EMDR Therapy in Mississauga
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that helps the brain process difficult or overwhelming experiences. It is often used when someone is living with trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it can also help with other issues, such as anxiety or grief. EMDR does not require you to talk through every detail of what happened, which many people find less overwhelming.
At Cornerstone, EMDR is offered within a trauma-informed approach. This means your therapist pays close attention to safety, pacing, and choice in every session. Together, you decide when and how to work with specific memories, and you move at a pace that feels manageable for you.
What Is EMDR?
When something overwhelming happens, the brain can sometimes get stuck. The memory stays “raw” and may show up as flashbacks, nightmares, or strong emotional reactions that feel like the event is happening all over again.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy that helps the brain finish this processing work. In an EMDR session, your therapist will invite you to briefly bring a difficult memory to mind while you follow gentle left-right movements with your eyes, or receive light left-right taps or sounds. The memory itself does not disappear, but over time it usually feels less intense, less distressing, and less likely to interrupt your daily life.
If you would like a deeper look at how EMDR works and who it can help, you can read our EMDR article, EMDR Is Not Just for Trauma Survivors.
EMDR is usually offered in eight phases. In the next section, we describe what these phases can look like in therapy at Cornerstone.
The Eight Phases
EMDR usually follows eight main phases. Your therapist will move through these with you at a pace that feels safe.
History and planning
Your therapist learns about your story, your strengths, and your goals. Together, you decide which memories or themes to work on first.Preparation
You learn grounding and coping skills so you have tools to calm your body and mind. Processing does not begin until you feel ready and have ways to steady yourself.Assessment
You and your therapist choose one “target” memory to focus on. You also identify the images, thoughts, feelings, and body sensations linked to that memory.Desensitization
You bring the memory to mind in brief pieces while following left-right eye movements, taps, or sounds. This helps the brain reprocess the experience so it becomes less distressing over time.Installation
You and your therapist strengthen a more helpful, true belief about yourself (for example, “I am safe now” or “I did the best I could”). The goal is to connect this new belief to the memory.Body scan
You notice any tension or discomfort left in your body. If anything feels “stuck,” your therapist helps you process it with more EMDR.Closure
Each session ends with grounding. Your therapist helps you return to the present and leave feeling as steady as possible, even if the work is still in progress.Re-evaluation
At the next session, you and your therapist check in. You look at how the memory feels now, how your symptoms are, and what to work on next.
Is EMDR Right for You?
It tends to be a strong fit if:
- You have experienced trauma — a single event or ongoing difficult experiences
- PTSD symptoms are affecting your daily life, relationships, or sleep
- You want to process what happened without talking through every detail at length
- You have tried talk therapy and feel stuck
EMDR is endorsed by the WHO and APA. Research consistently shows response rates of 77% to 90% for PTSD.
EMDR at Cornerstone
EMDR is offered by therapists who have completed EMDR training and who use it carefully within a trauma-informed framework. We do not begin processing until you feel safe and have grounding tools in place.
Our team includes therapists who offer EMDR in English, French, and Arabic, in person in Mississauga and online across Ontario. All therapists hold a master’s degree and are registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Our Clinical Director holds both a PhD and a Doctor of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Cornerstone therapists Lisa Harriott and Nesrine Riskalla offer EMDR therapy. Together, they bring clinical training, care, and a steady approach to helping clients work through trauma in a way that feels supported.
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