Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Helping your nervous system feel safer again

What is EMDR?

Sometimes, traumatic events that happened in the past can continue to affect our daily lives, showing up as anxiety, emotional reactivity, intrusive thoughts. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a gentle, evidence-based way to help difficult experiences lose their grip.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (a back-and-forth motion using both sides of the body) to support the brain’s natural ability to re-process information so that distressing memories lose their emotional intensity.

It is a collaborative healing process between you and your therapist. You remain in control, and you are not required to share the details of the distressing event. The goal isn’t to erase memory, but reduce its emotional impact.

You may benefit from EMDR if you:

Have experienced a traumatic event that continues to affect your daily life
Feel stuck in patterns of anxiety, fear, or overwhelm that haven’t responded to talk therapy
Experience intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, or strong emotional reactions linked to events in the past
Carry lingering shame, guilt, or self-blame related to past experiences
Want a structured, evidence-based approach to healing from trauma

What can EMDR help with?

EMDR was originally developed to address symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or heightened anxiety. Over time, it has also been found to help with symptoms related to anxiety, addiction, grief, and chronic pain. Whether your distress comes from a single event or a series of experiences over time, EMDR can help you work through things that feel heavy, overwhelming, and emotionally intense so you can find calm and clarity.

Anxiety and Stress

Anxiety and stress are normal, but if they are taking over your thoughts, we can help you learn to understand it and find calm and steadiness to move forward.

Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

When everything feels heavy, even small steps matter. Find the space you need to heal at your own pace.

Life Transitions

Change is overwhelming, even when it’s positive change. From career shifts to new stages of life, find the support you need to adjust and grow in healthy ways.

Caregiver Burnout

Caring for others is both deeply meaningful and exhausting. We’ll help you find balance, tend to your own needs, and help build connections to resources that will lighten the load.

Life-limiting Illness, Dementia, and End of Life

When you or a loved one is facing illness, fear, sadness, and uncertainty can come in waves. We’re here to help you process with care and dignity.

Grief, Separation, and Loss

Loss changes everything, and grief shows up in unpredictable ways. We specialize in grief and loss to help you find meaning, healing, and connection.

Abuse, Trauma and PTSD

Healing from trauma takes time, care, and courage. Our counsellors offer a safe, supportive space to help you process painful experiences and start to feel grounded again.

Social Isolation and Loneliness

You deserve to feel worthy and connected. Together, we’ll explore what’s holding you back and build a stronger sense of self and belonging.

Family and Relationship Conflicts

Learn how to communicate with care, set boundaries, and rebuild understanding with the people who matter most to you.

What can you expect during EMDR Therapy?

We’ll always start our journey by getting to know you, understanding what you want support with, and giving you tools to help you feel more grounded and manage distress. Together, we’ll develop a treatment plan that outlines the specific event or events to work with and identify a more positive belief or feeling that will replace the distressing ones.

In the next phases, you will be invited to focus on a specific distressing experience from your plan, while your therapist guides the bilateral stimulation, like eye movements, sounds, or taps. After each sort set, you’ll simply notice what comes to mind–thoughts, sensation, images–without analyzing or forcing anything. Over time, you may find that the memory becomes less distressing, and the images, feelings, and beliefs feel more manageable. This process is repeated until the event becomes less disturbing.

Each session ends with grounding practices, so you can leave feeling settled, safe, and supported.

We may use EMDR in

Couples Counselling

Couples counselling creates space for mutual understanding and growth, helping partners strengthen their communication and support one another better.

Grief and Loss Counselling

Designed specifically to support you through the emotional and physical toll of a significant loss.

Individual Therapy

A one-on-one, confidential space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with the support of a trained therapist.

Child, Youth and Teen Counselling

Age-appropriate support to help young people manage emotions and navigate life’s challenges.

Meet the Facilitators

Anna Jongeleen

Daniella Kersey

Elizabeth Agbator

Heather Ruhl

Kayla McLachlan

Nessa Hill

Sarah Karesa

Ready to take the next step?

Located in West Edmonton, we offer both in-person and remote appointments.

Ready to talk? Book your free 30-minute telephone or video consultation to be matched with the best therapist or group for you.

You can book online or contact us by phone at 780-454-1194 or email at ehc@jfse.org.

We will get back to you within two business days.