EMDR Therapy in Chapel Hill and Online
Discover the path to regain freedom.
Get past your past
It feels like “a lot” of time has passed, but you can’t let go of what happened
You’ve tried traditional talk therapy, but didn’t see the change you were hoping for
On the outside you appear “fine” but internally you’re struggling
You feel like you’re not living the life you’ve imagined
You feel stuck
What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing?
EMDR is an evidence based approach where we work to explore negative beliefs and help you regain control over your life. We use tapping or eye movements to stimulate both sides of your brain to help you resolve or understand something differently.
It’s a versatile therapy that can be used to address more than just trauma but also:
Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
Phobias
Addictions
Grief
Sleep difficulties
Low self esteem
By reprocessing negative experiences and emotions, EMDR can help you get back to living in the present moment, improve relationships, and feel more confident and in control.
Your brain is like your digestive system.
It is meant to take things in, keep what is important, and release what is not needed. If you joined a hotdog eating contest and ate 50 hotdogs, your digestive system would get pretty overwhelmed. You would probably start to experience negative symptoms like bloating, cramping, and reflux.
Our brains are the same way when too much hits us at once we start to struggle with overload and that’s when anxiety, depression, low self worth, trouble sleeping, and irritability arise. EMDR helps the brain release the “stuck” so you can move on from the past.
During an EMDR session, your therapist will guide you through your experiences in a safe and controlled way. You will be led through tapping or back and forth eye movements, which we call bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation helps the brain process memories and beliefs and helps you find relief.
This technique aids the brain in processing memories and beliefs, ultimately providing you with the relief you seek.
How EMDR Works
EMDR therapy can sound complicated or intimidating at first. It does not have to be.
At its core, EMDR is a structured but flexible approach that helps the nervous system process experiences that are still impacting you today. These might be obvious traumatic events, or they might be quieter moments that shaped how you relate to yourself, others, or the world.
EMDR focuses on healing past experiences, present triggers, and future patterns. The process is always paced carefully and adapted to meet each person where they are.
What EMDR Is Like in Real Life
EMDR is not about forcing you to relive trauma or pushing you faster than your system can tolerate. It is about working with your brain and body in a way that feels respectful, collaborative, and grounded.
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The process begins with understanding your history, your relationships, and what feels most important to work on right now. This includes attachment experiences, family dynamics, neurodivergence, and current stressors.
There is no expectation to remember everything or tell your entire story all at once.
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Before any trauma processing begins, time is spent helping your nervous system feel more resourced and supported. This step is essential, especially for people who feel easily overwhelmed, shut down, dissociate, or have lived in chronic stress for a long time.
For neurodivergent clients, children, teens, and families, this phase is often slower and more intentional.
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When you are ready, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation such as eye movements, tapping, vibration, or tones to help the brain reprocess experiences that have not fully resolved.
Many people notice that their brain begins to make new connections on its own, often without needing to talk in detail about what happened.
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As old memories lose their intensity, new beliefs about yourself and the world begin to take hold. These shifts happen at a nervous system level, not through positive thinking or willpower.
This is where people often feel less reactive, less stuck, and more able to respond rather than react.
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Trauma and attachment wounds live in the body as much as the mind. EMDR includes space to notice physical sensations and help the body fully complete the healing process.
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Sessions are paced so that you leave feeling grounded and supported. In future sessions, progress is reviewed and adjusted as needed. EMDR is not linear, and the process is shaped around what your system needs in that moment.
EMDR for Neurodivergent Individuals and Children
EMDR is not one size fits all, and it should not be treated that way.
This work is often adapted for autistic individuals, ADHDers, and children whose nervous systems may process information, emotion, and stress differently. Sessions may move more slowly, include less verbal processing, or focus more heavily on regulation and safety before any trauma processing begins.
For children and neurodivergent clients, EMDR may involve shorter sets, more breaks, and a greater emphasis on attunement and pacing. The goal is never to push through discomfort or force progress, but to support the nervous system in a way that feels accessible and respectful.
EMDR does not require clients to sit still, talk in a certain way, or process experiences like an adult would. The approach is shaped around how each person’s brain and body work best.
EMDR can help you…
Leave behind uninspiring therapy that hasn't yielded results
Experience relief from feeling stuck and drained due to unchanging situations
Release the past and its hold over you
Regain a sense of who you are and what you want life to be
Find a fresh perspective and renewed hope for the future
You don’t have to keep doing this alone.
