EMDR Therapy
EMDR Therapy in Utah County | Trauma Treatment at Palisades Counseling
Heal from trauma. Rewire how the past lives in your body and mind.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a specialized, research-supported therapy that helps people heal from trauma and other distressing life experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses a structured protocol to help the brain process memories that have become “stuck,” allowing clients to move forward with less emotional distress and greater emotional freedom.
At Palisades Counseling, our EMDR-trained therapists offer this powerful treatment in a supportive, grounding environment.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR was developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro. It is based on the idea that traumatic or overwhelming experiences can disrupt the brain’s natural ability to process information. When that happens, memories—along with the emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations tied to them—can remain unprocessed and continue to cause distress long after the event is over.
EMDR helps restore the brain’s natural healing process. During EMDR sessions, bilateral stimulation (often in the form of eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones) is used while the client recalls specific memories. This helps the brain reprocess those memories in a way that reduces their emotional charge and allows for more adaptive beliefs to emerge.
You don’t have to relive the trauma in detail. Instead, EMDR allows you to approach these memories from a place of safety, gradually reducing their power and intensity.
What EMDR Can Help With
EMDR is best known for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it has also been shown to be effective for a variety of issues, including:
- Single-incident or complex trauma
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- Grief and loss
- Anxiety and panic
- Phobias and fears
- Performance anxiety
- Medical trauma
- Shame, self-esteem issues, and negative core beliefs
- Attachment wounds and relationship distress
Many clients who have felt “stuck” in traditional therapy find that EMDR offers a new way forward—especially when emotional responses don’t seem to match current circumstances.
What to Expect in EMDR Therapy
EMDR is a structured, eight-phase treatment. You and your therapist will begin with history-taking and preparation to ensure you feel safe, grounded, and ready to engage with EMDR. You’ll identify specific memories or themes to target, along with the negative beliefs or emotional responses associated with them.
As you move into reprocessing, your therapist will guide you through brief sets of bilateral stimulation while you focus on the memory. You don’t need to talk through every detail—instead, you’ll notice what comes up, moment by moment, as your brain does the work of linking, integrating, and updating the experience.
Throughout the process, your therapist will help you stay regulated and present. EMDR is not hypnosis or exposure therapy—it is a collaborative process rooted in safety, pacing, and respect.
Healing Is Possible
Distressing memories don’t have to define you. With EMDR, people often report feeling relief, clarity, or even neutrality around memories that once felt overwhelming. The goal isn’t to erase the past—it’s to free you from its grip so that you can live more fully in the present.
Begin EMDR Therapy at Palisades Counseling
If you’re carrying the weight of past trauma or emotional wounds, you don’t have to carry it alone. EMDR is a deeply researched and widely used therapy that can help you heal from within.
Reach out today to be matched with an EMDR-trained therapist at Palisades Counseling.