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EMDR Therapy

​The experience may be over, but part of you may feel as though it's still happening.

​

Painful experiences can continue to shape the present long after they have ended. You may understand intellectually that you are safe, yet your body remains on alert. A memory, smell, conflict, relationship, medical setting, or unexpected reminder may bring back fear, shame, grief, or helplessness.

 

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, commonly called EMDR, is a structured psychotherapy approach designed to help people process distressing memories and the beliefs, emotions, and physical responses connected with them.

 

Michelle Highfield is an EMDR-certified Licensed Professional Counselor who provides trauma-informed EMDR therapy in person in Watkinsville / Athens and virtually for appropriate clients throughout Georgia, and soon to be Arkansas, Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota and Ohio.

EMDR may help when you experience:

  • Distressing or intrusive memories

  • Trauma connected with abuse, accidents, illness, medical treatment, or loss

  • Strong emotional or physical reactions to reminders

  • Avoidance, numbness, or feeling disconnected

  • Nightmares, hypervigilance, or difficulty relaxing

  • Shame or negative beliefs such as “It was my fault,” “I am not safe,” or “I am powerless”

  • Relationship wounds, betrayal, or painful attachment experiences

  • Anxiety or fears connected with earlier experiences

  • Grief that includes traumatic circumstances or disturbing images

  • A present trigger that seems more intense than the current situation alone would explain

 

EMDR is not limited to one type of trauma. Sometimes a single overwhelming event affects us; other times, repeated experiences of rejection, instability, criticism, loss, or powerlessness gradually shape how we see ourselves and the world.

How does EMDR work?

Traumatic and distressing experiences can become stored in a way that allows the past to feel emotionally present. During EMDR, we identify memories and current triggers connected with the concern, strengthen internal resources, and use bilateral stimulation—such as guided eye movements or alternating taps—while the brain processes the material.

 

The goal is not to erase the memory or convince you that what happened was acceptable. The goal is for the memory to become less emotionally and physically overwhelming, while healthier and more accurate beliefs become easier to access.

EMDR is more than eye movements

Effective EMDR includes preparation, pacing, and attention to safety. We will not begin processing difficult material before establishing sufficient understanding, stabilization, and resources.

 

The EMDR process may include:

  1. Learning about your history and current concerns

  2. Identifying goals, memories, triggers, and beliefs

  3. Developing grounding and emotional-regulation resources

  4. Preparing you for what to expect during processing

  5. Reprocessing selected memories at an appropriate pace

  6. Strengthening more adaptive beliefs and responses

  7. Checking how the work is affecting your daily life

 

You remain awake, aware, and in control throughout the process. You can pause at any time, and you do not have to describe every detail of an experience aloud for EMDR to be effective.

Is EMDR right for everyone?

EMDR can be a powerful therapy, but it is not automatically the best starting point for every person or every concern. Readiness depends on factors such as current safety, emotional stability, coping resources, medical considerations, and the nature of your symptoms.

 

We will assess whether EMDR is appropriate and determine whether it should be the primary approach or one component of broader therapy. Some clients begin EMDR relatively quickly; others benefit from spending more time building regulation and safety first.

 

No therapy can promise a particular result or timeline. We will work collaboratively, monitor your response, and adjust the pace when needed.

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