EMDR Therapy in Calgary for Trauma, PTSD, and Distressing Memories
If past trauma, painful memories or distressing experiences are weighing you down, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy may help. EMDR is a trauma focused counselling method endorsed by leading health organizations. At Monarch Psychology in Calgary, our trained EMDR therapists guide you through a research backed process to reprocess traumatic memories so their power over you is reduced. At Monarch Psychology in Calgary, our trained EMDR therapists guide you through a research backed process to re process traumatic memories so their power over you is reduced. Whether you’re looking for weekly EMDR therapy or a more focused intensive format, our therapists can help you process traumatic experiences, reduce emotional distress, and move toward lasting healing.
EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy that combines controlled exposure to distressing memories with bilateral stimulation (usually guided eye movements) and cognitive reframing. During sessions, you recall the upsetting memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation using eye movements or hand-held buzzers; this dual attention task helps to gradually reduce the vividness and emotional intensity of the memory. Unlike talk therapy, EMDR does not require you to describe the trauma in detail. Psychotherapy that combines controlled exposure to distressing memories with bilateral stimulation (usually guided eye movements) and cognitive reframing. During sessions, you recall the upsetting memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation using eye movements or hand-held buzzers; this dual attention task helps to gradually reduce the vividness and emotional intensity of the memory. Unlike talk therapy, EMDR does not require you to describe the trauma in detail.
An EMDR Intensive is an alternative to traditional weekly/biweekly therapy. Instead of meeting for 50–80 minutes each week, you’ll work with your therapist for several hours at a time, allowing for deeper, uninterrupted processing of traumatic memories and longstanding emotional patterns.
For many people, this format creates momentum that can be difficult to achieve in shorter sessions. Rather than spending time each week settling in and then stopping just as important work begins, an intensive provides the space to stay engaged in the therapeutic process.
Research suggests that EMDR Intensives can be just as effective as weekly EMDR therapy while allowing many clients to experience meaningful progress in a shorter period of time.
