“We cannot start over, but we can begin now, and make a new ending.” —Zig Ziglar

Working with an EMDR Therapist in Chilliwack & Online

Not everything that happened in the past stays in the past. Sometimes a difficult memory, a past trauma, or a moment that still gets to you keep showing up in your body and mind, even years later. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based approach that helps you process these experiences so they no longer control how you think, feel, or react.

It’s possible to work through past experiences and move beyond them. And trauma doesn’t have to mean something dramatic. Sometimes it’s as simple as a phrase someone once said to you that still feels true, or a situation that just stuck with you. Working with an EMDR therapist gives you a clear, guided path toward relief.

How Does EMDR Work?

A typical course of EMDR treatment follows a few key phases. You’ll start by talking through your history and identifying which memories or triggers to target. From there, you’ll work through:

Learning some grounding tools first, so you have something to lean on before we go anywhere near the harder material
Pinpointing the memory itself, along with what it made you believe about yourself, and where you feel it in your body
Focusing on that memory while following guided eye movements (or another form of bilateral stimulation)
Gently replacing beliefs like “I’m not safe” or “it was my fault” with ones that actually feel true now
Checking back in. Does this memory still feel as heavy? The goal is that it becomes something you remember, not something you relive

Counselling sessions are collaborative and paced to what you can handle. You stay in control the entire time.

What Is EMDR?

EMDR is a therapy approach designed to help your brain reprocess distressing memories. When something overwhelming happens, your brain doesn't always file the memory away properly. Instead, it can stay "stuck," and your body keeps reacting like it's happening again with a racing heart, trouble sleeping, feeling on edge for no clear reason, or tension you can't quite place. Working with an EMDR therapist helps you access these stuck memories in a safe, supported way and reprocess them so they lose their emotional edge. You're not asked to relive the event in detail. Instead, you focus on the memory while following a specific pattern of bilateral stimulation, usually guided eye movements, or physical tapping, that helps your brain do the processing it wasn't able to do at the time.

Using EMDR for Trauma and PTSD

EMDR is one of the most researched approaches for treating trauma and PTSD. If you’re dealing with a single distressing event or the effects of prolonged or repeated trauma, EMDR can help reduce flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and the emotional reactivity that often comes with PTSD. Many people find that memories which once felt overwhelming become easier to think about without the same intensity.

EMDR Online: Remote Sessions That Work

Not able to make it into the office in Chilliwack or prefer not to? EMDR online is a fully effective option. Remote EMDR sessions use the same bilateral stimulation techniques through video, often guided by tones, tapping, or on-screen visual cues instead of in-person eye movements. Many clients find remote EMDR just as effective as in-person work, with the added convenience of doing it from a space where you already feel comfortable.

Is EMDR Right for You?

EMDR can help with a wide range of experiences, including:

Trauma and PTSD, whether it’s from one event or something that built up over time
Anxiety or panic that seems to come out of nowhere, but is actually tied to something older
Grief that hasn’t loosened its grip, even after time has passed
An inner voice that’s more critical than it should be. This can often be traced back to how you were treated.
Phobias and specific fears
Difficult things from your childhood that you thought you’d left behind, but are still affecting you today

If any of this sounds familiar, EMDR counselling might be a good fit for you.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing sessions are available in-person in Chilliwack or through telehealth for anyone who prefers remote EMDR. Your counsellor Devan, will start off with a conversation about what you’re experiencing and what you want to work through, so you always know what to expect.

You can feel present in your own life again. Working through past memories doesn’t have to mean reliving them. A quick chat is a good way to find out if this might be the right approach for you.

When you arrive to your first appointment, we create a plan with you on how to support you best, with considerations of time and financial limitations.