EMDR Therapy with Catherine Kim, LMHC

What is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach used to help people process distressing or traumatic experiences. It was originally developed for PTSD, including treatment with combat veterans, and is now widely used for a range of trauma-related and emotionally distressing experiences. EMDR therapy helps reduce the emotional intensity of past experiences so they feel more integrated and less triggering in daily life.

Types of Experiences EMDR May Help With

In trauma therapy, clinicians often describe experiences along a spectrum. These are not formal diagnostic categories, but they are commonly used to understand emotional impact.

• “Big T” trauma: events such as abuse, violence, serious accidents, or sudden loss

• “Small t” trauma: experiences such as chronic criticism, emotional neglect, bullying, rejection, or relational wounds

Both types of experiences can affect how a person thinks, feels, and relates to others. EMDR therapy may help process these experiences in a structured and supported way.

EMDR Therapy with Catherine

I provide EMDR therapy in person in New York and via telehealth for clients in New Jersey and Connecticut. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people process traumatic or distressing experiences. Sessions are tailored to each individual and paced according to your comfort and readiness, with a focus on emotional safety and stabilization throughout the process.

How EMDR Works

When a distressing experience is not fully processed, the memory can remain “stuck,” leading to emotional triggers, physical reactions, or negative beliefs in the present. EMDR therapy helps the brain reprocess these memories so they feel less overwhelming and more integrated. While research is ongoing regarding the exact mechanisms, EMDR involves structured attention to memories combined with bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones.

What Happens in an EMDR Session (In a Nutshell)?

1. Target Identification

We identify the memory, experience, or pattern we will focus on, along with related thoughts, emotions, body sensations, and beliefs. You remain in control throughout the process, and we move at a pace that feels manageable.

2. Bilateral Stimulation

We use bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or tones) while briefly focusing on aspects of the memory.This process is designed to support the brain’s natural capacity to reprocess distressing experiences.

3. Processing and Check-ins

We pause regularly to check in on your experience and notice any changes in thoughts, emotions, or body sensations.You are supported throughout the process and are not expected to manage overwhelming material alone.

Who Can Benefit from EMDR?

EMDR therapy may be helpful for individuals experiencing:

• Trauma or PTSD symptoms

• Anxiety linked to past experiences

• Childhood emotional neglect or attachment wounds

• Relationship distress or repeated relational patterns

• Grief or loss

• Persistent emotional triggers or overwhelm

EMDR is also sometimes used for individuals navigating identity-related stress, including cultural and relational experiences that feel emotionally charged or unresolved.

Is EMDR Right for You?

If you are wondering whether EMDR therapy may be appropriate for your situation, we can discuss your goals and determine whether this approach is a good fit. You do not need to have a single defining traumatic event for EMDR to be helpful—ongoing or relational experiences can also be addressed.