EMDR
EMDR is about “getting past your past”—but at MLC, we also see it as a tool for reclaiming power, self-trust, and healing from trauma that is both personal and systemic.
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy used to treat trauma, anxiety, depression, phobias, panic attacks, complicated grief, chronic pain, and distressing memories. It helps the brain reprocess painful experiences so that they no longer feel as overwhelming, intrusive, or defining.
When we experience trauma, our sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight/freeze mode) can override the brain’s natural ability to heal, leaving us feeling stuck in cycles of fear, anxiety, and emotional distress. EMDR facilitates the brain’s ability to process these experiences in a way that leads to relief—allowing memories to remain, but without the same emotional charge or distress.
How Does EMDR Work?
Through bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds), EMDR helps the brain reprocess traumatic experiences and shift negative beliefs into more adaptive, empowering ones. For example:
- “I should have done something” → “I did the best I could”
- “I’m not enough” → “I am enough as I am”
- “I am powerless” → “I now have choices”
- “I cannot trust anyone” → “I can choose whom to trust”
An Anti-Oppressive Approach to EMDR
At MLC, we understand that trauma is not just an individual experience—it is shaped by systemic oppression, intergenerational harm, and identity-based experiences. Traditional EMDR often focuses on personal distress without addressing the broader realities that contribute to it. Our approach incorporates:
- Racial, Generational & Systemic Trauma – Many people carry trauma that is not just personal but deeply connected to racism, colonialism, generational harm, and oppression. We create space for this in EMDR work.
- Honoring the Body’s Wisdom – Trauma is stored in the body, and healing is not just cognitive. We integrate somatic awareness and body-based healing alongside EMDR to support full processing.
- Empowerment, Not Just Desensitization – While EMDR reduces distress, it is also about reclaiming power, safety, and agency after experiences that made you feel helpless.
EMDR helps you move beyond survival mode and into a life where past experiences no longer control the present. It’s not about forgetting your history—it’s about releasing its grip on your daily life so that you can move forward with more clarity, choice, and self-trust.
