Is EMDR worth exploring?
EMDR was developed for post-traumatic stress, and the World Health Organization recommends it for PTSD. People also look into it when distress traces back to particular experiences. It may be worth a conversation if:
- A car accident, assault, medical emergency or sudden loss keeps coming back as flashbacks, nightmares or a constant sense of being on guard
- Growing up with neglect or harsh criticism, or leaving a controlling relationship, still shapes how you see yourself
- A difficult birth or pregnancy loss left distress that people around you expect you to be past
- Anxiety, panic or a phobia seems tied to specific memories
- Beliefs like “I’m not safe” or “It was my fault” feel true even when you know otherwise
EMDR isn’t the right fit for everyone, or for every point in life. Working that out together is what the free consultation is for.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Psychologist Francine Shapiro developed it in the late 1980s.
In a session, you bring a memory briefly to mind while your counsellor guides bilateral stimulation: following a moving light or their hand with your eyes, alternating taps, or tones in each ear. The aim is for the memory to feel less raw when it surfaces, and for an old belief like “I’m in danger” to loosen its grip.
In each short set, your eyes follow a light or hand from side to side.
You stay in control
You’re awake and aware the whole time, and you can pause whenever you need to. Before any memory work begins, your counsellor gets to know your history and helps you practise grounding skills that work for you. For some people, that preparation takes a few sessions, and that’s part of the work.
Meet our EMDR counsellors
You don’t need to choose a counsellor before reaching out. Our office reads every request and matches you with the counsellor whose approach and availability suit you.
Claire Skillen, RCC
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Claire starts by helping you feel safe and steady, with grounding and DBT skills you can use between sessions, before any EMDR memory work begins. She often works with people dealing with emotional abuse, burnout and grief, and her years in the Coast Guard and BC Wildfire Management give her a real understanding of high-pressure, high-stakes work.
Alana Rosenfeld, MACP, RCC
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Alana sees you as the expert on your own life. Together you might work through painful experiences that still affect you, untangle patterns that keep you stuck, or build practical tools for hard moments, at a pace that feels right to you. She often supports people with anxiety, trauma, burnout, grief, and chronic pain or illness.
Michelle Montreuil, MA, CCC
Canadian Certified Counsellor
If you feel on edge, stuck or always braced for something to go wrong, Michelle works gently with both your mind and body to help your nervous system feel safer. She shapes each session around you, draws on Indigenous-informed approaches, and works with you on softening a harsh inner critic and letting go of shame.
What happens next
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Send a short request
Fill in the consultation form with your contact details and a little about what you’re looking for. You decide how much to share.
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We match you with a counsellor
Our office looks at your request, your schedule, and whether you’d like to meet in person or online.
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Your counsellor gets in touch
They’ll contact you to arrange your free 20-minute consultation. Nothing is booked until you agree on a time.
Questions about EMDR
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy for trauma, PTSD and other distress linked to past experiences. Your counsellor uses eye movements, taps or tones while you briefly hold a memory in mind, so it can be processed and feel less overwhelming.
How do I know whether EMDR is right for me?
You don’t need to know before you get in touch. In the consultation, your counsellor will ask what’s bringing you in and talk through whether EMDR makes sense now, later, or alongside another approach. Our team also practises Internal Family Systems, somatic parts therapy, CBT and DBT.
Do I have to describe everything that happened to me?
No. EMDR asks you to hold a memory in mind briefly, not to retell it in detail. You choose how much to say, in the form, in the consultation and in sessions.
Is online EMDR available?
Yes. Online, you follow a moving dot on screen or tap for yourself, guided by your counsellor over secure video. You’ll need a private room, a laptop or tablet, and a steady internet connection. Your counsellor can help you decide whether online or in-person sessions suit you better.
How much does EMDR cost?
The 20-minute consultation is free. Sessions are $170 with Claire Skillen, RCC, $160 with Alana Rosenfeld, RCC, and $150 with Michelle Montreuil, CCC. Many extended health plans cover counselling, so check whether yours covers a Registered Clinical Counsellor or a Canadian Certified Counsellor. See direct billing options.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies a lot from person to person, and depends on what you’re working on and how much preparation feels right. Your counsellor will talk with you about what to expect once they understand your situation.
What happens after I submit the request?
Our office reviews it and matches you with a counsellor, who contacts you to set up your free consultation. If you need support urgently, please don’t wait for our reply: call or text 9-8-8 at any time.
Take the next step when you’re ready
Asking about EMDR doesn’t commit you to anything. Send a request, have a 20-minute conversation, and decide from there.
Request Your Free 20-Minute Consultation
After you submit, our office matches you with a counsellor, who contacts you to arrange the call. Prefer to talk first? Call or text 1 (888) 520-9151.
If you’re in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 any time. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.