EMDR Therapy in Denver, CO
Reprocess painful memories and reduce their emotional grip using one of the most well-researched therapies for trauma, anxiety, and PTSD.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps your brain process experiences that have gotten "stuck." When something traumatic or distressing happens, the memory can stay frozen in the nervous system, surfacing as flashbacks, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or strong reactions that feel out of proportion to the present moment. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, typically guided eye movements, to help the brain reprocess these memories so they lose their emotional charge. You remember what happened, but it no longer controls how you feel today.
At Evergreen Psychology in Denver, EMDR is offered as a primary treatment approach for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and stuck emotional patterns, and is often integrated with other modalities depending on what fits your situation best.
We offer in-person and online EMDR sessions to clients throughout Colorado, as well as in-person appointments in Denver.
Understanding EMDR
When something overwhelming happens, the brain doesn't always file the memory away the way it does with ordinary experiences. Instead, fragments of the event, such as images, sounds, body sensations, and beliefs about yourself, get stored in a raw, unprocessed form. That's why a smell, a tone of voice, or a passing thought can suddenly bring everything rushing back as if it's happening right now.
EMDR works directly with this stuck material. Through bilateral stimulation (eye movements, alternating taps, or tones), the brain is prompted to engage both hemispheres while you briefly revisit the memory in a controlled, safe way. This mimics what naturally happens during REM sleep, when the brain integrates experiences. Over the course of treatment, the memory remains accessible, but the intense emotional and physical reactions tied to it gradually diminish.
The Eight Phases of EMDR: EMDR follows a structured eight-phase protocol that includes history-taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation of positive beliefs, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. You won't jump straight into reprocessing in your first session. We'll spend time building resourcing skills and making sure you have the stability to do the deeper work safely.
What makes EMDR different: Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn't require you to describe traumatic events in detail or process them through conversation alone. Many people find this approach easier because it bypasses the need to "find the right words" for experiences that often feel beyond language.
Evidence base: EMDR is recognized as an effective treatment for trauma and PTSD by the World Health Organization, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Our Approach to EMDR Therapy
At Evergreen Psychology in Denver, we use trauma-informed, evidence-based EMDR with careful attention to pacing and safety. We don't rush into reprocessing before you have the internal resources to handle it.
Thorough Assessment and Preparation
Before reprocessing begins, we spend time understanding your history, current symptoms, and treatment goals. We also build a set of grounding and stabilization tools you can rely on between and during sessions.
Resource Development
We help you build internal "resources" like calm states, supportive imagery, and grounding techniques that you can access whenever the work gets intense. This phase is essential and often skipped in less careful EMDR work.
Standard EMDR Protocol
We follow the full eight-phase protocol developed by Francine Shapiro, customized to your specific targets and treatment plan. Sessions typically run 60 to 90 minutes to allow enough time for full reprocessing cycles.
Integration with Other Modalities '
When it fits your situation, EMDR is integrated with CBT, parts work, or attachment-based approaches. Trauma rarely exists in isolation, and treatment often benefits from a flexible, integrated approach.
Common Issues EMDR Can Help With
EMDR addresses a wide range of presentations. Some of the most common include:
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Flashbacks, hypervigilance, avoidance, and emotional numbing tied to past traumatic experiences, whether from a single event or prolonged exposure.
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Early experiences of neglect, abuse, or unstable caregiving that continue to shape adult relationships, self-worth, and emotional regulation.
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Generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and specific phobias that have roots in earlier experiences, even when the original trigger isn't immediately obvious.
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Unresolved grief that feels stuck, complicated bereavement, or losses that continue to weigh heavily long after the event.
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Test anxiety, public speaking fears, athletic blocks, and creative blocks that often connect to past experiences of judgment or failure.
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Deeply held beliefs like "I'm not enough," "I'm unsafe," or "It's my fault" that originated in earlier experiences and continue to drive present-day patterns.
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Distressing memories from medical procedures, accidents, or near-death experiences that intrude on daily life.
Signs EMDR Therapy Might Help
You may benefit from EMDR if you recognize these patterns:
You have memories that feel as vivid and emotionally intense as when the event originally happened
You avoid certain places, people, or situations because they trigger overwhelming reactions
You experience flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or nightmares related to past events
Traditional talk therapy has helped you understand your patterns intellectually, but you still feel stuck emotionally
You have a strong physical or emotional reaction to triggers that feels disproportionate to the current situation
You hold negative beliefs about yourself that you logically know aren't true but still feel are true
You've experienced something traumatic and want to address it without having to talk through every detail
You feel like a past experience is still affecting how you show up in your relationships, work, or daily life
What to Expect in EMDR Therapy
History and Treatment Planning
The first sessions focus on understanding your background, identifying targets for reprocessing, and mapping out a treatment plan. This isn't wasted time. It's the foundation that makes the deeper work effective.
Building Stabilization Skills
Before any reprocessing, we'll develop grounding techniques, safe-place imagery, and emotional regulation tools. You'll have what you need to manage intensity both in and out of session.
Reprocessing Sessions
Once you're ready, reprocessing sessions follow the standard protocol. You'll briefly focus on a target memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation. The work happens in short sets, with pauses to check in. Most people are surprised by how much shifts in a single session.
Integration and Closure
Each session ends with stabilization techniques to ensure you leave feeling grounded. Between sessions, we'll check in on what's come up and any insights or changes you've noticed.
Online EMDR Therapy Throughout Colorado
EMDR can be delivered effectively online using specialized tools for bilateral stimulation. For clients across Colorado who can't easily travel to Denver, online EMDR offers the same evidence-based treatment from the comfort of your own space.
Why Choose Evergreen Psychology for EMDR Therapy in Denver
EMDR is a specialized modality that requires specific training and clinical judgment about pacing, target selection, and integration. Jeff Reznicek brings formal EMDR training and a trauma-informed approach grounded in safety, stabilization, and client autonomy.
We meet you exactly where you are and move at a pace that honors both your readiness and your goals. You don't have to keep managing this alone.
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR Therapy
Do I have to talk in detail about what happened?
No. One of the benefits of EMDR is that it doesn't require detailed verbal narration of traumatic events. You'll need to identify the memory you're working on, but you don't have to describe it in depth for the protocol to work.
How long does EMDR therapy take?
It varies. Single-incident trauma may respond in 6 to 12 sessions. Complex or developmental trauma typically requires longer, more layered treatment. We'll discuss expected timeframes after the initial assessment.
s EMDR safe? Will it bring up things I can't handle?
EMDR is safe when delivered by a trained clinician following the full protocol. The preparation phase exists specifically to make sure you have the stabilization skills needed before reprocessing begins. We don't rush this step.
Can EMDR be done online?
Yes. EMDR can be conducted effectively via secure telehealth using specialized tools for bilateral stimulation. Many clients find it just as effective as in-person sessions.
What if I don't have "big T" trauma?
EMDR isn't only for major traumatic events. It's effective for the smaller, accumulated experiences that shape negative beliefs about yourself, sometimes called "little t" trauma, as well as anxiety, performance issues, and grief.
Will I remember everything after EMDR?
Yes. EMDR doesn't erase memories. It changes how they're stored so they no longer carry the same emotional charge. You remember what happened, but it no longer hijacks your present.
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Get in touch.
Complete and submit a Contact form to let me know you’re interested. Also, if desired, I offer a complementary 15-min phone or Zoom call to discuss your situation and answer any questions you may have.