Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for trauma and PTSD.
Three EMDR-trained therapists · In-person and virtual · No referral needed
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is one of the most widely used and well-researched therapies for trauma and PTSD, developed in the late 1980s and now used by clinicians around the world. The idea behind it is that some memories do not get processed properly at the time. Instead of settling into the past, they stay raw, so a sound, a smell, or a passing thought can bring back the same fear, tension, or helplessness you felt then. EMDR uses guided eye movements while you hold that memory in mind, which appears to help the brain finish processing it. The memory remains, but it stops carrying the same charge.
EMDR was developed for trauma and PTSD, and that remains its main use. Our therapists use it with children, teens and adults for:
– Post-traumatic stress and PTSD –
– Motor vehicle, workplace and industrial accidents –
– The 2016 wildfire, the evacuation and its aftermath –
– Sudden or traumatic loss –
– Physical, emotional or sexual violence –
– Medical trauma and difficult births –
– Childhood experiences that still affect adult life –
– Specific fears and phobias –
– Distressing memories that intrude on daily life –
You do not need a PTSD diagnosis to benefit from EMDR, and you do not need a referral to book.
EMDR follows a structured, phased protocol. It does not begin with the hardest memory, and your therapist will not rush you there.
The work shifts toward strengthening a more accurate, helpful belief about yourself in relation to the memory.
Every session ends with you settled and grounded, never mid-processing. At the next session, your therapist reviews what has shifted before moving on.
People often expect something dramatic. In practice, an EMDR session is quiet. You sit in a chair, your therapist sits opposite, and you follow their hand, a light bar, or another cue with your eyes while you think about the memory. Sometimes tapping or sounds are used instead of eye movements.
You stay awake, aware and in control throughout. EMDR is not hypnosis, and you can stop at any point. Between sets, your therapist will ask what you noticed, and you share as much or as little as you want.
Some people feel tired or emotionally tender after a session, which usually settles within a day or two. Your therapist will make sure you leave grounded and have strategies to use in between.
Stillwater offers both EMDR and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). Both use guided eye movements, and both treat trauma, but they work differently. EMDR has the larger research base and is the more widely known of the two. It follows a phased protocol with significant preparation before memory work begins, and typically unfolds over a series of sessions ART follows a tighter, more directive protocol, works with images and sensations rather than discussion, and is designed to be brief. Some people prefer that it doesn’t require describing the memory out loud. You don’t need to decide before you book. Your therapist will talk through which approach suits your history, your comfort level and your goals, and some clients use both at different stages.
Learn about ART → · See all trauma & PTSD therapy →
Appointments are available seven days a week, between 8 AM and 8 PM, depending on each therapist’s schedule. Sessions can be in person at our Fort McMurray office or virtual. EMDR can be delivered effectively online, which means you can continue treatment through a rotation or from out of town. Your therapist will discuss whether virtual sessions suit your situation.
Stillwater Therapy
#306, 108 Riverstone Ridge
Fort McMurray, AB T9K 1S6
We are on the third floor, above Gym Nation.
Free underground parking is available, and an elevator takes you right to our floor.
Many extended health benefit plans cover counselling and psychological services. We bill your insurance directly when your plan allows.
Coverage depends on your plan and your therapist’s credentials, so check your benefits before your first appointment.
If cost is a barrier, our group therapy sessions are a lower-cost option that many people find valuable alongside or instead of one-on-one work.
EMDR is one of the most extensively studied trauma therapies and is recommended in clinical guidelines internationally. As with any therapy, results vary from person to person, and your therapist will review progress with you as you go.
It depends on your history and goals. EMDR includes a preparation phase before memory work begins, so it’s usually a course of sessions rather than a one-off. Your therapist will give you a clearer sense after the first few.
Less than people expect. EMDR involves holding the memory in mind rather than narrating it. You share what you notice between sets, and you choose how much to say.
No. You remain fully awake, aware and in control throughout, and you can stop at any time.
Yes, we can deliver EMDR online, and we offer virtual sessions. Your therapist will discuss whether that’s a good fit for you.
Yes. Our therapists work with children, teens and adults, adapting the approach to the client’s age and stage.
Both use guided eye movements. EMDR is better known, has a larger research base, and follows a phased protocol. ART uses a tighter protocol and is designed to be brief. We offer both. See the comparison above.
