EMDR Therapy for Children, Teens and Young Adults in Charlotte

Reconnect with peace yourself joy

“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.”

— Dr. Peter Levine

You’ve tried everything to feel better from traditional talk therapy to new journaling routines but still feel stuck.

You’re on edge, worried about what else could go wrong, easily triggered by the little things.

You feel like you are in survival mode and can’t get out.

Change is possible

EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy designed to help people recover from trauma and other difficult life experiences. Our brains naturally have the ability to heal from traumatic events, but sometimes memories become "stuck" and need help to be processed properly. EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, allowing natural healing to resume.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR involves engaging both your mind and body to support deeper healing. During EMDR sessions, you'll focus on specific eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation while recalling distressing memories. This process helps to reduce the emotional impact of these memories and promotes healing.

EMDR is well-known for its effectiveness in treating trauma, but it's also evidence-based for other issues such as anxiety, grief, panic attacks, nightmares, and more. By addressing these problems at their core, EMDR can help you find relief and improve your overall well-being.

What to Expect

Getting Started

Before we dive into the trauma, it is important that you or your child feel safe. We will start with getting to know each other. I will get to know more about you and your story so that we can create the best plan of action. During this time, I will teach you grounding and mindfulness skills to support you as you go through this process. 

Work through the Past

One of the wonderful things about EMDR is that you do not have to talk about the memories in detail to heal. We will work together to identify the ‘stuck’ parts of a memory, and then support you in working to get them ‘unstuck’. If you are someone that likes to see the nitty gritty details, the EMDRIA website describes the process in depth.

Rewrite your Story

Once you process through the stuck memories, you can rewrite your story. Messages of ‘I am powerless’ or ‘I am not safe’, can turn into ‘I can stand in my power’ and ‘I am in control and am safe’. You will have the chance to choose a new message that serves you in a healthier way.

FAQs

  • EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue, worksheets or homework between sessions. Instead, it allows the brain to resume its natural healing process by resolving unprocessed traumatic memories. A key component of EMDR therapy is the use of alternating eye movements, sounds, or taps to help the brain process these memories. For many clients, EMDR therapy can be completed in fewer sessions compared to other types of therapy.

    Additionally, EMDR engages both the mind and body, facilitating deeper healing without having to retell your trauma event. This makes it a unique and effective approach for those who may find it difficult to discuss their experiences in detail.

  • EMDR is effective for both 'big trauma' events and smaller disturbances that feel 'stuck' and hard to move past. EMDR helps explore current patterns that are not serving you and heals the roots of these patterns, enabling you to move forward.

    EMDR can be used to address a variety of issues, including trauma, depression, panic attacks, grief, nightmares, anxiety, and other distressing life experiences. Its flexibility makes it a powerful tool for helping people overcome various challenges, regardless of the size or nature of the trauma.

  • I work with clients as young as 3 years old. EMDR with children looks different than with adults. For young children, we may use storytelling, playing out challenging situations, and movement to help process memories. More information on EMDR with children

  • Before starting the reprocessing steps of EMDR, we will work together to ensure you are ready to begin. This preparation phase includes developing mindfulness, coping skills, and other supports to help you feel comfortable and safe.

    During your reprocessing session, we will focus on a specific memory, worry, or experience. You do not have to share the memory in detail with me for EMDR to be effective. I will guide you through eye movements or tapping to help your brain and body process the memories. Throughout the process, I will be there to support you every step of the way, ensuring you feel secure and understood as you reprocess.