Trauma-Informed Therapy and EMDR
Trauma changes the way we experience ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us. Even when difficult experiences happened years ago, the effects can linger in the form of anxiety, depression, people-pleasing, emotional overwhelm, self-doubt, perfectionism, chronic stress, or feeling disconnected from yourself.
At PORTAL Therapy, we provide trauma-informed therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help clients heal the wounds that continue to impact their lives. Our goal is not simply to help you cope with symptoms. We help you understand your experiences, reconnect with your inner strength, and create lasting change.
Whether your trauma stems from childhood experiences, difficult relationships, loss, medical trauma, workplace stress, or a single overwhelming event, healing is possible.
See if we’re a good fit. ~20min free Discovery Call
Meet our Therapists
A Trauma-Informed, Evidence-Based Approach
What EMDR at PORTAL Therapy Is Like
First, we need to build trust together. Building trust, consistency, and dedication within the therapeutic alliance is a healing practice in itself.
Then, once we start EMDR, we use a combination of bilateral stimulation inputs, including TheraTappers, TouchPoints, and RemotEMDR to deliver the therapy.
Your EMDR therapist will hold a safe, therapeutic, and healing space to help you make sense of your feelings, your experiences, and give you the tools and support to take steps toward moving forward.
When fear is exposed, it loses its grip. EMDR will help you reclaim your mental and emotional space, and give you room to breathe.
Common Questions
Why Consider EMDR?
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an evidence-based therapy designed to help the brain process and heal traumatic memories.
When a traumatic experience occurs, the brain may struggle to fully process what happened. As a result, memories, emotions, body sensations, and negative beliefs can become stored in a way that continues to trigger distress long after the event has passed (sound familiar?).
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, often through eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones, to help the brain reprocess these experiences. As healing occurs, memories often become less emotionally charged, and negative beliefs begin to shift.
Clients frequently report that they no longer feel trapped by past experiences and are better able to respond to life from a place of calm, confidence, and self-trust.
At PORTAL, we have helped clients reprocess memories relating to:
- childhood abuse and neglect
- sexual assault in adulthood
- car accidents
- interpersonal relational trauma
- fear of driving and flying
- negative self image
- body image
- suicide survival
- major depression
What is trauma?
Trauma is not defined by the event itself. Trauma is the lasting impact an experience has on your nervous system, beliefs, emotions, and sense of safety.
Many people think trauma only refers to extreme events, but trauma can also result from experiences such as:
- Childhood emotional neglect
- Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
- Growing up in an unpredictable or unsafe environment
- Divorce or family conflict
- Loss of a loved one
- Medical trauma
- Chronic stress or burnout
- Relationship betrayal
- Bullying
- Accidents or injuries
- Witnessing violence or crisis
- Experiences that left you feeling powerless, unseen, or unsupported
Trauma often lives in both the mind and body. You may logically know you are safe, yet your nervous system continues to respond as though danger is present.
What To Expect at PORTAL
Your first therapy session will include the ACES questionnaire: Adverse Childhood Experiences. This will help us to pinpoint where you would like to begin your EMDR journey.
You do not need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Your therapist at PORTAL is your trained and trusted guide through the re-processing of your past traumatic events.
You won’t be doing this alone.
Start EMDR at PORTAL
This is not going to be a magic pill. You will need to show up, do the work, and be gentle with yourself in the process.
It will be painful at times, as we are accessing your most triggering and hurtful memories and experiences.
As a treatment developed specifically for working with trauma, EMDR complements many other therapeutic interventions that we will use in our work together.