EMDR Therapy in Layton & Online Across Utah
Healing that starts where it matters most – at the root.
Local EMDR Therapy Providers
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR therapy is a type of therapy designed to help people process difficult experiences, painful memories, trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress that may still be affecting everyday life. Sometimes the mind and body hold onto stressful experiences long after they happen. Even when someone wants to move forward, certain memories, emotions, or reactions may continue showing up in daily life. EMDR therapy helps the brain process those experiences in a healthier way so they feel less overwhelming over time.
During EMDR therapy, a therapist guides people through specific exercises while helping them safely process difficult experiences and emotions. Many people describe feeling less emotionally stuck, less overwhelmed by memories, and more at peace as therapy progresses. At Healing Connections Counseling, our goal is to provide a safe, supportive, and comfortable environment where healing can happen at your own pace.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
EMDR therapy works by helping the brain process difficult experiences in a healthier way. After painful or overwhelming events, the brain sometimes struggles to fully process what happened. Instead of feeling like something from the past, certain memories, emotions, and physical reactions may continue to feel very real in everyday life.
During EMDR therapy, guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation are used while safely working through thoughts, memories, or emotions connected to the experience. Researchers believe this process helps the brain organize and reprocess information in a way that reduces emotional distress over time.
Many experts compare EMDR therapy to the natural processing that happens during REM sleep, which is the stage of sleep connected to memory and emotional processing. EMDR helps support the brain’s natural ability to heal from difficult experiences instead of staying emotionally stuck in them.
As therapy continues, many people notice that memories begin feeling less intense and overwhelming. The goal is not to erase what happened, but to help the experience feel less emotionally painful and disruptive in everyday life.
Conditions EMDR Therapy Can Help With
EMDR therapy is often used to support people who feel emotionally stuck after difficult or overwhelming experiences. While many people connect EMDR with trauma and PTSD, it can also help with several other emotional and mental health challenges. Every person’s experiences are different, which is why EMDR therapy is adjusted to fit each individual’s needs and goals.
Trauma
Trauma can leave people feeling emotionally overwhelmed, disconnected, or constantly on edge long after an experience has passed. Some people replay memories in their mind, while others avoid thinking about what happened altogether. Even everyday situations can suddenly feel stressful or emotionally draining. EMDR can help reduce the emotional weight connected to those experiences so life feels less controlled by the past.
PTSD
PTSD can affect sleep, relationships, emotional health, and everyday life. Triggers may cause fear, panic, stress, or intense emotional reactions that seem to appear without warning. Some people feel constantly alert, while others struggle with flashbacks, nightmares, or feeling emotionally numb. EMDR is commonly used to help people work through these experiences so they feel safer, calmer, and more present in daily life.
Anxiety
For some people, anxiety feels like a mind that never fully slows down. Worry, overthinking, panic, and constant stress can become exhausting over time. In some cases, past experiences or unresolved emotional patterns may continue fueling those feelings beneath the surface. EMDR may help reduce the emotional intensity connected to those patterns, helping everyday life feel less overwhelming.
Depression
Depression can leave people feeling emotionally drained, disconnected, or stuck in negative thought patterns. Some individuals carry painful experiences, guilt, shame, or emotional wounds that continue affecting how they see themselves and the world around them. EMDR can help people work through those deeper emotional experiences while supporting healthier emotional healing over time.
Grief
Losing someone important can deeply affect emotional health. Grief may bring sadness, anger, guilt, numbness, or emotional pain that feels difficult to move through. Some people feel stuck in certain memories or emotions connected to the loss. EMDR can help create space to process those emotions in a healthy and supportive way while helping the grieving process feel less overwhelming.
Etc…
EMDR may also help with many other emotional and mental health challenges. Difficult experiences can affect people in many different ways, even when those experiences may not seem traumatic to others. At Healing Connections Counseling, we work closely with each person to better understand their story and determine whether EMDR may be a helpful part of their healing journey.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Healing Connections was exactly what I needed!
I was going through some extremely difficult experiences in my life. I wanted to work with someone EMDR-certified and would mesh well with my personality and communication style.
