EMDR is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain process experiences that remain stuck or unresolved. Rather than retelling the story of what happened repeatedly, EMDR works directly with how memories are stored in the nervous system.

In practice, this means we identify experiences that continue to drive distress in the present - emotional reactions, body responses, or beliefs about yourself that don't feel accurate but still feel true. Through bilateral stimulation, the brain is supported in doing what it naturally wants to do: make sense of the experience, release what no longer needs to be held, and reorient to the present.

Many clients notice reduced reactivity, less emotional charge, and a greater sense of steadiness and clarity as this work unfolds.

EMDR can move deeply and efficiently, but it is never rushed. The pace is guided by what your system can tolerate, not by a protocol or timeline.

IFS-Informed EMDR builds on this work by recognizing that we all have different internal parts - protective responses, critical voices, younger wounded aspects, and adaptive strategies that developed for good reasons.

Rather than pushing past these parts to "get to the trauma," we work with them. Protective responses are listened to, not overridden. Hesitation, ambivalence, humor, avoidance, or resistance are treated as meaningful information to be attended to, not obstacles.

By combining the structure of EMDR with the internal awareness of IFS, trauma can be processed without leaving parts behind. This often leads to a more integrated kind of healing where relief is accompanied by greater self-trust and internal coherence.

When parts feel respected and understood, the deeper work becomes safer and accessible.

Trauma is not only remembered; it is lived in the nervous system. Responses such as hypervigilance, shutdown, emotional numbness, or sudden surges of anxiety are not signs of weakness - they are brilliant, sometimes unconscious, adaptations shaped by past experience.

Polyvagal-informed work helps us understand how your nervous system has been working to keep you safe. Rather than trying to eliminate these responses, we learn to recognize them, work with them, and gradually expand your capacity for regulation and presence.

This work often involves gently returning attention to the body - tracking sensation, noticing shifts, and building tolerance for experience without overwhelm. It is practical, grounded, and always done with care and consent.

When the nervous system begins to feel safer, the mind follows.