Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
At Audra Walsh Psychology Group (AWPG), we know that overwhelming emotions, fears, or patterns of self-doubt can hold us back—even when we’re trying our best to move forward. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), like most therapy approaches, focuses on your present concerns. But instead of relying solely on conversation, EMDR also engages the brain’s natural ability to process and resolve distress through eye movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation. The result is often a deeper shift—not just understanding that we’re okay, but truly feeling it.
What’s different about EMDR?
What sets EMDR apart is its focus on the brain’s incredible ability to learn, adapt, and heal. This process—called Adaptive Information Processing (AIP)—is the foundation of EMDR therapy.
Our brains are constantly updating memory networks, keeping what’s useful from past experiences and letting go of what’s no longer needed. But when an event is especially disturbing or emotionally charged, it can get “stuck,” preventing healthy processing. These experiences become isolated from more positive memories and can continue to influence our present-day thoughts, behaviors, and relationships.
For example, even if we logically know we are capable and worthy, a partner’s criticism may trigger intense feelings of worthlessness rooted in earlier unresolved experiences. EMDR helps identify those “stuck” networks and activates your brain’s natural adaptive learning system through bilateral stimulation.
The result? A consolidated, healthier memory network that retains what’s helpful—and releases what’s no longer serving you. After EMDR, clients often say they don’t just know they’re okay—they feel it, too.
EMDR can help with:
Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety and panic attacks
Childhood emotional wounds and attachment issues
Grief and complicated loss
Performance anxiety
Medical trauma
Phobias and fears
Life transitions or distressing events (e.g., breakups, job loss)
EMDR for Kids
Kids can struggle with big feelings too—sometimes from things they’ve experienced, things they’ve heard or seen, or even things they can’t quite explain. EMDR can be a powerful and gentle way to help children process difficult emotions, fears, or memories that are getting in the way of feeling confident, calm, and connected.
At AWPG, our trained EMDR therapists create a safe, playful, and supportive environment that meets each child where they are. We use child-friendly approaches to bilateral stimulation—like tapping, storytelling, art, and games—to help activate the brain’s natural healing process. Kids don’t need to explain everything in words; instead, we help them explore what’s going on inside and gently work through it in a way that feels manageable and even empowering.
EMDR can help children with:
Anxiety, fears, or phobias
Trouble sleeping or nightmares
Difficult life experiences (e.g., medical procedures, accidents, bullying)
Separation anxiety
Grief and loss
Low self-esteem or confidence
Behavioral challenges rooted in emotional overwhelm
When kids feel stuck, EMDR helps get things moving again—so they can feel safer, stronger, and more like themselves.