EMDR Therapy in Broomfield, CO and Online Across Colorado
If you’ve ever searched “EMDR therapy near me” in a moment of quiet desperation, it may have been after something from the past resurfaced again – unexpectedly, relentlessly – like your body never got the message that it was over.
A reminder, a sound, a tone of voice, and suddenly you’re not in the present anymore…
You’re back there. And no matter how much time has passed, your nervous system reacts as if it’s happening now. You function on the outside, but inside there’s a lingering belief you can’t quite shake: “I’m beyond repair.”
Maybe it was an accident. Or an assault. Or something you witnessed that you can’t unsee.
Or maybe it was a loss: someone who mattered so much that the world has never quite felt the same since.
Or the kind of rupture that doesn’t always get named as “trauma,” like your parents splitting up and suddenly the place you called home feeling unfamiliar.
Whatever it was, it didn’t just happen then… it’s still happening now, inside you.
You’ve tried to move on.
You’ve told yourself you should be over it by now.
But it keeps showing up anyway.
In flashes. In body memories. In those moments when everything is quiet and suddenly it’s loud again. And the exhausting part isn’t just what happened – it’s how much energy it takes to keep it pushed down.
Because the harder you try to contain it, the more it leaks out when you least expect it.
You might have been given a diagnosis like PTSD. Or maybe you weren’t – maybe you were told you’re “fine” or “functioning,” even though your internal experience tells a very different story.
So, you minimize it. You compare. You think, “Other people have been through worse… I shouldn’t still be affected by this.”
And still… you are.
Maybe you’re even keeping it hidden, showing up in your life as if everything is okay while something inside you feels constantly on alert.
And underneath it all is a question you don’t say out loud very often:
“Why can everyone else seem to move on… and I can’t?”
“What’s wrong with me?”
How Can EMDR Therapy in Broomfield, CO Help Me?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that uses guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help the brain process and heal from trauma.
It was developed in 1987 and is recognized by the World Health Organization as a recommended treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research shows it can be a fast and effective way to reduce symptoms connected to traumatic experiences, and the results often last over time.
EMDR has also been shown to help with complex PTSD, phobias, grief, anxiety, and depression. Many people notice a shift in their symptoms after just a few sessions, often feeling some relief sooner than they expected.
How Is EMDR Therapy Different?
Unlike many other trauma therapies, EMDR doesn’t require you to go into detailed storytelling about what happened. You won’t be asked to retell the full event, and there’s no need for long exposure exercises or therapy homework between sessions.
Instead, you’ll start by sharing a general history of what you’ve been through, without having to go into every detail. When processing, you’ll be guided to gently focus on a specific difficult memory while engaging in simple side-to-side eye movements, tapping, or another form of bilateral stimulation. You stay within your comfort level, and your therapist helps pace the session, so it feels safe and manageable.
As the memory becomes less distressing, the work shifts toward helping your mind form a more supportive, grounded perspective about yourself and what happened. For example, instead of feeling stuck in helplessness, you may begin to feel a sense of strength, stability, or control when you think back on the experience.
Check out this video if you would like to see an example of an EMDR session.
It is never too late to be what you might have been.
- Mary Ann Evans
How Does EMDR Therapy Heal?
EMDR helps your brain process painful memories so they feel less overwhelming over time. In a session, you remember a difficult event while doing simple actions like eye movements, tapping, or listening to sounds.
Bilateral Stimulation and Memory Processing
The eye movements or tapping help both sides of your brain work together. This supports your brain’s natural way of sorting memories. The memory stays, but it starts to feel less intense and less upsetting. The bilateral stimulation also taxes your working memory, making the processing less distressing in the moment.
Calming the Alarm System
The amygdala is the part of the brain that sounds the alarm when you feel unsafe. During EMDR, this part of the brain becomes less reactive. Your brain learns that the memory is not happening right now, so the fear response starts to quiet down.
Storing the Memory in the Past
The hippocampus helps your brain know when something happened. EMDR helps it place the memory where it belongs: in the past. This makes it less likely to feel like the trauma is happening all over again in the present.
Strengthening Clear Thinking
As the memory becomes less overwhelming, the thinking part of your brain gets stronger. This helps you stay calmer, think more clearly, and respond instead of react when something reminds you of the past.
If you want more details on how EMDR works, check out this blog on the science behind EMDR therapy.
“I’ve tried EMDR before and nothing really changed.”
This is one of the most common reasons people hesitate to try again.
You did the sessions. You followed the process. You talked about what happened.
And yet… your day-to-day emotional experience stayed mostly the same.
That can feel discouraging, especially when you were hoping for real relief, not just understanding.
But EMDR isn’t just about going through the protocol. It’s about whether your system actually feels safe enough, supported enough, and paced in a way that allows the processing to fully integrate.
