EMDR Therapy: What It Actually Is and Why It Might Matter for You
Are you carrying something heavy? Maybe it's trauma that won't let go, anxiety that keeps you up at night, or pain that shows up as shutdown, self-harm, or numbness. You've tried to cope, but the "tools in your toolkit" you have feel out of reach. You recently saw online on TikTok and Instagram individuals mentioning EMDR, and are now wondering if its real or just another fad.
I get it. You need something that actually helps. And yes, EMDR is real and can help you with what you are going through.
About Me
I'm Denise Takakjy, a Licensed Professional Counselor who's been doing this work for over 14 years. I'm certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and EMDRIA certified for EMDR. I specialize in trauma-informed care for teens and young adults navigating deep systemic harm, grief, anxiety, shutdown, self-harm, and the survival responses that come when the world feels unsafe.
My work is movement-aligned, anti-oppressive, and justice-rooted. This isn't about fixing you. It's about reclaiming dignity, connection, and possibility. I offer tools, truth-telling, and support for building a life worth living. I work virtually with clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
What EMDR Actually Treats
Initially, EMDR started as a treatment for PTSD, but it goes much deeper than that. It's for anyone whose brain is stuck replaying pain.
An example of this is Jordan (name and details changed for privacy), who came to me after years of anxiety that felt like it was running their life. They couldn't sleep, couldn't focus, couldn't stop the loop of worst-case scenarios. Talk therapy helped a little, but the anxiety always crept back. When we began virtual EMDR sessions, we discovered it wasn't just about stress. It was rooted in early experiences of feeling unsafe, of not being protected when they needed it most. EMDR helped Jordan's brain finally process those memories so they stopped controlling the present.
This is the work I do with young adults dealing with trauma and PTSD, whether it's one event that broke something open or ongoing harm that's shaped how you see yourself. EMDR helps when anxiety feels relentless, when depression has roots in things that happened to you, when self-harm or suicidal thoughts are how you cope with unbearable feelings.
EMDR also helps for grief that won't move, phobias that limit what you can do, shame that tells you you're not enough, and much more. It assist with the emotional dysregulation that makes relationships feel impossible and everyday stress feel like too much.
If you're navigating systemic oppression and a young adult trying to survive in a world that is ever changing and wasn't built for your safety, EMDR can be part of how you heal without having to perform your trauma for anyone.
Is EMDR Safe?
Yes. Let me be clear about what that means.
EMDR is well-researched and recognized by major mental health organizations. It's not experimental. The safety aspect is not about whether a therapy works. It's about whether you feel held through the process.
Here's what makes EMDR safe in my practice: You're in control. You can pause, stop, or slow down whenever you need to. You don't have to describe your trauma in graphic detail or relive it. EMDR works by helping your brain reprocess what's stuck without forcing you to perform your pain.
I work with you to build coping skills first, before we touch the deep trauma. Your nervous system needs to feel regulated enough to do this work. That's why I combine EMDR with DBT skills. You learn how to ground yourself, how to manage intense emotions, how to stay present in your body. Then we do the processing.
EMDR can bring up intense feelings. That's normal. That's actually part of how healing happens. But you're not doing it alone, and you're not doing it before you're ready.
What Is Bilateral Stimulation?
This is the part that sounds weird until you understand it or research it. In a nutshell, bilateral stimulation is what makes EMDR work. It's activates both sides of your brain in a rhythmic pattern while you focus on a memory or a negative belief about yourself.
There are a few ways we do this. Eye movements are the most common. I'll guide your eyes to follow my hand or a light moving back and forth. It mimics what happens during REM sleep, when your brain naturally processes the day's events. Other options include tapping on your knees or shoulders, or using handheld buzzers that vibrate back and forth between your hands. Some therapists use headphones with sounds that alternate between your left and right ear.
Here's what's happening: traumatic memories get stuck in your brain in a way that keeps you in fight, flight, or freeze mode. They don't get filed away like normal memories. They stay active, triggering you in the present even when the danger is long gone. Bilateral stimulation helps your brain finally digest these memories. It's "unsticking them" so your brain can process them properly and put them where they belong: in the past.
The memory is not erased, but instead, your relatioship to it changes. It becomes something that happened to you, not something that's still happening and affecting your daily life.
How You'll Feel After EMDR
After a session, many clients say they feel tired. Processing trauma takes energy. Some people feel lighter, as if something has shifted. Others feel raw or emotional for a day or two as their brain keeps working through the emotions that came up. You might feel a little brain fog and need time to ground yourself before you get back to your day.
As you continue with EMDR, things change and progress. Triggers that used to send you spiraling start to lose their grip, you notice you're less reactive, and the things that used to set you off just don't hit the same way anymore. Those negative beliefs you held about yourself? They begin to shift. That voice that says your not good enough? It begins to quiet down .You begin to feel more present in your body and less trapped in your head.
Long-term, people tell me they feel like they've finally moved past something that held them back for years. The memories are still there, but they don't define you anymore. You have more energy for building the life you actually want instead of just surviving.
What to Expect During Your Healing Journey
EMDR isn't a quick fix, but a lot of people see shifts faster than with talk therapy alone. We start with history and preparation. This is where we talk about what brought you here and what we're going to target. I teach you grounding skills, coping strategies, ways to regulate your nervous system. This usually takes one to three sessions, sometimes more if you need it.
Then we move into processing. This is where we use bilateral stimulation to work through the memories or beliefs that are keeping you stuck. Some people see significant changes in just a few sessions. Others need more time, especially if the trauma is complex or layered. There's no timeline that works for everyone, and that's okay.
We check in regularly to see how you're doing and adjust as we go. The goal is always the same: to help you feel safe in your own body, to build a life rooted in dignity and connection, to reclaim what trauma tried to take from you.
Are You Ready to Start EMDR?
If you're a teen or young adult in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, or self-harm, you don't have to carry this weight alone. EMDR might be the piece that's been missing. I can help you virtually overcome this through our therapy.
I offer virtual EMDR therapy, DBT skills groups, and EMDR Intensives for those ready to commit to deeper healing work. I also work with parents navigating their own trauma while trying to show up for their kids.
Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation where we will talk about what you're going through and whether this work is right for you. You deserve a life rooted in dignity, connection, and possibility.
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**About Healing Hearts Healthy Minds**
Denise Takakjy, MS, LPC-PA, LPC-NJ, LPMHC, C-DBT is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 14 years of experience specializing in trauma-informed care for teens, young adults, and parents. EMDRIA certified in EMDR and certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Denise provides movement-aligned, anti-oppressive therapy that centers healing, justice, and building a life worth living. Virtual sessions available for clients in PA, NJ, and DE.
Contact: (484) 302-7298 | www.healingheartshealhyminds.com