FAQs
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Click this link to schedule your initial consultation and we will reach out within 2 business days!
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Trauma arises when we find ourselves 'stuck' following a distressing experience. It can harm our sense of safety, our identity, and our ability to manage emotions and navigate relationships.
Trauma isn't solely confined to those who have endured war, physical abuse, or violence. It can also stem from growing up with emotionally distant parents, relationship challenges, betrayal, divorce, major life changes, bullying, loss, accidents, medical uncertainties, and more.
Visit the blog to learn about the difference of Little T and Big T or Contact us to learn more.
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Yes, everyone dissociates! Have you ever been driving down the road and suddenly found yourself at home without remembering how you got there? That is dissociation. Those living with complex trauma often have learned to dissociate as an adaptive and protective response.
Our therapists have education and training in screening for and working with dissociation, and adapting EMDR techniques for those on the dissociative spectrum.
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No, you don’t! Our therapists are trained and have experience in other in other approaches to help clients work through trauma. Contact us to learn more.
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Absolutely.
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As much as we WISH we had a crystal ball and could predict healing for clients, the time it takes varies for each person. While EMDR can shorten length of time in therapy, it is not a magic fix and does require consistency and commitment to achieve best results. However, many people report experiencing relief from symptoms within the first month of treatment. Contact us to learn more.
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Standard sessions are 50 minutes but our reprocessing sessions can be booked for a longer time if desired. We can discuss together if you would benefit from having an extended session. Contact us to learn more.
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Absolutely. Many neurodivergent clients find EMDR incredibly helpful, especially when traditional talk therapy feels overwhelming or too linear. As a neurodivergent-affirming practice, we adapt EMDR to support your brain and body, not the other way around.
This might include shorter sets, more resourcing, sensory tools, visual supports, or working at a slower pace to stay within your window of tolerance. You do not need a formal diagnosis to work with us. If you self-identify as neurodivergent or are exploring that identity, we will honor that and adjust our work accordingly. Contact us to learn more.
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Sometimes, yes. While full EMDR reprocessing is typically done individually, there are situations where including a family member can be helpful, such as supporting co-regulation, clarifying attachment needs, or preparing for trauma work. EMDR-informed techniques (not always full reprocessing) can be integrated within family therapy sessions when appropriate. We can talk with you about your goals and explore whether family involvement would be supportive. Contact us to learn more.
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Yes. Research shows that virtual EMDR can be just as effective as in-person work. We offer HIPAA-compliant virtual sessions and use tools designed specifically for bilateral stimulation online. Many clients appreciate the comfort and privacy of working from home.
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That is completely okay. A large portion of EMDR focuses on building stabilization, safety, and emotional regulation long before any reprocessing. We will never move into trauma work until you feel prepared, grounded, and resourced. You set the pace.
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Absolutely. EMDR is effective for anxiety, relationship challenges, work stress, perfectionism, medical trauma, grief, and other present-day concerns. You do not need a “big T” trauma to benefit.
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Not at all! Many clients work with us solely for EMDR or intensives while continuing ongoing therapy elsewhere. With your consent, we’re happy to collaborate with other providers to support continuity of care.
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Everyone’s healing path is unique. If EMDR doesn’t feel like the right fit, our therapists are trained in additional trauma-informed approaches and can help you explore other modalities. There is no one-size-fits-all way to heal, and we will work with you to find what feels best.
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Yes. You are always in control of the pace.
EMDR is meant to work with your nervous system, not overpower it. If something feels overwhelming, sessions can slow down, shift focus, or pause processing entirely. Listening to your body’s signals is part of the work, not a setback.
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That is completely okay.
Some people spend weeks or months focusing on regulation, safety, and stabilization before beginning trauma processing. Others move into EMDR more quickly. There is no timeline you are expected to follow. Therapy meets you where you are.
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Sometimes there can be an increase in emotion, memories, or body sensations after sessions, especially early on.
This does not mean something is going wrong. It often means your nervous system is processing. Sessions are paced intentionally to minimize overwhelm, and care is taken to make sure you leave feeling grounded and supported.
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EMDR does not require sitting still, sustained eye contact, or focusing in a rigid way.
The approach can be adapted for different attention styles, sensory needs, and ways of processing. Movement, breaks, alternative forms of bilateral stimulation, and flexible pacing are all options. Therapy should work with your nervous system, not against it.
How can I learn more about EMDR?
Please visit www.emdria.org to learn more about EMDR. We also invite you to watch the video linked below.
