EMDR Therapy
A different way to work with experiences that feel stuck.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy best established for trauma and PTSD. It helps people process distressing experiences so memories and triggers can become less emotionally overwhelming and less disruptive in everyday life.
What is EMDR?
EMDR is a structured therapy that helps people process experiences that continue to feel emotionally “stuck”. Rather than relying only on talking through an event, EMDR combines attention to memories, thoughts, emotions, and body sensations with bilateral stimulation — often guided eye movements or other alternating sensory input.
Treatment is paced carefully and includes preparation, coping skills, and stabilization before difficult experiences are processed.
What can EMDR help with?
Trauma & PTSD
Distressing Memories
Distressing Memories
EMDR is particularly well established for treating symptoms related to traumatic and overwhelming experiences.
Distressing Memories
Distressing Memories
Distressing Memories
Experiences that happened in the past can sometimes continue to trigger intense emotional or physical reactions in the present.
Anxiety & Triggers
Distressing Memories
Difficult Life Experiences
EMDR may help when anxiety or strong reactions are connected to past experiences, reminders, or learned patterns.
Difficult Life Experiences
Difficult Life Experiences
Difficult Life Experiences
Loss, medical experiences, accidents, interpersonal experiences, and other events may continue to affect how someone feels or responds.
Negative Beliefs
Difficult Life Experiences
Emotional Reactivity
Past experiences can shape beliefs such as “I’m not safe,” “I’m not good enough,” or “I have no control.” EMDR can help address the experiences connected to those beliefs.
Emotional Reactivity
Difficult Life Experiences
Emotional Reactivity
Treatment may help reduce the intensity of reactions to reminders or situations that previously felt overwhelming.
How EMDR works:
Preparation first
Processing the experience
Processing the experience
EMDR doe not begin by immediately diving into the hardest memory. Treatment starts with understanding the person, building coping resources, and making sure there is enough stability to begin processing safely.
Processing the experience
Processing the experience
Processing the experience
During EMDR, the person briefly focuses on aspects of a distressing experience while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements.
Integration
Processing the experience
Integration
Over time, the memory may feel less emotionally intense, and more adaptive perspectives can become easier to access.
What to expect from EMDR therapy
1. Assessment & treatment planning
1. Assessment & treatment planning
1. Assessment & treatment planning
We begin by understanding your current concerns, history, goals, coping resources, and whether EMDR is an appropriate approach.
2. Preparation
1. Assessment & treatment planning
1. Assessment & treatment planning
Before processing difficult experiences, you clinician helps you develop strategies for grounding, emotional regulation, and managing distress.
3. Identifying Targets
1. Assessment & treatment planning
3. Identifying Targets
Together, you identify memories, situations, beliefs, or triggers that appear connected to the concerns bringing you to therapy.
4. Reprocessing
5. Integration & follow-up
3. Identifying Targets
With guidance from your clinician, you briefly focus on aspects of the experience while using bilateral stimulation. The process is paced according to your responses and needs.
5. Integration & follow-up
5. Integration & follow-up
5. Integration & follow-up
Your clinician helps you notice changes, strengthen helpful perspectives, and determine what still needs attention as treatment progresses.
Do I have to describe everything in detail?
Not necessarily. EMDR does not require you to give a detailed verbal account of every aspect of an experiences. You and your clinician decide what information is important to share, and you remain in control of the pace of treatment.
Good EMDR therapy should feel collaborative — not like being pushed to revisit something before you are ready.
Is EMDR right for everyone?
EMDR can be a powerful treatment, but it is not automatically the best approach for every person or every concern. Readiness, current stability, treatment goals, coping resources, and other clinical factors all matter.
Your clinician will work with you to determine whether EMDR makes sense, whether preparation is needed first, or whether another treatment approach may be a better fit.
EMDR at MasterMind Psychology
Jonathan Kawira, M.Ed., LMHC provides EMDR therapy as part of individualized behavioral health treatment. EMDR may be used on its own or integrated with other evidence-based approaches depending on the person’s needs and treatment goals.
Insurance & Costs
Insurance coverage for EMDR generally falls under outpatient behavioral health benefits varies by individual plan,. Copays, deductibles, coinsurance, provider networks, and authorization requirements may apply.
Our team can help explain the billing process and what questions to ask your insurance company before treatment begins.
Insurance, Demystified
Learn what terms like deductible, copay, coinsurance, prior authorization, and “covered service” mean—and what to ask before beginning care.
Coverage and patient responsibility are ultimately determined by the individual insurance plan.
Ready to learn whether EMDR may be a good fit?
Tell us what you’re looking for and what you hope to address in therapy. We’ll help determine the best next steps.
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Spokane • Eastern WA • North Idaho • Pacific NW