EMDR
Maybe you’ve tried talk therapy but still find yourself stuck—reacting in ways you can’t explain, feeling shut down, anxious, or overwhelmed even when things seem “fine.” You may notice patterns that no longer serve you—people-pleasing, numbing, overthinking, avoidance, or emotional reactivity—but feel unsure how to change them. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps your brain and body make sense of what hasn’t fully been processed, stored, or resolved.
At NEO Mind Body Collab, EMDR is a core offering and a passion. We use it not only to treat trauma, but also to support healing from anxiety, low self-worth, phobias, grief, body image issues, attachment wounds, chronic stress, and more. This approach helps us understand how and why protective strategies formed—and guides the process of releasing what’s no longer needed.
We customize every phase of EMDR to your readiness and capacity. You don’t need to relive your past—you just need to show up, gently and honestly. We’ll meet you with care, collaboration, and tools to help you shift what’s been holding you back.
Integrative
Whether part of counseling or experienced on its own, EMDR can help you:
Reprocess distressing memories that drive emotional, physical, or relational symptoms
Reduce anxiety, fear, shame, avoidance, and other overwhelming responses
Build safety, self-regulation, and confidence in handling emotions and triggers
Reshape negative core beliefs (e.g., “I’m not enough,” “I’m not safe”)
Support healing from trauma, grief, attachment wounds, or medical experiences
Increase clarity, resilience, and a greater sense of integration
Process trauma without detailed retelling, helpful for dissociation or distress
Adapt to adults, adolescents, and children with age-appropriate approaches
Create long-lasting change, not just short-term symptom relief
Provide structured tools for emotional growth, balance, and integration
Meet
OUR COUNSELORS
Discover
OUR PROCESS
We follow the standard 8-phase protocol developed by Francine Shapiro and outlined by EMDRIA, always adapted to meet your nervous system, lived experience, and window of tolerance.
01
History &
Treatment Plan
Explore current concerns, patterns, and past experiences to identify memories or beliefs driving distress. This may include dissociation mapping, ego states, or polyvagal-informed assessment.
02
Preparation & Resourcing
Build trust, strengthen regulation skills, and co-create a safety plan. May include somatic awareness, parts work, mindfulness, and imagery or sensory-based interventions.
03
Focus
Assessment
Identify the memory target, negative and positive beliefs, body sensations, and emotional charge so your brain knows where to focus—always paced to your window of tolerance.
04
Desensitization
Process
Use bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, auditory tones) to reprocess stuck information and shift emotional and somatic charge. You remain in control, with pacing adjusted to your needs.
05
Belief
Installation
We strengthen new adaptive beliefs and reinforce the positive shifts that emerge during reprocessing. This phase helps you integrate healthier perspectives and anchor them in daily life.
06
Body Scan
Review
We check in with your body to ensure resolution and identify any lingering distress. Somatic tracking, grounding, and regulation tools may be used to deepen safety and integration.
07
Session
Closure
Each session is completed in a way that leaves you feeling grounded and resourced. Closure may include regulation practices, reflective dialogue, or gentle containment strategies for stability.
08
Re-Evaluation
Phase
We revisit earlier targets, assess ongoing progress, and adapt treatment goals as needed. This phase also integrates insights into daily routines, supporting long-term healing and resilience.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain and body reprocess stuck or distressing experiences. It uses bilateral stimulation (like eye movements or tapping) to support the brain’s natural ability to heal, while gently shifting how distressing events are stored and felt.
You can learn more about EMDR and its research base through EMDRIA: the EMDR International Association. -
EMDR helps your brain finish what it couldn’t during a time of stress, trauma, or overwhelm. When something distressing happens and you’re unable to fully process it—because you were too young, shocked, scared, or unsupported—your brain may store the memory in a fragmented way.
Over time, these unprocessed memories can show up as triggers, anxiety, emotional shutdown, low self-worth, or physical symptoms. EMDR helps the brain reprocess these memories safely, linking them to more adaptive information—like “I am safe now” or “It wasn’t my fault.” The memory remains, but the emotional charge and body response fade. -
Not necessarily just trauma. EMDR is well known for treating trauma, but it’s equally effective for addressing a wide range of struggles, patterns, and symptoms. We work with adults, children, and teens experiencing:
🧠 Common symptoms
Anxiety, panic, or chronic worry
Depression, numbness, or low motivation
Feeling “stuck,” overwhelmed, or easily triggered
Shame, low self-worth, or inner criticism
Loss, grief, or unresolved sadness
Body symptoms like tension, fatigue, pain, or digestive issues
🔁 Behavioral patterns
People-pleasing, perfectionism, or overachieving
Avoidance, procrastination, or withdrawal
Substance use, disordered eating, or body image struggles
Overthinking or difficulty making decisions
Trouble with assertiveness, boundaries, or saying no
🛡️ Relational/defensive patterns
Reactivity, anger, or shutdown
Fear of abandonment or being “too much”
Difficulty trusting or connecting
Hyper-independence or fear of needing others
Feeling unsafe or “on alert” without clear reason
EMDR isn’t about labeling experiences as “trauma.” It’s about helping your brain and body let go of what no longer serves you, and strengthening more adaptive responses.
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hat’s a completely valid question. If you’re still living or working in an environment that feels unsafe, unpredictable, or overwhelming, you might wonder: “How can I heal when the stress hasn’t stopped?”
Healing doesn’t require your life to be perfect—it requires safety, support, and the right pacing. EMDR can help you:Build internal resources like boundaries, self-trust, and regulation
Understand how past and present experiences interact
Create more space between triggers and reactions
Support parts of you that feel stuck or overwhelmed
Sometimes the early phases—building safety, clarity, and capacity—are where the most meaningful shifts begin.
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EMDR can be helpful soon after trauma, but the type of support depends on where you are emotionally and what feels safe.
In the days and weeks after a distressing event, your brain may still be processing naturally. If not, people can feel overwhelmed or stuck. In these cases, we focus on stabilization, resourcing, and regulation first. Memory reprocessing may not begin right away, especially if the event is ongoing. There is no one-size-fits-all answer—we’ll collaborate to find the right timing for your healing.
FAQ
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No. One unique aspect of EMDR is that it doesn’t require you to retell or relive every detail of the story. We focus on what you’re noticing in the moment—thoughts, sensations, and shifts—and you only share what feels safe and necessary.
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That’s okay. We never rush into desensitization. The early phases of EMDR focus on preparation, emotional safety, and building your internal resources. For many clients, this phase is where the deepest healing begins.
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EMDR is not a quick fix. Treatment length depends on your goals, history, and nervous system capacity. Some begin reprocessing within a few sessions, while others benefit from extended resourcing. Progress is tracked collaboratively, and every phase supports healing—even before reprocessing begins.
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Not necessarily. While EMDR is central to our work, we also integrate other trauma-informed modalities based on your needs. At times we may focus more on somatic therapy, narrative work, skills-building, or parts work. We always collaborate with you to align treatment with what feels most supportive.
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That’s a valid concern. EMDR should never feel like re-experiencing trauma. If it has in the past, it may have been due to moving too quickly, inadequate preparation, or a mismatch in pacing.
At NEO, we don’t rush the process. We spend as much time as needed on safety, regulation, and internal capacity. If you’ve had a difficult EMDR experience before, we’ll go at your pace and rebuild trust in the process. You’re always in control, and nothing happens without your consent.