EMDR Therapy: Moving Forward When You Feel Stuck
Sometimes in therapy, clients feel like they’ve hit a wall. You may have made progress in understanding your patterns, learned new coping strategies, and talked through your history, yet certain symptoms or emotional reactions remain. Feeling “stalled” in treatment can be discouraging, especially when you’ve been doing the work. This is where Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can provide the breakthrough you need.
Many people associate EMDR only with “Big T” trauma—events like combat, assault, or serious accidents. But EMDR is much more versatile. It can also help with the “small t” traumas that are less obvious but equally powerful in shaping how we think, feel, and behave. At Heights Family Counseling, we offer EMDR therapy for children, teens, and adults, because we know that healing looks different at every age and stage of life.
What Is EMDR?
EMDR is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain process distressing memories so they no longer feel overwhelming. Instead of relying only on talking through experiences, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, sounds, or tapping—to activate both sides of the brain while recalling memories. This allows the brain to reprocess how the memory is stored, reducing the emotional charge and making room for healthier beliefs and responses.
Beyond “Big T” Trauma
When people think of trauma, they often picture catastrophic events. While EMDR is highly effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), its benefits extend much further. Trauma is not defined solely by the event—it’s defined by how the nervous system experiences and holds onto it.
Big T Trauma: These are the events that most clearly meet the definition of trauma—serious accidents, physical or sexual violence, natural disasters, or life-threatening experiences.
Small t Trauma: These are the experiences that might not seem traumatic on the surface but can deeply impact us over time. Examples include repeated criticism in childhood, academic or athletic failures, bullying, ongoing family conflict, or the emotional wounds of being ignored or excluded.
Small t traumas accumulate, and the brain sometimes stores them in the same “stuck” way as Big T traumas. That’s why EMDR can be so powerful for clients who feel blocked: it helps shift those stuck experiences and makes space for new, adaptive beliefs.
Why EMDR Helps When Therapy Feels Stalled
Traditional talk therapy builds insight, coping skills, and awareness. But for some, insight alone doesn’t stop the body’s reactions—panic, irritability, shame, or the “frozen” feeling that lingers. EMDR goes beyond insight by targeting how the memory is stored in the nervous system. This can unlock progress when traditional methods feel like they’ve plateaued.
Clients often report:
Reduced intensity of triggers and emotional reactivity.
Relief from anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or self-critical beliefs.
Increased confidence and ability to respond instead of react.
A sense of forward momentum in therapy after feeling “stuck.”
EMDR for Kids, Teens, and Adults
Healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. At Heights Family Counseling, our trained EMDR clinicians work with clients across the lifespan.
For Children: EMDR can help with fears, nightmares, separation anxiety, or the impact of bullying. Sessions often integrate play and age-appropriate strategies.
For Teens: Adolescence is full of transitions and identity development. EMDR can address academic pressures, relationship challenges, and the emotional fallout from difficult experiences.
For Adults: EMDR supports clients working through both recent stressors and long-held patterns. It can help address trauma, burnout, anxiety, and blocks in personal or professional growth.
Taking the Next Step
If you’ve been working hard in therapy but feel like you’re not moving forward, EMDR may be the missing piece. Whether you’re carrying the weight of big traumas or the cumulative impact of smaller wounds, EMDR offers a path toward relief and resilience.
At Heights Family Counseling, our therapists are trained to guide children, teens, and adults through EMDR with compassion and skill. You don’t have to stay stuck—healing and growth are possible.
Ready to learn more? Contact Heights Family Counseling today to schedule a consultation and explore whether EMDR could be right for you or your child.