EMDR Therapy for Trauma

Harness Your Healing Capabilities to Find Relief

Hi! I’m Kristen Cochran-Ward, a licensed clinical social worker. I offer eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in person to individuals living in Fort Collins, Loveland, Wellington, Windsor, and Timnath and online throughout Colorado.

I recognize how devastating these painful experiences can be and how challenging it is to talk about them because I’ve been there. Seeking therapy for my own trauma was hard AND life-saving. That’s why I strive to provide a safe, soothing, and comforting space where we can follow the EMDR process at your pace to reach lasting relief.

If you or someone you love is wrestling with the effects of trauma, I’m here to help.

Reach out to schedule a free consultation.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is the distressing reaction to a painful, alarming, and sometimes life-threatening experience (or a series of incidents). It can have short-term or lingering consequences, causing difficulties in your daily living if not processed.

While trauma is unique to each individual, common events that may lead to it include:

• Abuse (emotional, physical, or sexual)
• Accident or injury (e.g., car crash, dangerous fall)
• Childhood neglect or mistreatment
• Crisis or natural disaster (e.g., amber alert, wildfire)
• Death of a loved one
• Discrimination due to race, culture, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation
• Military service or warfare
• Violent, criminal, or animal attack (e.g., shooting, robbery, bear attack)
• Witnessing trauma or being exposed to traumatic material (e.g., seeing someone else being assaulted or watching an upsetting video)

Disturbing episodes of less severity, often called little T trauma, can also result in traumatic responses (e.g., separation, bullying, harassment).

Do You Need Trauma Therapy?

You may go through a traumatic episode and find your way forward. Yet sometimes, these wounds remain open and alive in you, no matter how long it’s been.

Unresolved trauma can leave physical, emotional, and mental imprints, affecting your ability to work, socialize, take care of yourself and others, or simply function.

These residual effects are what we call post-traumatic stress symptoms. Experiencing these symptoms does not mean you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To be diagnosed with PTSD, you must meet specific frequency and severity criteria.

Signs of Post-traumatic Stress

• Avoiding speaking about trauma
• Being on edge or short-tempered
• Difficulty concentrating
• Extreme worry or fear
• Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts about the traumatic event(s)
• Hopelessness, guilt, or shame
• Insomnia, frequent nightmares, and other sleep problems
• Low motivation and self-esteem
• Mood swings or irritability
• Trouble remembering the traumatic incident(s)
• Withdrawing from people, places, or situations that remind you of trauma

If you are enduring any of these signs of post-traumatic stress, EMDR therapy can support you.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured mind-body therapy that leverages your brain’s natural healing power to reprocess traumatic events.

The goal is to engage your nervous system to change how these memories are stored and relieve the symptoms that come along with them. EMDR is not about erasing your trauma but about altering your relationship with it so you can truly enjoy your life.

Benefits of EMDR Therapy

• Alleviating emotional and physical pain
• Gaining insight into your trauma and triggers without speaking in detail about them
• Remembering repressed memories
• Changing the narrative tied to your trauma
• Learning self-soothing strategies

How Does EMDR Therapy Work?

EMDR therapy consists of eight stages, implemented in various sessions. The total number of sessions will depend on your needs and progress during treatment.

1) History and Planning

First, we’ll examine your history, symptoms, and triggers to prepare a treatment plan with clear target memories and goals. This may involve discussing past experiences, present concerns, and what you want to get from therapy.

Please note you don’t need to talk about your traumatic experience at length or relive it in any way for EMDR to work.

2) Preparation

I’ll walk you through the EMDR process, explaining and practicing the steps involved. I’ll also equip you with coping resources to manage the emotional distress and sensations that may arise (e.g., breathwork, visualization, relaxation techniques).

3) Assessment

Then, we’ll select one of the target traumatic memories and evaluate its components: images, beliefs, emotions, and sensations. You’ll also choose a positive belief related to the memory and measure how true it feels.

4) Desensitization

You’ll focus on the target memory while receiving bilateral stimulation (BLS). BLS involves eye movements, blinking lights, taps, sounds, or other alternating activities to stimulate your system, desensitize it, and reprocess the memory.

After each round of BLS, I’ll ask you to notice the thoughts, emotions, or images that come up. We may do more sets until the memory is no longer distressing.

5) Installation

Next, you’ll focus on the target memory and the positive belief you picked in step 3 (or a different one if desired) while going through additional rounds of BLS. The goal is to install and strengthen this positive belief to replace the negative one(s) you associated with the memory.

6) Body Scan

This is an opportunity to observe your body’s physical sensations while thinking of the target memory and the positive belief. If there is still distress, we may do further BLS as necessary. 

7) Closure

We’ll close each session by bringing you back to a stable state, discussing how things went, and determining the next steps. If the target memory was not fully reprocessed, I’ll revisit the coping mechanisms we developed and offer other strategies to implement between sessions.

8) Reevaluation

The following sessions will start with a check-in to see how you’ve been doing and adjust the treatment plan as needed. We’ll monitor your progress and any new memories that might have come up and reassess the session’s target.

EMDR Therapy at Empowered Path Counseling and Coaching | EMDR Therapy and Trauma Therapy in Fort Collins, Colorado

I’m Kristen, a licensed clinical social worker, EMDR-certified trauma therapist, and founder of Empowered Path Counseling and Coaching. I offer EMDR therapy and other specialties to adults living in Fort Collins and across Colorado via telehealth.

I work with individuals of any race, culture, sexual orientation, and gender identity who may be carrying childhood trauma, sexual trauma, complex trauma, and other painful experiences.

My EMDR approach is gentle and supportive. You are driving the bus, so if at any moment you want to stop, ask questions, or change routes, we’ll do that. I’ll provide guidance, compassion, and practical tools to help you reach your goals in a way that serves you.

Ready for EMDR Therapy?

Trauma does not have to control your life.

Let’s tap into your mind-body capacity to heal.

Book a free consultation to get started.