EMDR therapy · Orem, Provo & Logan
EMDR Therapy
in Orem, Provo & Logan, Utah
Heal painful memories without having to retell every detail. EMDR helps your brain reprocess what happened so it feels like the past, not the present.
Is this for you?
EMDR Is For You If You…
- Struggle with trauma, PTSD, or distressing memories
- Feel stuck in painful emotions from past experiences
- Experience anxiety, panic, or emotional overwhelm
- Want to process trauma without extensively talking about it
- Have nightmares, flashbacks, or intrusive thoughts
- Feel held back by fear, guilt, or shame
- Struggle with self-worth or negative beliefs about yourself
- Seek to regain peace, confidence, and personal empowerment
Understanding EMDR
What Is EMDR Therapy?
Quick answer
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy that uses guided eye movements or other back-and-forth stimulation while you briefly focus on a painful memory, helping the brain reprocess it so it loses its emotional charge.
STEP 1
A memory gets stuck
After something overwhelming, the memory can stay “unprocessed,” still carrying the fear, images, and body sensations of the moment.
STEP 2
Bilateral stimulation
While you hold the memory in mind for short sets, your therapist guides eye movements, taps, or tones from side to side.
STEP 3
The memory settles
The brain links the memory to what you know now. It is still there, but it feels distant, and the old reactions fade.
Want the full explanation, including where EMDR comes from? Read What is EMDR?
One of the Most Recommended Treatments for PTSD
The World Health Organization recommends EMDR and trauma-focused CBT as the psychotherapies for PTSD in children, adolescents, and adults. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense give EMDR their strongest level of recommendation for PTSD.
Sources: World Health Organization, Guidelines for the management of conditions specifically related to stress (2013); VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder (2023).
EMDR is a powerful and distinct therapeutic approach
EMDR is a powerful and distinct therapeutic approach, particularly useful for individuals dealing with trauma or PTSD. Through guided eye movements, it aids the brain in processing and resolving past traumatic experiences, offering a unique avenue to emotional recovery beyond traditional talk therapy. In a nurturing and supportive setting, EMDR helps to release emotional pain, paving the way for greater peace and personal empowerment. Whether you’re facing trauma or seeking a new way to manage life’s challenges, EMDR provides a transformative opportunity for healing and growth.
What EMDR can help with
Conditions EMDR Treats
PTSD and trauma
Phobias and specific fears
Anxiety and panic
Performance anxiety
Grief and loss
Nightmares and flashbacks
Medical and birth trauma
Shame and negative self-beliefs
How EMDR is different from talk therapy
Traditional talk therapy
- Insight through conversation
- Talking through the event in detail
- Building coping skills over time
EMDR
- Changes how the memory is stored
- You do not have to describe every detail out loud
- Often works faster for specific memories
- Combined with coping skills so you stay grounded
The process
The 8 Phases of EMDR Therapy
EMDR follows a structured, eight-phase protocol. Your therapist moves at your pace, and you never process more than you are ready for.
1History and planning
We learn your story and choose which memories to work on first.
2Preparation
You learn calming and grounding skills so you feel in control before any processing.
3Assessment
We identify the image, belief, emotion, and body sensation linked to the memory.
4Desensitization
Short sets of bilateral stimulation while you notice what comes up.
5Installation
A more helpful belief, like “I survived” or “I am safe now,” is strengthened.
6Body scan
We check for leftover tension and process it.
7Closure
Each session ends with you grounded and steady, even if work is unfinished.
8Reevaluation
The next session starts by checking what changed and what still needs attention.
Recommended Therapist for EMDR
Jeremiah VanDyke, CMHC
Sarah Warner, LCSW
Jen Paschall, MFT
Joel Wallis, LCSW
Kat Willardsen, CSW
Sarah Reynolds, LCSW, CCTP-1
Questions
FAQs About EMDR Therapy
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Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?No. EMDR does not require you to describe every detail out loud. You briefly bring the memory to mind and notice what comes up, and you decide how much to share with your therapist.
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How many EMDR sessions will I need?It depends on what you are working on. A single distressing memory may resolve in a few processing sessions, while complex or childhood trauma usually takes longer. Preparation sessions come first so you feel steady before processing begins.
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What does an EMDR session feel like?Most people describe it as intense at moments but manageable. Memories, feelings, or body sensations may come up and shift during sets. Your therapist checks in often, and each session ends with grounding so you leave feeling settled.
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Is EMDR safe? What if I feel overwhelmed?EMDR is a well-researched, structured therapy. Before processing, you learn skills to calm your body and mind, and your therapist can pause or slow down at any time. You stay in control throughout.
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Can EMDR help with things other than PTSD?Yes. EMDR is also used for anxiety, panic, phobias, grief, performance anxiety, and painful beliefs like "I am not enough" that started with earlier experiences.
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Where do you offer EMDR therapy?Our EMDR-trained therapists see clients at our Orem and Provo, Utah offices. You can see each recommended EMDR therapist and their location on this page.
Ready to put the past in the past?
Our EMDR-trained therapists work with adults and teens. A first session is simply a conversation about what you are carrying and whether EMDR is a good fit.
What You Can Expect
A stronger relationship with yourself, your emotions, and your values.