EMDR Therapy in Edmond and Oklahoma City
Process the Past Without Staying Stuck in It
Sometimes you understand exactly why you feel the way you do, but understanding has not changed the reaction.
You know the relationship is safe, but conflict still makes you panic. You know something was not your fault, but you still feel ashamed. You know an experience happened years ago, but certain situations can make it feel surprisingly close.
EMDR therapy can help you work through experiences that continue affecting how you feel, think, respond, and connect with other people.
At Pride in Self Counseling, I provide EMDR therapy for adults in Edmond, Oklahoma City, and throughout Oklahoma through telehealth.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is an evidence based psychotherapy approach that is widely used in the treatment of trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
EMDR helps us work with experiences that continue to create distress in the present.
During EMDR, we identify memories, emotions, beliefs, and physical sensations connected to what you are experiencing. We then use bilateral stimulation, which may include guided eye movements or alternating stimulation, while you notice what comes up.
You do not have to force yourself to think differently.
Instead, we create an opportunity for the experience to be processed differently.
What Can EMDR Help With?
I may incorporate EMDR when working with concerns such as:
Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Religious trauma
Sexual trauma and difficult sexual experiences
Anxiety and fear
Shame
Relationship and attachment wounds
Rejection and experiences of discrimination
Negative beliefs about yourself
Grief and loss
Experiences that continue to trigger strong emotional reactions
EMDR can be particularly helpful when you understand something intellectually but continue to feel it emotionally.
What Does EMDR Feel Like?
EMDR is different from simply talking about what happened.
During processing, I will periodically ask you what you notice. Thoughts, emotions, memories, images, or physical sensations may come up.
Sometimes the connection is obvious.
Sometimes your mind goes somewhere you did not expect.
You may notice that an emotion becomes stronger and then begins to settle. You may remember something you have not thought about in years. You might recognize a connection between past and present experiences that you had never noticed before.
There is no correct way to experience EMDR.
You remain awake, aware, and in control throughout the process.
Do I Have to Tell You Everything That Happened?
No.
You can share as much or as little detail as you feel comfortable sharing.
EMDR does not require you to verbally describe every detail of a traumatic or painful experience for us to work with the emotions, beliefs, and physical responses connected to it.
This can be particularly helpful when an experience is difficult to talk about, when you feel shame around what happened, or when you simply do not have the words to fully explain it.
EMDR for LGBTQIA+ Adults
Trauma does not always come from one obvious event.
Repeated rejection, discrimination, bullying, hiding parts of yourself, family conflict, religious experiences, and messages that taught you to feel ashamed of your sexuality or identity can continue affecting the way you see yourself and relate to other people.
You may intellectually reject those messages while still feeling their effects.
EMDR can help us address the experiences and beliefs underneath those reactions rather than simply telling yourself that you should not feel that way anymore.
EMDR for Autistic and Neurodivergent Adults
Autistic and neurodivergent people can participate in EMDR, but therapy should be adapted to the individual.
You may need additional time to process questions. You may experience emotions primarily through physical sensations. You may dislike traditional rating scales or have difficulty assigning a number to emotional distress. Sensory preferences can also influence which type of bilateral stimulation feels comfortable.
Those differences do not mean you are doing EMDR incorrectly.
Therapy should adapt to you.
EMDR and Sexual Trauma
Sexual trauma can affect much more than memories of what happened.
It can influence intimacy, trust, desire, arousal, communication, body image, boundaries, and your ability to feel present during sexual experiences.
Sexual trauma also does not have to involve physical violence. Coercion, pressure, unwanted experiences, violations of boundaries, shame, and situations where you did not feel able to freely say no can continue affecting sexuality and relationships.
My background in both trauma and sexual health allows us to address these concerns together rather than treating them as completely separate issues.
How Effective Is EMDR?
EMDR has been extensively researched as a treatment for trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and is recognized as an evidence based treatment for PTSD.
That does not mean EMDR works exactly the same way for everyone.
Some people experience meaningful changes relatively quickly. Others need more time, particularly when we are addressing repeated experiences, longstanding beliefs, relationship wounds, or multiple sources of trauma.
The goal is not to erase what happened.
The goal is to help the experience have less control over what happens now.
EMDR Therapy That Fits the Person
I do not believe every client needs the same treatment.
EMDR may be an important part of our work, but it does not have to be the only thing we do in therapy.
Sometimes we process.
Sometimes we talk.
Sometimes we work on practical skills or relationships.
Sometimes we decide another approach makes more sense.
The treatment should fit the person rather than expecting the person to fit the treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR
Is EMDR only for PTSD?
No. EMDR is best known for treating PTSD, but clinicians may also incorporate it when working with other concerns connected to distressing experiences, anxiety, shame, grief, relationships, and negative beliefs.
Will EMDR make me relive my trauma?
EMDR involves bringing aspects of an experience to mind, but the goal is not to force you to relive every detail. You remain in the present and in control throughout the process.
Is EMDR hypnosis?
No. You remain awake and aware during EMDR.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
There is no universal number. Treatment length depends on what we are addressing, your history, your goals, and how you respond to the process.
Can I stop during EMDR?
Yes. You can slow down, take a break, talk, or stop the process at any time.
EMDR Therapy in Edmond, Oklahoma
I am Michael LeFever, MSW, LCSW, and I provide EMDR and trauma therapy through Pride in Self Counseling in Edmond, Oklahoma.
I work with adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, shame, religious trauma, sexual concerns, relationship difficulties, and patterns from the past that continue interfering with the present. I specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ and autistic or neurodivergent adults.
If you understand why you are stuck but are ready to start changing the way those experiences affect your life, EMDR may be one option we explore together.
Your past is part of your story.
It does not have to keep controlling what happens next.