When the Past Feels Like the Present
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This is an evidence-backed therapy model that was initially developed to help people process traumatic events. Since then, its use has been expanded to include helping folks navigate challenging life experiences and limiting beliefs—in other words, the internal hurdles that cause us to feel “stuck” in repetitive patterns. At Equilibrium Psychotherapy, our clinicians are specifically trained to utilize EMDR to help you process both recent stressors and foundational early-life experiences that may still be casting a shadow on your present.
Together, you and your therapist will identify the core themes and memories that will make the most significant impact on your well-being. From there, you will work through the complex layers of memory and emotion, safely dismantling the psychological barriers that have previously felt insurmountable.
We understand that beginning trauma-informed work requires immense courage. That is why our team prioritizes a collaborative, grounded approach that honors your pace while leveraging our clinical expertise. We don't just aim for symptom management; we strive for a fundamental shift in how you experience yourself and the world. By reprocessing the experiences that have held you back, you are not simply moving past the pain—you are reclaiming your narrative and rediscovering a sense of internal balance. Whether you are seeking relief from a specific event or looking to break free from long-standing beliefs, we are here to guide you toward a future of resilience and clarity.
For our clients located in the Madison area, including Middleton, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, Verona, and Monona, we offer in-person services at our offices located just off the belt-line on the near West Side of Madison. We also offer telehealth services for those who prefer the comfort of home or are located outside the Madison area.
Clinically reviewed by Siri Peterson, LMFT — last updated May 2026.
When to Consider EMDR Therapy
What to Expect in EMDR Therapy
Assessment and Preparation
- •Identify the event, memory, or belief that you want to “target”
- •Create a treatment plan together that will clarify your goals
- •Identify intermediary steps towards those goals and how you’ll navigate obstacles that may arise
- •Reinforce your ability to ground and emotionally regulate prior to starting
Reprocessing
- •Process memories and beliefs from the recent or distant past based on your goals using bilateral stimulation
- •Strengthen positive beliefs about yourself
- •Reinforce these positive beliefs for the future which can increase confidence in yourself and capabilities
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What EMDR Therapy Can Help You Achieve
Restore Safety
Learn to signal safety to your nervous system and reduce chronic hypervigilance.
Process Memories
Integrate traumatic memories so they become part of your story, not your present reality.
Emotional Regulation
Develop tools to manage overwhelming emotions, flashbacks, and numbing.
Reclaim Your Body
Befriend your body again and release trauma stored in muscles and nervous system.
Rebuild Trust
Learn to trust yourself, your instincts, and build secure connections with others.
Reclaim Identity
Move beyond survival mode to discover who you are beyond the trauma.
Common Questions About Trauma and EMDR Therapy
How do I know if I have trauma or PTSD?
Common signs include intrusive memories or flashbacks, hypervigilance and difficulty relaxing, emotional numbing or disconnection, avoidance of reminders, sleep disturbances, and feeling like the past is happening now. You don't need a PTSD diagnosis to benefit from trauma therapy—if past experiences are impacting your present life, therapy can help.
What if I don't remember my trauma clearly?
Memory gaps are extremely common with trauma, especially childhood trauma. This is a protective mechanism. Your body often remembers what your mind has forgotten. Trauma therapy doesn't require detailed memories—we work with what your nervous system is communicating through sensations, emotions, and patterns.
What exactly is EMDR?
EMDR is a therapy model that’s quite different from talk therapy. Therapists and clients work together to identify memories that are causing strong emotions, unwanted behaviors, or limiting beliefs and work with them so that any maladaptive responses to that memory are processed and the client can heal.
How does EMDR work?
EMDR uses bi-lateral stimulation to engage your brain in a way that resembles REM sleep processing. This allows memories to be processed so that new thoughts, feelings, and beliefs may be associated with the original memory. In other words, it allows for healthy perspectives and beliefs to engage a traumatic memory in such a way that the client is able to move out of their trauma response and into a more grounded, secure state.
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
EMDR does not require you to talk about your trauma in detail. You will be asked to hold the memory in your mind and be present with it - but you are not asked to relive anything or share what you don’t want to with your clinician. Throughout the process, your therapist will check in with you to see what’s coming up, but again, you don’t have to talk about anything more than you want.
What are “bilateral stimulations”?
These are different ways to activate alternating sides of the brain. EMDR uses side to side eye movements, tapping on each side of the body, or alternating sounds in headphones to achieve this. You and your therapist will work together to determine which method works best for you.
What will I feel like after a session?
Client experiences of EMDR are varied! But what you can count on is, even if you and your therapist have processed an emotional memory, there will be time in every session for you to ground yourself. You will not walk out of session completely overwhelmed. That said, your brain may have done some heavy lifting in session and you may notice that there are new feelings coming up about the memory you worked with or that you will continue processing throughout the week. This is normal and expected and worth bringing back to your therapist to follow up on.
How do I know if I am ready for EMDR?
You and your therapist will work together to determine if you’re ready. What your therapist will want to see is that you’re able to regulate your emotions and be able to “hold” a memory without losing yourself completely to the memory. There is ample work that lays the foundation for this prior to the reprocessing itself, and it may take some time to get there. But that is healing in and of itself!
Resources for Your Journey
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