Chera Mann was exactly what I needed. Her approach is direct and effective while creating an atmosphere where I felt safe to share openly. I looked forward to our weekly sessions where I could feel she truly cared and felt empathy. She encouraged positive strategies and ways to help me get “unstuck” and move forward while still remembering and taking value from the life experiences that I have experienced.
I am grateful for my time at Healing Connections. Although I never had any sessions with Josh, he always acknowledged me, said hi and had a vibrant personality while talking in passing.
It was a pivotal time in my life, Chera helped direct and accelerate the positive direction I am headed in life. I will always be grateful for care I felt and the healing I experienced.
– Layton Resident
6 Signs You May Benefit From EMDR Therapy
Sometimes people carry stress, emotions, or reactions that never seem to fully go away. Even when life moves forward, certain experiences may still affect the way you think, feel, or respond to everyday situations. Here are a few common signs that EMDR therapy may be helpful.
1. You Keep Replaying Certain Experiences In Your Mind
Some experiences are hard to let go of. You may replay conversations, situations, or painful memories over and over in your mind, even when you do not want to think about them anymore. Certain moments may still feel emotionally heavy years later.
3. You Feel Drained From Carrying Stress All The Time
Living in a constant state of stress can become exhausting. Some people feel mentally tired all the time because their mind never fully slows down. Others feel physically tense, emotionally overwhelmed, or unable to fully relax even during calm moments.
5. You Feel Stuck In The Same Patterns
Some people feel like they keep carrying the same emotional weight no matter how much time passes. You may feel stuck in fear, guilt, shame, sadness, or emotional pain that continues affecting relationships, confidence, or everyday life.
2. Your Reactions Feel Bigger Than The Situation
Sometimes small situations create strong emotional reactions that feel hard to control. A certain sound, comment, place, or situation may suddenly leave you feeling anxious, angry, emotional, or overwhelmed. You may even notice your body reacting before you fully understand why.
4. Certain Memories Or Situations Are Hard To Avoid
You may notice yourself avoiding certain places, conversations, people, or situations because they bring up uncomfortable feelings or memories. Some people try pushing those thoughts away, while others stay constantly distracted to avoid sitting with difficult emotions.
6. You Want To Move Forward, But Something Still Feels Heavy
Many people reach a point where they are tired of carrying the emotional weight of the past. Even when you want to move forward, certain experiences may still feel unresolved inside. EMDR therapy may help those experiences feel less emotionally overwhelming so life feels lighter and more manageable over time.
Is EMDR Therapy Right For Everyone?
EMDR therapy can be very helpful for many people, but like any form of therapy, it may not be the right fit for every situation or every person. Everyone’s experiences, comfort levels, goals, and emotional needs are different. Some people are ready to begin processing difficult experiences right away, while others may first need support building coping skills, emotional stability, or a stronger sense of safety before starting deeper trauma work.
At Healing Connections Counseling, we take time to understand each person’s situation before deciding whether EMDR therapy may be a good fit. Therapy should never feel rushed or forced. Our goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where people feel comfortable moving at a pace that feels healthy for them.
EMDR therapy is also not only for people with major trauma or PTSD. Many individuals use EMDR to work through anxiety, stressful life experiences, grief, painful memories, negative self-beliefs, and emotional patterns that continue affecting everyday life. Every healing journey looks different, which is why treatment should be personalized to the individual instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
What You Can Expect
Our 8-phase EMDR Treatment Process
Phase 1: History Taking
In this phase, you will spend some time talking and learning a bit about how your current symptoms are based on your past life experiences. You will talk BRIEFLY about the experiences that you have had that have shaped your thought processes and body’s reactions. This is not processing- it is just getting an understanding of what specific experiences you need to target in therapy.
Phase 2: Preperation
This is the phase where you will focus on getting ready to process. You may need to learn some new coping skills and practice different ways of dealing with your emotions so that you are ready to face the root of your difficulties. This phase of treatment lasts as long as you need it to. Some people are ready to begin processing quickly. Others may need additional time to feel stable and secure enough to begin the next phases.
Phase 3: Assessment
Believe it or not, this phase of treatment is usually only a few minutes long. During this time, your therapist will help you focus directly on specific thoughts, images, and body sensations.
