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What is EMDR Therapy



“I don’t think I need to finish the sessions,” I told my EMDR specialist, “I feel good these days. I want to keep it that way.”

I didn’t want some woo-woo nonsense interfering with my new-found confidence. 

“I’m glad to hear that,” she said, “But the reason you’re feeling good is because it’s working.”


Brief History


EMDR was first discovered by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987. One day, when she was going through some mental anguish, she took herself out for a walk and rested on a bench. She watched people walk by. Her eyes followed one person to another in rhythmic motion. 


We don’t know what Francine Shapiro was thinking about when she was sitting on the bench, her gaze jumping, landing, and jumping back on passerbys. But we do know that “the thoughts weren’t as bothersome” anymore. 


She added, “I wanted to see if it would work if it was deliberate, so I brought up something that bothered me, moved my eyes in the same way and saw the same thing happening.”



Who is it for?


This unconventional therapy method is for anyone experiencing the following:


  1. Trauma

PTSD or cPTSD - includes trauma caused by a single event trauma or something built over time. 


  1. Distress

To alleviate daily anxiety, sleeplessness, financial or work-related stress. 


  1. Emotionally Stuck

Individuals who are unable to move forward in life due to a past event/s holding them back.


  1. Addiction

EMDR therapy can tap into the parts of your psyche that reach out for unhealthy coping mechanisms.


  1. Grief

Experiencing grief without letting it consume you. 


  1. Phobia

Helps reframe a traumatic memory that’s fueling a specific fear.


Why does it work?


As evident in its name, EMDR uses rhythmic eye movements (or other forms of bilateral stimulation) to activate both hemispheres of the brain, which helps the brain reprocess emotionally charged memories with more logic and clarity. 


For example, if you’ve been told you’re unlovable, EMDR can help you reach a place of seeing how our fears or insecurities might be deceiving us. It speeds up the process of our feelings catching up with the truth. 


Think of it as learning the guitar. 

Your fingers know which strings to push in order to play a chord. However, it takes time and patience for your muscles to catch up with that mental knowledge. 

Similarly, your logical brain knows that your ex is bad for you, but that might not change the fact that your emotional brain wishes he were back. 


The eye movements also mimic REM sleep, a crucial time during which our dreams help us recognize and process our struggles and difficulties. 


And then what happens?


Many clients have reported the following symptoms after an EMDR session:


  • Feeling calmer

  • Heightened compassion for themselves and their inner child

  • Viewing a memory or vision with detachment and objectivity

  • Sense of renewed empowerment


What to do?


Healing Waves Counselling has some of the best EMDR therapists in Vancouver, BC. Wherever you’re located, you can book a virtual session with:


  • Lien Dilewijns: An RCC and certified EMDR therapist who helps individuals and couples navigate trauma, relationships, life transitions, and grief.

  • Manpreet Kour: Uses TST to help clients and couples through challenges like ADHD, life transitions, cultural stress, anxiety, and relationship issues. 

  • Dr. Garima Garg: Certified life coach with PhD in clinical psychology who uses a variety of techniques to help overcome struggles with BPD, ADHD, gender identity and grief. 



You can learn about our team and book your next therapy session with some of the best counsellors here. 






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