EMDR Therapy in Scottsdale, AZ
When memory stays too close.
The modality
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing uses bilateral stimulation to support the brain in processing distressing experiences.
Over time, memories can feel less charged, and new beliefs about yourself can take hold.
How it works
Why some memories stay charged.
When an experience is overwhelming, the brain’s usual processing can be interrupted. The memory stays stored with its original images, body sensations, and beliefs — which is why a present-day trigger can feel like the past is happening again.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — guided eye movements or tapping — while you briefly bring the memory to mind. This supports the brain in reprocessing the experience so it can be stored as something finished.
The aim is not to erase memory but to take the charge out of it, so that what happened no longer dictates how you feel about yourself today.
Preparation first
What the process looks like.
EMDR never begins with the hardest material. The first phase is about history, goals, and building resources — grounding tools and calming places you can return to whenever you need them.
Only when that foundation feels steady does reprocessing begin, and always at a pace you help set. You remain in control throughout; you can pause or stop at any point.
At our practice, EMDR is often woven together with IFS-informed parts work and DBR, so preparation, processing, and integration support one another.