EMDR · Trauma & PTSD · Ottawa & online
EMDR Therapy in Ottawa
When the past won’t stay in the past.
You already understand your triggers. You may have explained them to yourself a hundred times. But your body still reacts before logic can catch up. That isn’t a willpower problem. It can happen when a traumatic memory still feels present, even when you know the danger has passed.
EMDR gives us a structured way to work with that memory without making you tell every detail. We prepare first, move at a pace you can control, and stop whenever you need to.
Side-to-side movements are one part of a structured process for working with traumatic memories.
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. It is a structured psychotherapy used for PTSD and distress connected to traumatic memories. During processing, you bring part of a memory to mind while following bilateral stimulation, usually guided eye movements or alternating taps. The goal is for the memory to feel less immediate and easier to place in the past.
The World Health Organization identifies EMDR as one of the psychological interventions with the most evidence for PTSD. EMDR usually does not require a detailed retelling of what happened, and it does not erase the memory. The memory remains part of your history. We are working on the present-day distress attached to it.
If you want to see the process before deciding whether it makes sense for you, read what happens in an EMDR session.
I’m an EMDR-trained Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #11921) and a member of EMDR Canada and EMDRIA, the EMDR International Association. I have completed advanced training in the Four-Blink version of the Flash Technique with Thomas Zimmerman.
Could EMDR fit what you’re carrying?
People often look for an EMDR therapist in Ottawa because they are tired of knowing why they react and still feeling unable to stop it.
- A memory, image, nightmare, or body sensation pulls you back without warning.
- You avoid certain places, conversations, or situations because the reaction feels too strong.
- Your body stays on alert long after you know the danger has passed.
- Something happened once, or many things happened over years, and it still shapes daily life or relationships.
You do not need to diagnose yourself first. In the consultation, tell me what keeps happening. I can explain how I would approach it and where EMDR might fit.
Single-event trauma and complex trauma need different pacing
When choosing an EMDR therapist in Ottawa, it helps to know how the plan changes depending on what you have lived through.
For a single traumatic event, such as a car accident, an injury, or an assault, we may be able to focus on one clear target memory. If the memory feels too intense to approach directly, I may first use the Flash Technique, an evidence-informed method that may reduce its intensity without requiring you to focus on it for a sustained period.
For complex trauma, such as long-term relationship trauma, childhood abuse, or years of invalidation, I do not begin by asking you to open the hardest memory. We start with stability, learn how your nervous system responds, and work with the protective responses that have helped you survive. That preparation is part of EMDR and gives us a steadier base for later processing.
I have dedicated training in adapting EMDR for complex PTSD with Kathy Martin. If this is closer to your experience, my trauma and PTSD therapy in Ottawa page explains how I approach the work. My guide to complex PTSD treatment in Ottawa goes further into how EMDR, parts work, and somatic therapy can fit together.
Safety first: what happens before processing
I will not ask you to begin with the worst thing that happened. We first practise noticing activation, settling your body, and staying connected to the present. Trauma therapists sometimes call this staying within your “window of tolerance.”
This groundwork often draws on somatic therapy: noticing what your body is doing, catching activation earlier, and practising grounding in ways that actually work for you. The aim is dual awareness. One part of your attention stays in the room while another briefly touches the memory.
We also leave time at the end of each session to reorient, notice how you feel, and decide what support you may need afterward.
How I work with complex PTSD
With complex trauma, I often bring other approaches into the EMDR work:
- Parts work (IFS and structural dissociation theory). Different responses can pull in opposite directions. One part may want change while another is trying to keep you away from painful memories. We listen to those protective responses before processing.
- CBT skills. Practical tools for noticing entrenched negative beliefs and managing day-to-day anxiety between sessions.
- Relational work. Trauma can affect trust, closeness, and conflict between partners. When that is part of the picture, trauma-informed couples therapy may also be useful.
What does an EMDR session look like?
- 1
First sessions focus on history and stability
We talk about what brings you in, what you want to change, and what helps you stay grounded. You will not be pushed to tell your story before you are ready.
- 2
Processing sessions are structured
You hold part of a target memory in mind while following bilateral stimulation in short sets. I check in throughout, and you can stop at any point.
- 3
We leave time to close
Before the session ends, we slow down, reorient to the room, and check what you need before leaving.
Sessions are 50 minutes, in person at 9 Melrose Ave in Hintonburg, Ottawa, or online.
For a fuller map of the treatment process, see the 8 phases of EMDR. If a weekly time is hard to commit to, or you would rather work in a more focused format, I also offer EMDR intensives.
EMDR in Hintonburg and online across Ontario
The office is at 9 Melrose Ave in Hintonburg, near Wellington Village and a short walk from Tunney’s Pasture. If you live elsewhere in Ontario, EMDR can also be offered over secure video. In virtual sessions, we use the same preparation and check-ins as we do in person.
Fees and practical details
- Free 15-minute consultation. No forms, no pressure, just a conversation about fit.
- Individual session (50 minutes): $200.
- Insurance: you pay per session and receive a detailed receipt with my CRPO registration number (#11921) to claim through your extended health plan. Most Ontario plans cover Registered Psychotherapists. I don’t bill insurance directly.
- No referral needed.
Questions people ask about EMDR
What’s the difference between EMDR and regular talk therapy?
Talk therapy often works through conversation, reflection, and insight. EMDR adds structured attention to a memory while you follow bilateral stimulation. Some people use EMDR within longer-term talk therapy, and the two can work alongside each other.
Is EMDR safe for complex PTSD?
EMDR may be used with complex PTSD when the preparation and pacing are tailored to the person. I begin with stabilization, somatic skills, and attention to protective parts before deciding together when processing feels manageable.
What happens in the first EMDR appointment?
The first appointment is a conversation. We talk about what is happening now, some relevant history, what you want from therapy, and what helps you feel grounded. I explain how EMDR might fit your situation. You will not be asked to process your worst memory in the first session.
Do I have to talk about the trauma in detail?
No. EMDR usually does not require a detailed retelling. You decide what you say out loud, and you can pause the process at any time. With the Flash Technique, sustained conscious focus on the memory may not be required.
How long does EMDR take?
There is no honest fixed session count. A recent single incident and years of complex trauma usually need different plans. I will explain what phase we are in, review progress with you, and adjust the pace when needed. For a closer look at the evidence and what progress can mean, see does EMDR really work?
Can EMDR therapy be done online?
Yes. EMDR can be provided by secure video for clients anywhere in Ontario. We plan the setup together, including what you will use for bilateral stimulation and how we will handle grounding and privacy in your space.
Is EMDR covered by insurance in Ontario?
Most extended health plans in Ontario cover psychotherapy provided by a Registered Psychotherapist. Check your plan’s specific coverage. After each session you receive a detailed receipt with my CRPO registration number to submit for reimbursement. I don’t bill insurance directly.
One small ripple is enough to start.
A free 15-minute call. No forms, no pressure to tell your story before you’re ready.
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