Phase 4: Desensitization
This phase of treatment will directly follow assessment and will be done in the same session. During this time, we’ll start a process called “bilateral stimulation.” This simply means engaging both sides of your brain to help it process the memory in a new and healthier way. Your therapist might guide you through gentle eye movements, light tapping on each side of your body, or alternating sounds to help your brain do this important work. Sometimes this phase of treatment is completed in one session; other times, you may work on the same target memory for several sessions.
Phase 5: Installation
In this phase of therapy, you will “install” a positive belief about yourself. This is more than just telling yourself an affirmation- it is ensuring that you actually believe it!
Phase 6: Body Scan
During this phase, you will scan through your body to ensure that the target memory has been resolved and that the new beliefs you have created are totally accepted by your body.
Phase 7: Closure
This portion of the process is completed any time you do any of the processing work in steps 3-6. This is the time that your therapist helps you return to the present and “put away” the memory so that you can more comfortably return to your daily activities.
Phase 8: Re-evaluation
This step is like both you and the therapist checking your work. You’ll start sessions with a short discussion about your symptoms to ensure that the processing is making the changes you want to see in your daily life. You will identify where you are in the process and make sure that the work sticks.
Our EMDR Therapy Service Area
Healing Connections Counseling proudly provides EMDR therapy services for individuals in Layton and surrounding Utah communities. Many people travel from nearby cities and areas to receive support for trauma, anxiety, PTSD, grief, and other emotional challenges that may still be affecting everyday life. We understand how important it is to find a therapist and environment where you feel safe, comfortable, and supported throughout the healing process. Our goal is to make quality mental health care accessible for people throughout our service area who are looking for compassionate and personalized support. Whether you are located in Layton or a surrounding community, our team is here to help you explore whether EMDR therapy may be a helpful part of your healing journey.
Syracuse, Utah
Clinton, Utah
Sunset, Utah
West Point, Utah
Farmington, Utah
South Weber, Utah
Riverdale, Utah
Roy, Utah
West Haven, Utah
Woods Cross, Utah
Centerville, Utah
North Salt Lake, Utah
Bountiful, Utah
Farr West, Utah
Plain City, Utah
Hooper, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
West Valley, Utah
Morgan, Utah
Brigham City, Utah
Provo, Utah
Sandy, Utah
Midvale, Utah
Our Frequently Asked Questions
Is EMDR like hypnosis?
No. Here are some of the key ways that EMDR and hypnosis are different:
– In EMDR, you remain fully awake, alert, and in control throughout the process. Hypnosis, on the other hand, often involves entering a trance-like state where your attention is more inwardly focused.
– EMDR is a structured, evidence-based therapy specifically designed to help process past experiences and reduce their emotional impact. Hypnosis is a broader tool used for a variety of purposes, including relaxation, pain management, and habit change.
– EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or sounds) to help the brain reprocess distressing memories. This technique helps integrate these memories in a way that reduces their emotional intensity. Hypnosis typically relies on suggestions and guided imagery to create change.
– Scientific Backing: EMDR is a well-researched therapy with strong evidence supporting its effectiveness. While hypnosis has therapeutic uses, it does not have the same level of scientific backing for treating trauma.
How do I know if I am a good candidate for EMDR?
You might be a good candidate for EMDR if:
You feel stuck in the past. If certain memories or experiences seem to pop up out of nowhere and make you feel anxious, upset, or overwhelmed, EMDR can help you process and move forward.
You’ve been through something hard. Whether it’s a big event like an accident or something more subtle, like years of criticism or feeling unseen, EMDR works with all kinds of experiences that may still affect you today.
You have strong emotions or reactions you can’t explain. If you feel anxious, angry, or sad and don’t always know why, EMDR can help you connect the dots and work through the root cause.
You’ve tried other things, but you’re still struggling. EMDR is different from traditional talk therapy. It focuses on helping your brain process things in a new way so you don’t just manage symptoms, you actually feel relief.
You’re ready to heal at your own pace. EMDR is gentle and can be tailored to your comfort level. It doesn’t require you to talk in detail about what happened if that feels too overwhelming.
Does EMDR have any side effects?
EMDR is generally considered safe and effective, but like any form of treatment, it can come with some potential side effects. Here’s what to keep in mind:
Temporary discomfort. Since EMDR involves working through difficult memories or emotions, you might feel a little more emotional or unsettled during or after a session. This is a normal part of the healing process as your brain processes what you’ve been holding onto.