When that piece isn’t there, people often leave therapy feeling like they “did it right”… but didn’t feel much different afterward.
Especially if you’re neurodivergent or highly sensitive
If your nervous system processes things deeply, quickly, or non-linearly, “standard pacing” EMDR can sometimes miss the mark.
You might:
understand everything cognitively
even feel shifts in session
but not notice lasting change in your day-to-day life
Not because EMDR doesn’t work for you, but because your system may need a different rhythm, more relational safety, and more attuned pacing for change to hold.
This is where attachment-focused EMDR matters
In my work, we don’t measure success by whether you “got through” the protocol.
We look at whether your system is actually shifting, internally and in your lived experience.
That means we slow down when needed, track what’s happening between us in real time, and pay attention to what your nervous system is doing, not just what we’re “supposed” to be doing next.
Because for many people, lasting change doesn’t come from doing more EMDR.
It comes from doing it in a way where your system can finally receive it.
If EMDR didn’t change anything for you before…
That experience is important information – not a final verdict.
It may simply mean the process didn’t yet match the way your nervous system needed to be met.
I am so proud of the warrior I’ve created from the ashes that were meant to bury me.
-Najwa Zebian
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR Therapy in Broomfield, CO
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The length of EMDR therapy varies depending on your history and the complexity of your experiences. Single-event trauma may resolve relatively quickly, while complex or developmental trauma often requires more time and integration. There is no fixed timeline. We regularly check in on progress together so you always have a clear sense of where you are in the process.
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You will have to recall traumatic incidents, but not in detail. You won’t have to provide detailed descriptions or explanations – you will simply be asked to identify your sensations and emotions as you process the event. Images and thoughts will come up, but eye movements can quickly turn the emotional intensity down. Your painful memories will be processed and will no longer cause you turmoil and terror. While you will still be able to recall them, they will no longer hold power over you.
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Before processing begins, we build strong grounding and safety skills so you feel supported throughout EMDR. If things start to feel too intense, we pause and use calming techniques to help bring your nervous system back into a manageable place.
You are always in control of the pace. You can signal to stop at any time, and we will adjust or slow down as needed. The work is never about pushing through overwhelm.
At the end of each session, we use a “container” exercise to help your brain set the material aside so you can return to your daily life feeling more settled and regulated.
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EMDR is highly effective for many people, but it is not the right fit for everyone. If it isn’t a good match for you, we typically notice early on through how your nervous system responds and how the process feels for you.
If EMDR doesn’t feel supportive, we will not continue with it. Instead, we’ll talk together about what you’re experiencing and explore other evidence-based approaches that may be a better fit for your needs. Trauma therapy is not one-size-fits-all, and there are many effective ways to support healing.
It’s also important to know that the pace of any trauma work varies. Single-event trauma often resolves more quickly, while complex or long-term trauma usually takes more time and integration.
The goal is always to find an approach that helps you feel safer, more regulated, and supported in your healing process.
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EMDR does not require a perfect or complete memory of what happened. Many people only have fragments, sensations, or emotional impressions of past experiences, and that is enough to begin. The therapy works with whatever your brain has stored, not with a detailed narrative. Healing can happen even when memory is unclear or incomplete.
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EMDR does not change who you are. Instead, it helps reduce the emotional charge connected to past experiences so you can respond to life from the present rather than from old survival patterns. Many people describe feeling more like themselves after EMDR, not less. The goal is not to erase parts of you, but to free you from carrying emotional pain that does not belong in your present life.
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Numbness or disconnection is a common protective response to trauma, and it is something we can work with in EMDR. You do not need to feel intense emotion for the therapy to be effective. Even subtle awareness, body sensations, or fleeting thoughts can be enough to begin processing. We can also slow the work down or shift focus if your system is shutting down.
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Yes, EMDR can be adapted for people with a wide range of experiences, including autism, ADHD, and mood disorders. The pacing and preparation phase are especially important in these cases. We focus on stabilization first and tailor the approach to your nervous system so the process feels grounded and supportive rather than overwhelming.
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Yes. EMDR can be done effectively through virtual therapy. I use a secure online platform designed specifically for EMDR that allows us to use eye movements and bilateral stimulation through visual tools and audio tones, just like we would in person.
Many clients find virtual EMDR especially comforting because they are able to process difficult memories from the safety and familiarity of their own home. Being in your own space can help you feel more relaxed and grounded during sessions.
Virtual therapy also means you do not have to drive home after processing emotional material. Instead, you can stay in the comfort of your environment, giving yourself space to rest, reflect, and integrate after the session.
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The first step is to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit. You can ask me any questions you have and decide if this is the right step forward for you.