Attachment-Informed EMDR Therapy in Reno, Nevada
When The Past Still Shapes How You Feel Today
Our earliest relationships and experiences can shape how we see ourselves, respond to stress, and connect with others.
Attachment-informed EMDR therapy offers a space to explore these patterns, process difficult experiences, and work toward feeling more secure in yourself and your relationships.
UNDERSTANDING EMDR THERAPY
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people process distressing memories and experiences that continue to affect them today. Sometimes these experiences can still bring up strong emotions, even when they happened years ago. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, often through guided eye movements, as part of helping you process these experiences. You don't have to describe every detail aloud.
I approach EMDR through an attachment-informed lens, looking at how earlier relationships and experiences may have shaped your sense of safety, your nervous system, and the way you connect with yourself and others.
My specialized training in attachment, nervous system regulation, and ways trauma can affect the body, helps me bring these pieces together in our work. As an EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist, I bring this understanding into our work as we explore patterns that may be difficult to change.
THE EMDR PROCESS
EMDR follows a structured process to help you work through difficult memories and experiences that may still be affecting you today. While everyone's experience is different, here's a general look at what the process can involve.
01.
IDENTIFYING THE PATTERNS
We begin by exploring the memories, experiences, and beliefs that may be connected to how you're feeling and responding today.
02.
BUILDING A SENSE OF SAFETY
Before processing difficult memories, we focus on preparation, developing resources, and helping you feel supported throughout the process.
03.
BILATERAL STIMULATION
EMDR uses guided eye movements, alternating taps, or other forms of bilateral stimulation to support memory processing.
04.
WORKING THROUGH DIFFICULT MEMORIES
You'll briefly focus on aspects of a memory while noticing the thoughts, emotions, and body sensations that come up. You don't have to explain every detail out loud.
05.
MAKING NEW CONNECTIONS
As memories are reprocessed, they may begin to feel less distressing. You may also notice shifts in how you understand yourself, your experiences, and the beliefs you've carried forward.
ATTACHMENT + THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Our earliest relationships can shape how we experience safety, respond to stress, and connect with others. When those relationships have been unpredictable or overwhelming, we may develop ways of protecting ourselves that continue into adulthood.
You might notice yourself shutting down during conflict, feeling anxious when someone pulls away, or struggling to trust others. These responses can make sense in the context of what you've experienced, even when they no longer feel helpful.
Attachment-informed EMDR allows us to explore these patterns and the experiences connected to them, including how they show up in your thoughts, emotions, and body, so you can begin responding in ways that feel more secure and connected.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Starting EMDR therapy can feel unfamiliar, especially if you're unsure what to expect or have concerns about revisiting difficult experiences.
My approach is collaborative and attachment-informed. We'll take time to understand your experiences, build a sense of trust, and prepare for memory processing at a pace that feels manageable for you. You won't be expected to share every detail of your past or process difficult memories before you're ready.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
We'll begin by exploring your history, relationships, and the patterns you're noticing in your life today. This helps us understand what you'd like to work toward together.
WORKING AT YOUR PACE
There's no set timeline for EMDR. We'll check in regularly, make room for questions, and adjust the pace based on your needs and readiness.
BUILDING A FOUNDATION
Before processing difficult memories, we'll focus on preparation, developing resources, and finding ways to support your sense of safety and stability.
MAKING ROOM FOR CHANGE
As we work together, you may begin to notice changes in how you understand your experiences, respond to difficult emotions, and connect with yourself and others.
A GENTLE REMINDER:
You can ask questions, share concerns, and take an active role in deciding what feels manageable throughout therapy.
IS EMDR RIGHT FOR YOU?
When You're Ready To Understand What's Keeping You Stuck
You may have spent a lot of time trying to understand why certain situations bring up such strong emotions, why familiar patterns keep showing up in your relationships, or why experiences from the past still affect how you feel today.
Attachment-informed EMDR may be worth exploring if you:
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Notice yourself having stronger emotional reactions than you expected.
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Struggle to feel secure in relationships, even when you want closeness.
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Notice yourself shutting down, pulling away, or becoming overwhelmed during conflict.
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Carry painful memories or experiences that continue to affect how you see yourself.
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Understand your patterns intellectually but find it difficult to respond differently.
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Want to explore how earlier experiences may be connected to what you're feeling today.
You don't need to have experienced a single major traumatic event to explore whether EMDR might be helpful. Sometimes the experiences that shape us are repeated moments of feeling alone, misunderstood, or emotionally unsupported.
Not sure if EMDR is the right fit? We can talk about what you're experiencing, what you're hoping to work on, and whether this approach makes sense for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
You don't have to have everything figured out before reaching out. We can talk about what you've been experiencing, what you're hoping to work toward, and whether attachment-informed EMDR feels like a good fit.
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