpage www.ClareTherapy.com. Together, we can explore the best approach to help you heal and move forward. Remember, you don’t have to carry this alone. Healing is possible, and a life of peace and possibility is within reach.
