Trauma and EMDR Therapy
Trauma Informed Therapy that helps you process trauma, release pain, and reconnect with yourself.
Sometimes the past doesn’t feel like the past. It shows up in your body, your sleep, your energy, and the way you respond to people. You might struggle with anxiety from trauma, carry tension that doesn’t go away, or feel stuck in patterns that don’t make sense. Even when things appear calm on the outside, something deeper may still be unresolved.
At Driftwood Psychotherapy, we offer EMDR in Barrie to help people gently work through the impact of difficult experiences. EMDR treatment supports both emotional and physical healing by helping the brain reprocess what it couldn’t at the time. This approach allows you to move forward without carrying the weight of the past.
What is EMDR, and How Can It Help Relieve Trauma?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a structured approach that helps people process difficult memories that may be stuck in the nervous system. These memories can continue to affect how you feel, think, and respond to life. EMDR works by helping the brain reprocess those experiences so they no longer carry the same emotional weight.
This isn’t about retelling painful stories. Instead, EMDR helps you safely connect with what’s unresolved so your brain and body can release it. It’s a powerful trauma healing therapy used in treatment for PTSD, anxiety, and other trauma-related conditions. Many people feel more balanced and clear, both mentally and physically, as they move through trauma recovery.
How Trauma Can Show Up in Your Life
Unprocessed trauma can affect many areas of life. The signs aren’t always obvious, but they often show up in ways that feel confusing or overwhelming. You might notice:
Difficulty focusing or ongoing mental confusion
Using substances to cope or feel in control
Changes in behaviour that don’t feel like you
A sense of being stuck, as if nothing is really helping
Feeling like you’re always in survival mode
Constant feelings of fear, guilt, or helplessness
Trouble sleeping or restless nights
Sudden mood swings or emotional ups and downs
Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected from yourself
Unexplained chronic pain or other physical symptoms
When these patterns continue, they can lead to low energy, emotional exhaustion, and a cycle of coping that never truly brings relief.
What Working Together Looks Like
In the first session, we’ll understand how trauma has shaped your experiences. We start with grounding tools to help you feel steady. Then, when you’re ready, we begin to process trauma using EMDR. You won’t need to relive every detail—just what feels necessary to help your system let go.
You set the pace. Some people want more support between sessions, others prefer to move directly into trauma focused therapy. We will collaborate and ensure the process supports your goals and your nervous system.
Your sessions are guided by a trauma-informed therapist who understands the complex ways trauma can affect both mind and body.
What Healing from Trauma Really Feels Like
Healing means no longer reacting to life as if the past is still happening. Many people notice:
More restful sleep
Less tension and discomfort in the body
Fewer emotional triggers and more control in stressful situations
Improved ability to focus and make clear decisions
A stronger sense of self and emotional stability
Through healing emotional pain, you may start to feel lighter and more grounded in your day-to-day life. Whether through EMDR or a combination of trauma resolution therapy and body trauma therapy, you can reconnect with the parts of yourself that once felt distant or overwhelmed.
Start EMDR and Trauma Therapy in Barrie
If you are an adult dealing with the effects of trauma, support is available. You don’t have to keep carrying it alone. Driftwood Psychotherapy offers EMDR and trauma therapy in Barrie, available both in-person and virtually.
FAQs About EMDR and Trauma Therapy
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer cause the same emotional or physiological reactions. It’s often used in the treatment for PTSD and other trauma-related issues. EMDR has many applications. If there’s a brain and body connection, EMDR can be effective.
What does trauma really mean?
Trauma is any experience that felt too much to handle at the time. It’s not just what happened, but how it continues to affect you.
How long does therapy take?
We begin with a history and build tools for stability. Processing starts when you’re ready. Sessions are paced to fit what feels right for you.
