Trauma. Anxiety. Grief. Fear.
When you’ve lived through something painful—whether a single event or years of relational hurt—your mind may know it’s over, but your body often feels like it’s still happening. You might notice sudden anxiety, emotional numbness, or strong reactions to certain sounds, smells, or situations. This is how trauma can live in the nervous system.
Maybe you’re wondering if you’ll ever feel safe again, or if healing is even possible. We are here to tell you that healing is possible, and you deserve to feel safe again. If you feel stuck in the past or overwhelmed in the present, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy may help you find relief.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a phasic, somatic-based, therapy used to alleviate agitating and chronic symptoms left behind after trauma. The treatment unfolds across eight phases, beginning with history-taking, preparation, and building emotional regulation tools. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones—while you recall and reprocess distressing memories and take control of a new path forward.
EMDR is a research-supported therapy developed to help people process difficult memories and shift how those experiences live in the brain and body. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR focuses less on telling your story and more on helping the brain “digest” unprocessed experiences that continue to cause distress.
During EMDR, you briefly bring to mind distressing memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, tapping, or tones. This activates both sides of the brain, supporting new connections and reducing the emotional charge of the memory. Over time, this process can help you feel less triggered and more in control.
EMDR doesn’t erase memories—it helps you remember without reliving.
Why EMDR Therapy Works
Trauma can overwhelm the brain’s natural ability to process experiences. EMDR helps restart that system. Using structured phases, the therapy:
- Stabilizes and prepares you with tools for emotional regulation
- Identifies key memories, beliefs, or sensations that remain “stuck”
- Guides your brain in reprocessing those experiences, often leading to new insights or relief
- Strengthens healthier, more adaptive beliefs about yourself and the world
It’s not about forgetting—it’s about transforming the meaning and emotional impact of what happened.
Email us for a free 20-minute consult with an EMDR provider in North Carolina
What Can EMDR in NC Help With?
- Relationship and attachment wounds
- PTSD and complex trauma
- Anxiety and panic
- Grief and loss
- Phobias and chronic stress
- Sexual or interpersonal violence
- Identity-based or racial trauma
- Neurodivergent burnout
- Life transitions and adjustment
What to Expect in EMDR Sessions
EMDR begins with careful preparation—you’ll first work with your therapist to build trust, learn calming strategies, and develop a clear plan.
You’ll never be asked to dive into trauma before you’re ready.
Once you feel resourced and supported, the reprocessing phase begins. You’ll remain aware and in control the whole time, with your therapist guiding and checking in throughout. Sessions can be standard length (60 minutes), extended length (90 minutes) or offered in intensives (3–6 hours) for clients seeking deeper or more focused work.
Who Is EMDR For?
EMDR is for anyone feeling stuck in patterns of distress—whether from a single traumatic event, chronic relational harm, or emotional pain that doesn’t seem to go away. It’s also a powerful option for people who:
- Struggle to feel safe in relationships
- Experience emotional flooding or shutdown
- Have “tried everything” but still feel triggered
- Want a structured, neuroscience-informed approach to healing
Debunking Common EMDR Myths
- It’s not hypnosis—you stay fully present and in control.
- It doesn’t implant, remove or uncover repressed memories.
- You don’t need a PTSD diagnosis to benefit.
- It can be brief or long-term, and work alongside your current therapy.
Providers who offer EMDR at Be BOLD:
Meet Sabrina Calle-Bunyi, MSW, LCSW, CCS (she/ella)
Sabrina offers affirming, bilingual EMDR therapy (English and Spanish) for clients in North Carolina and South Carolina, in person (Durham) or via telehealth (NC and SC). She specializes in working with relational and developmental trauma survivors, neurodivergent individuals, and those experiencing grief, anxiety, or identity-based distress.
Sabrina is EMDR-trained through an EMDRIA-accredited provider and brings warmth, cultural humility, and clinical precision to every session. Extended sessions and EMDR intensives are available for those looking for accelerated healing.
Begin EMDR Therapy in North Carolina and South Carolina Today
You deserve to feel safe. You deserve peace. You deserve to feel fully like yourself.
We are here to help release the burden you manage when you are.
Schedule a free 20-minute consultation with Sabrina to explore how EMDR can support your healing.
Offering in-person EMDR in Durham, North Carolina
Offering virtual EMDR therapy across North Carolina and South Carolina
Learn more about EMDR Therapy
- EMDRIA – What Is EMDR Therapy?
- Getting Past Your Past by Francine Shapiro
- What is EMDR Therapy – EMDR Institute
- EMDR, Adaptive Information Processing and Case Conceptualization
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing EMDR Therapy by Francine Shapiro
