Trauma-informed care
EMDR therapy.
One memory at a time.
20 minutes · Confidential · No pressure
- Evidence-based
- Virtual Across Ontario
- Private Pay, Receipts Provided
What EMDR is
Trauma-focused therapy.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It's an evidence-based, structured therapy developed specifically for processing distressing memories and trauma.
When something overwhelming happens, the brain sometimes doesn't file the memory properly. It stays “live,” carrying the original images, emotions, and body sensations, and gets triggered as if the threat were still present.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (typically guided eye movements) while you briefly hold a distressing memory in mind. This appears to help the brain reprocess the memory so it becomes something you remember, rather than something you re-experience.
Trauma & PTSD
Single-incident trauma, or the kind that builds over years.
Complex PTSD
Multiple-incident trauma from prolonged neglect or abuse.
Adverse childhood experiences
Early life experiences that continue to shape the present.
Trauma underneath addiction
The pain that drives addiction and unhealthy coping.
Anxiety & distressing memories
When the past continues to affect how you feel today.
At your pace
You don't have to tell the whole story.
This matters to a lot of people, so we'll say it clearly:
EMDR does not require a blow-by-blow retelling of what happened.
The processing happens largely internally. Your therapist needs enough to guide the work, not every detail. You control the pace and the depth, always.
For people who've avoided therapy because they can't face saying it all out loud, this is often the reason EMDR becomes the way in.
Our EMDR approach
A structured approach, at your pace.
EMDR is a phased approach. We don't start with the hardest material on day one.
Both of our clinicians are trained in EMDR, and treatment may combine it with other approaches like CBT or DBT depending on your goals.
One honest note: EMDR is well-supported by research for trauma, but no therapy works identically for everyone. If it's not the right fit, we'll say so and adjust the approach with you.
Preparation first
Our therapists take a history, explain the process, and build coping skills so you have solid ground.
Processing at your pace
Target memories are worked through one at a time, with you in control.
Integration
The goal is a memory that no longer hijacks your present.
Inside an EMDR session
How EMDR therapy works at Wayfinder.
Once you're ready to process a memory, the work happens in short sets with regular check-ins. You can pause at any point.
Bring it to mind
Briefly focus on a chosen memory and the thoughts, feelings, or body sensations connected to it.
Follow the rhythm
Your therapist guides side-to-side eye movements or another form of bilateral stimulation.
Notice what shifts
Between sets, share what comes up. Your therapist helps guide where the work goes next.
Return to the present
Finish with time to settle and a plan for managing anything that comes up between sessions.
Sessions & fees
No surprises.
We're a private-pay clinic and provide receipts you can submit to your extended health insurance plan. Coverage depends on your plan and can't be guaranteed.
How many sessions does EMDR take?
It depends on what you're working through. A single-incident trauma may resolve in relatively few processing sessions; complex or repeated trauma takes longer. Your therapist will give you an honest read as the work develops, rather than a guaranteed number upfront.
Is EMDR hypnosis?
No. You're awake, aware, and in control throughout. You can stop at any point.
Do I have to relive the trauma?
You'll briefly bring the memory to mind, but you won't be asked to narrate every detail or stay immersed in it. Preparation comes first, and you set the pace.
Can EMDR help with my drinking or substance use?
Often, yes, when trauma or painful experiences are driving the use. EMDR targets what's underneath, and it can be combined with the substance-use work itself. See our Individual Therapy page for how that fits together.
Can teens do EMDR?
Yes. EMDR is used with adolescents, and our clinicians work with teens as well as adults. Fit is assessed individually. The free consultation is the place to start.
How to start
Make the call.
Request a free 20-minute consultation.
Make the connection.
Match with the therapist that fits best.
Make the change.
Build practical skills and work toward lasting change.
Take the first step
Ready when you are.
You don't need to be certain therapy will work before you reach out. Twenty minutes on the phone costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
20 minutes · Confidential · No pressure