Vivid dreams or memories. Some people notice that they have more intense dreams or that certain memories surface between sessions. This is your brain continuing to process, which can actually be a good sign that the therapy is working.
Feeling tired. EMDR can be mentally and emotionally tiring, especially after a deep session. It’s a good idea to give yourself some extra time to rest and recover.
Temporary increase in awareness of symptoms. Sometimes, before things get better, you might notice a slight increase in anxiety or other symptoms. This often means the therapy is helping your brain connect the dots and work through the root causes.
*Any new or significant increase in symptoms is not expected and should be promptly discussed with your provider to ensure that each step of the process has been thoroughly addressed.
Is EMDR covered by insurance?
Yes! Healing Connections Counseling accepts the following insurances: Select Health, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United, PEHP, Tricare, EMI, University of Utah Health Plans, and Aetna. We also have self-pay and HSA options.
What can I expect?
What if the answer to your anxiety lies in understanding your past?
EMDR (also known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a kind of therapy that focuses on finding and addressing the root of your symptoms. In the beginning, it may look similar to other kinds of talk therapy. There will be a discussion about what symptoms you have and what your goals are.
Then, your therapist will help you gain insight into how your past experiences have shaped the way that your brain and body react in the present. When you are ready, EMDR will help you to “reprocess,” which means going back to the past and rewire the way you think, feel, and react to specific themes and situations.
Here’s a quick example:
If you were a child who was scolded by your parent for making a mistake, you may have internalized the thought or feeling “I am not good enough.” As an adult, you may notice that when you make a mistake (or even think about it!) you start to get a sick feeling in your stomach, your heart begins to race, and you start to think about all of the ways that things could go wrong and how you will fix it.
In EMDR, we target that exact memory and help you find a new belief to associate with it. Do you want to actually FEEL “good enough,” even when you make a mistake? This is what EMDR aims to do. By changing your belief in the past and then connecting it to the present, it will no longer feel like you are trying to talk yourself into positive thinking.
You can learn to actually FEEL the things that you logically KNOW are true.
This method isn’t about endlessly digging around in your past- it’s about getting right to the heart of what is keeping you stuck and teaching your brain and body to react differently.
EMDR might be helpful for you if you:
– Often feel a sense of dread- like something bad is about to happen.
– Have noticed physical symptoms—like tension or restlessness—that don’t go away.
– Feel constantly on edge, like your body is stuck in overdrive.
– Want to break free from overthinking and racing thoughts.
What does EMDR help with?
EMDR has been proven to be an effective treatment for many different challenges. Here are the issues for which EMDR is used:
Trauma and PTSD:
Single-event trauma: Recovering from accidents, assaults, or natural disasters.
Complex trauma: Addressing childhood neglect, abuse, or repeated exposure to distressing events.
First responders and veterans: Coping with exposure to life-threatening situations.
Anxiety and Stress:
Generalized anxiety: Managing persistent worry and fear.
Social anxiety: Overcoming fears of judgment or rejection in social situations.
Performance anxiety: Reducing stress related to public speaking, exams, or work.
Depression:
Processing experiences or memories that may contribute to feelings of sadness, guilt, or hopelessness.
Grief and Loss:
Helping individuals navigate and process the pain of losing a loved one.
Phobias:
Reducing the intensity of fears, such as flying, heights, or animals.
Chronic Pain and Illness:
Addressing the emotional toll of living with chronic pain or medical conditions.
Exploring connections between physical symptoms and unresolved emotional issues.
Addictions:
Uncovering and processing the root causes of addictive behaviors.
Building resilience against triggers that lead to substance use or other compulsive actions.
Relationship Issues:
Healing from the impact of betrayal, infidelity, or other relationship traumas.
Addressing attachment wounds that affect current relationships.
Self-esteem and Personal Growth:
Resolving negative beliefs about oneself that stem from past experiences.
Building confidence and a healthier self-image.
Contact Us Today For Professional EMDR Therapy
You don’t have to stay stuck in survival mode; healing is possible, and our team is here to help. Taking that first step can feel difficult, but you are not alone. Contact us today to get the professional help you deserve.