People who are curious about EMDR usually have the same question, even if they phrase it differently: what am I actually going to be doing in there?
Fair question. EMDR has an odd name and a reputation for being a little mysterious. If you're looking into EMDR therapy in Colorado Springs, here's what an EMDR session tends to look like at our office on North Weber, and what it often feels like from the inside.
Before you ever touch a memory
The first few sessions aren't EMDR processing at all. We talk about what brought you in, what you've already tried, and what your life looks like right now: sleep, work, who's in your corner. I'll ask about your history, but you decide how much detail to give. A headline like "my dad's drinking" is enough to start.
We also build what we call resources, which are ways to settle your body when things get stirred up. A calm place you can picture in real detail, maybe a quiet weekday morning on the trail at Red Rock Canyon, or your grandmother's kitchen. A person, real or imagined, who makes you feel protected. A breath that actually works for you.
This part can feel slow. It's on purpose. EMDR goes better when your system trusts that it can come back to steady ground.
The processing part
When we start working on a specific memory, I'll ask you to bring up a picture of it, the belief about yourself that comes with it ("I'm not safe," "It was my fault"), and where you feel it in your body. You'll rate how disturbing it feels from 0 to 10. Then we add bilateral stimulation. That might mean following my hand with your eyes, holding small buzzers that pulse left and right, or tapping on your knees.
Each set lasts somewhere around half a minute. Then I'll ask you to take a breath and tell me briefly what you're noticing.
You notice whatever comes up. A different memory. A wave of sadness. Something that seems unrelated. A tight jaw. You don't have to explain it or make it make sense.
Noticing is the whole job. Your brain does the sorting.
Over a session or several, the memory usually starts to feel further away. People say things like "it's more like an old photo now." It's still yours. It just stops grabbing you the same way. Then we strengthen a more accurate belief, something like "I did the best I could with what I had," and check your body one more time for anything still holding on.
What an EMDR session can feel like from the inside
Honestly, it varies. Some sessions are emotional. Some feel oddly boring, and people worry that means nothing is happening. Many people are surprised by how much shows up in the body: heat in the chest, heavy arms, a sudden yawn, tears that come without a story attached.
All of that is normal. There isn't really a way to do it wrong.
You stay in control the whole time. You're awake, you know where you are, and you can hear the traffic on Weber if you listen for it. If you want to stop, you raise a hand and we stop. Sometimes that pause is the most useful thing that happens all session, because it teaches your system that it gets a say.
How a session ends
We never send you out the door raw. The last stretch of every session goes to closing things down: going back to your resources, checking how your body feels, and talking about what to expect over the next few days. If a memory isn't finished, we set it aside on purpose, and it'll be there next time.
Some people feel tired afterward, like after a long hike. Some notice vivid dreams or find old memories drifting up. That tends to settle within a day or two.
This is why EMDR sessions at Crescita run 90 minutes. It gives us time to do real work and still leave you grounded before you drive home. Session fees and insurance are listed on our rates page.
Is it right for you?
EMDR tends to help with trauma, anxiety, and reactions that feel bigger than the moment calls for. It isn't the right first step for everyone. If your life is in active crisis, we may spend longer on stability first. That's something we can sort out together on a free 20-minute call.
Questions people ask about EMDR
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on what we're working with. A single event, like a car accident, sometimes settles in a handful of processing sessions once preparation is done. Years of childhood stuff takes longer, and that's normal. I'd rather give you an honest "we'll see" than a number I made up.
Do I have to talk about the details?
No. This surprises people. You need to bring the memory to mind, but you don't have to describe it out loud. Plenty of people do meaningful EMDR work while telling their therapist very little about what happened.
Can EMDR be done online?
Yes, for many people. Over video we use tapping or eye movements that follow something on the screen. If the drive from Pueblo or Woodland Park isn't realistic, our online therapy page explains how virtual sessions work. Some people, especially those who dissociate a lot, do better in the room, and we'll talk that through honestly.
Will I feel worse before I feel better?
Sometimes, for a short stretch. Stirring up an old memory can leave you more emotional for a day or two. That's why we spend so much time on preparation, and why you leave every session with ways to settle. If it ever feels like too much, tell me. We'll slow down, and slowing down is part of the method.
