EMDR Therapy for Trauma, Grief, & Guilt
You’ve already done the insight work.
You understand your patterns. You can explain what happened.
But something still feels stuck.
EMDR helps your brain and body process what hasn’t settled, so you can live more fully in the present.
Virtual EMDR therapy for adults in California, Colorado, Virginia, and Florida
Trauma isn’t always one catastrophic event.
Sometimes, it’s a single overwhelming moment. Often, it’s years of smaller experiences your nervous system never fully processed.
You may look fine. You may be functioning well.
But inside, you’re bracing.
You might notice:
A memory that still feels charged — vivid, intrusive, hard to interrupt
Reacting strongly to something small and wondering, why did that hit me so hard?
Your body tensing or your stomach dropping before you understand why
Feeling foggy, detached, or numb when certain topics come up
Avoiding situations that shouldn’t feel threatening, but do
A quiet sense that something is off, even when your life looks stable
If the past still feels present, EMDR therapy gives your brain and body a way to actually process it — not just cope with it.
How EMDR Works — And Why It Feels Different
EMDR is a structured, research-supported therapy that helps your brain and nervous system process overwhelming or unresolved experiences.
When something is too much, too fast, or too unexpected, your brain can store it in a way that keeps it feeling like it’s still happening — even when it’s over.
It’s why your body reacts before your mind catches up.
And why talking about it hasn’t been enough.
During EMDR, you briefly focus on a distressing memory while I guide you through bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or audio tones). This activates your brain’s natural processing system — similar to what happens during REM sleep.
The result?
Over time, the memory loses its charge. Your body softens.
It doesn’t disappear — but it stops feeling overwhelming.
Fewer intrusive images or replaying loops
Less emotional intensity around upsetting memories
Reduced physical symptoms of anxiety and stress
More steadiness in your reactions
Greater trust in yourself moving forward
EMDR can be done effectively online, and research shows virtual EMDR therapy is just as effective as in-person sessions.
EMDR helps your nervous system feel that the threat is truly over — so you can respond from the present instead of the past.
EMDR for Trauma & Grief:
Traumatic Loss
Sudden or violent death. Suicide. Child loss. Overdose. Accident.
When grief is intertwined with shock, panic, or intrusive images, it doesn’t just feel like loss… it feels immediate and destabilizing. EMDR helps your brain process the memory so it becomes something you can hold, rather than something that overwhelms you.
Complex & Anticipatory Grief
Addiction. Cognitive decline. Estrangement. Chronic illness. Living with a known ending. Ongoing reminders.
When grief is prolonged, layered, or constantly reactivated, it can feel like there’s no clear place to land. EMDR helps process both what has happened and what is feared or expected, allowing space for grief to move without staying stuck in overwhelm.
Trauma & Chronic Survival Mode
Assault. Injury. Accidents. Medical trauma. Natural disaster. Childhood abuse. Or simply years of living on edge.
When your system has learned to stay alert, braced, or ready for what might happen next, EMDR helps your brain process what you’ve been holding so your body can begin to settle. Not just intellectually, but physically too.
Betrayal & Attachment Wounds
Infidelity. Divorce. Emotional neglect. Rejection. Childhood abandonment. Humiliation.
When trust has been broken or connection felt unsafe, those experiences don’t stay in the past, they shape how you anticipate, react, and protect. EMDR helps loosen the emotional intensity so your responses can become more grounded in the present.
Is EMDR therapy right for you?
EMDR may be a good fit if:
You’ve experienced trauma, sudden loss, betrayal, or overwhelming stress that still feels active
Disturbing memories, images, or body reactions interrupt your focus or sense of safety
You’ve tried talk therapy, but the intensity hasn’t shifted
It’s been years — but it still affects how you react, relate, or make decisions
You’re ready to process what happened in a structured, supported way
You tend to think your way through pain — and want something that works beyond insight
EMDR may not be the first step if:
You become overwhelmed quickly when accessing emotions or memories
You don’t yet have tools to regulate or feel steady between sessions
You’re experiencing active psychosis, mania, or severe dissociation
Substances are currently impacting your stability
In these cases, we focus first on building safety and stability. EMDR works best when there’s enough support in place — even if that support feels small at first.
If you’re unsure where you fall, we can talk through it together.
Hi, I’m Carly —
EMDR helps your brain process what’s been stuck so your body can stop reacting like it’s still happening.
We start by building steadiness, then gently process memories using eye movements, tapping, or sound — always at your pace and in your control.
Many clients notice meaningful shifts within the first few sessions.
Step 1:
Consultation
We’ll start with a 15-minute video consultation to talk openly about what’s been going on and what you want out of therapy. This is a low-pressure way for us to see if it feels like the right fit.
Step 2:
First Session
We’ll slow things down and get a clear picture of what you’re carrying. Together, we’ll identify what feels most important to focus on and begin building the steadiness needed for EMDR work.
Step 3:
Ongoing Work
From there, we’ll process what’s unresolved at a pace that feels manageable and supportive. Over time, you’ll notice less reactivity, more clarity, and a stronger sense of trust in yourself.
Questions About EMDR Therapy
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Talk therapy helps you understand your experiences. EMDR helps your brain and body process them.
Many of my clients already have insight — they know why they feel the way they do. But the emotional intensity is still there.
EMDR works more directly with how memories are stored in the brain, so the reaction begins to shift — not just your understanding of it.
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EMDR is structured, but not overwhelming.
We’ll focus on a specific memory or pattern while using bilateral stimulation (like eye movements, tapping, or sound). You’ll notice thoughts, images, or body sensations shifting as we go.
You’re always in control. We move at a pace that feels manageable, and we build in grounding so you don’t feel flooded.
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No.
You don’t need to explain every part of what happened for EMDR to work. We focus on what feels most relevant, without needing to retell everything.
For many people, this actually makes the process feel more contained and less overwhelming than traditional talk therapy.
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Yes, I use EMDR therapy as part of my personal healing program.
EMDR therapy was very helpful for me through particularly challenging times of loss.
My training and ongoing consultation in EMDR therapy allows me to practice and ensure I am giving you the best EMDR therapy available.
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This is something we actively plan for.
Before we do deeper processing, we build tools to help you feel steady and regulated. During sessions, we can slow down, pause, or shift focus at any time.
The goal isn’t to push through intensity — it’s to process things in a way your system can actually integrate.
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Yes — EMDR works really well virtually.
We use secure video sessions along with simple tools for bilateral stimulation that you can do from home.
Research and clinical experience both show that virtual EMDR can be just as effective as in-person work.
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I’m an out-of-network provider, which means I don’t bill insurance directly.
I can provide a superbill for potential reimbursement, and many clients use HSA or FSA funds. This model allows for more flexibility, privacy, and depth in our work.
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We start with a brief consultation call.
We’ll talk through what’s been going on, what you’re looking for, and whether EMDR feels like the right fit.
There’s no pressure — just a chance to get a sense of working together.
You don’t have to keep living in the past.
If you’re ready for something that will help you process trauma — not just manage it — EMDR can help.
Not ready yet? Explore EMDR resources here.