The approach
EMDR works on how the experience is stored, not just how you talk about it.
What EMDR actually is
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing experiences so they lose their grip. Rather than requiring you to re-tell every detail, it works with the way memory is held in the nervous system, which is why many high-functioning people find it reaches what talk therapy alone couldn’t.
EMDR is recommended for post-traumatic stress by the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association, and a growing body of research on intensive and massed formats reports significant reduction in trauma symptoms. It is a structured method with decades of study behind it, not a trend. (APA on EMDR)
People come to EMDR for trauma and PTSD, but also for the quieter things that talk therapy can stall on: imposter syndrome, toxic shame, high-functioning anxiety, perfectionism, and burnout.
Specialized protocols
Within EMDR, Stephanie works with focused protocols matched to what you are carrying:
- R-TEP (Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol). An EMDR approach for a recent event that is still raw.
- The Evicting Toxic Shame protocol. An advanced EMDR approach developed by Phoebe Bergvall, LCMHC, for the kind of toxic shame that has settled in as part of identity, often rooted in early experiences. It expands the reprocessing phase of EMDR to work directly with the felt sense of shame, which is often what sits underneath imposter syndrome and a relentless inner critic.
Why an intensive format
An EMDR intensive concentrates work that’s often spread across months of weekly sessions into focused days. Momentum builds across hours instead of dissolving between appointments, which suits people whose schedules don’t allow consistent weekly slots, and who’d rather do deep work in a contained window.
The arc of working together
- 1. Clarity Call. A free, confidential 20 minutes to see if this is the right fit.
- 2. Assessment & roadmap.A focused session to map what we’ll target and build regulation skills.
- 3. The work. Weekly sessions, a private intensive, or concierge care, whatever fits your situation.
- 4. Integration. We consolidate the work and plan what supports you going forward.
Common questions about EMDR
- Does EMDR require me to talk through everything in detail?
- No, and that's part of why people choose it. EMDR works on how a memory is stored rather than requiring you to narrate every detail repeatedly. You stay in control of how much you share aloud.
- Do you work with shame and imposter syndrome specifically?
- Yes. Stephanie is trained in the Evicting Toxic Shame protocol, an advanced EMDR approach developed by Phoebe Bergvall, LCMHC, for shame that has become part of how someone sees themselves. It is often a fit for high achievers whose inner critic or imposter feelings have not shifted with talk therapy alone.
- Is EMDR evidence-based?
- EMDR is one of the most studied therapies for trauma and PTSD and is recognized by major health bodies. As with any therapy, results vary by person, and we'll set realistic expectations together.
Start with a confidential conversation.
A free 20-minute Clarity Call, no records, no pressure. We'll see if this is the right fit and which path makes sense.