EMDR therapy illustration

EMDR Therapists in Canada

A structured, evidence-based therapy that helps people process distressing memories and reduce the emotional intensity of past experiences, widely used for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and related conditions.

What to look for in an EMDR therapist on Purple Lotus

  • Formal EMDR training through an EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)-approved program
  • Experience with your specific concern, such as single-incident trauma, complex trauma, anxiety, or grief
  • Clear approach to preparation and stabilization before memory processing
  • Willingness to go at your pace and adapt the protocol to your needs

9 therapists for EMDR in Canada

Browse 9 therapists specializing in EMDR. Find the right counsellor or psychotherapist for your needs.

LW

Leona Westra

Do you want to reduce the pain and suffering in your life? I have vast knowledge and experience working with people struggling with chronic pain, trauma, emotional neglect, grief and persistent depression/anxiety. This knowledge comes from lived experience, professional education and expertise, and continuous learning and research to help you overcome your unique challenges and improve your quality of life. I have an honest, empathetic, and collaborative style to explore, understand, and bring awareness to the underlying causes of your current challenges. I see my role as a compassionate witness and guide, helping you with your healing journey and building you towards a better future. I strive to ensure you feel understood and heard as we work together to bring healing to your life. I'll provide knowledge and skills to further your understanding of your struggles, promote healing, and get you to a better place. As we work together, I desire to see you achieve your goals and get the most out of your life. Some of the benefits my clients have received are: - Reduction in pain, pain flares, and pain intensity. - Improved coping and more in control of their lives. - Better boundaries, improved self-care, increased function, and better quality of life - Reduction of trauma triggers, trauma symptoms, and trauma's effect on their lives. - Increase in self-confidence, self-worth, self-esteem, and self-value. - Reduction in people-pleasing, perfectionism, and self-critical tendencies. - Increased awareness and knowledge. - Fewer feelings of sadness, anger, emptiness, shame, and guilt. - Enhanced spiritual and social connections. - Improved sleep and ability to relax. - Reduced distress from grief and loss. When you're ready to get more out of life, I'm ready to help. Please book a free 15-minute consultation on my booking page (accessed through my website) or email me to find out how I can help you.

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Mila Loskutova

Mila Loskutova

Hi! My name is Mila Loskutova and I'm a registered clinical counsellor. I am a queer, immigrant settler woman. I am passionate about supporting folks healing from trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, relationship issues and OCD. I use a mix of gentle talk therapy that helps individuals dive deeper into self-exploration and more structured approaches for specific concerns, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). I am mindful and curious about how our identities and the systems we live in shape the way we move through the world. My approach is humanistic, anti-oppressive and sometimes irreverent. I enjoy helping people create and deepen meaning in their lives. I am available online and in person at my office at 315, 2083 Alma Street, Vancouver.

Hybrid
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Nicole Grant

Nicole Grant

I work with children, teens and adults seeking support for anxiety, depression, trauma and life changes. I am trained in CBT, DBT and EMDR.

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Amber Lum

Amber Lum

I’m Amber (she/her); I am an Asian, settler, cisgender woman living and practicing on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. I welcome diverse clients of all cultures, genders, and sexual orientations. I appreciate that we all come with unique stories and histories, and I think it is important to recognize and celebrate how these shape the way that we experience the world. I feel honoured and privileged to walk alongside my resilient clients in their personal healing journeys. I am passionate about EMDR, art therapy, play therapy, and other trauma-informed practices because of their potential to support the transformation and healing of both ourselves and our communities. My role is to hold space for you to come as you are and for your experiences to be met with compassion, curiosity, and tenderness. I believe that we all have the capacity to heal and grow especially in relation to others. Together through our work, we can begin to undo the aloneness that often comes with having negative experiences. I have a deep compassion and respect for the experiences that my clients entrust in me and through a collaborative approach, I hope to honour your lived experiences. Together we will establish a direction in our work that feels supportive of your goals and values. I completed my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, my Bachelor of Education, and my Masters of Education in Counselling Psychology at UBC. I have additional training in the areas of trauma, attachment theory, emotion-focused therapy, and narrative approaches. In addition to counselling, I have also worked as an elementary school teacher in Vancouver. I have a special appreciation for the unique challenges experienced by children, adolescents, and their families. I believe connection, non-judgement, and trust are vital to building a strong therapy relationship.I think every piece of ourselves is important and together we will work with, rather than against, your experiences and emotions. It is important to me that you feel both safe and empowered throughout this entire process. In my spare time you can find me curled up with my dog Yuki watching musicals and reading fantasy novels.

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Kaitlin Wu

Kaitlin Wu

Hi there! I am an able bodied and second generation Chinese Canadian immigrant, living and working on the stolen lands of the səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam) Nations. I particularly enjoy supporting marginalized communities and neurodivergent individuals who may be struggling with experiences of invalidation, life transitions, family conflict, relationship challenges, anxiety, and low self-worth. I support folks navigate their own identities by creating a holistic understanding of their history, cultural narrative, and relationship with themselves and others. I understand the complexity of juggling dual cultural identities or not feeling like you belong in either groups. I approach each session with compassion and curiosity as I prioritize my client's safety when processing and unpacking their lived experiences. I strongly value creating a safe, nonjudgmental, healing space where individuals feel valued, heard, and empowered to step into their transformative self-worth. I pull from various therapeutic modalities and lean towards a more person-centred, intersectional, and social justice-framed approach. I also enjoy utilizing inner-child work in my sessions! I believe in empowering my clients to unlearn biases, prejudice, and oppressive narratives to help them reclaim their truth. I would be honoured to be a part of your healing journey as we cultivate a safe space together. Please feel free to email me to book or if you have any questions! I am also more than happy to provide a 15 minute complimentary consultation! Now accepting ICBC clients! 12 free sessions for ICBC clients within the first 12 weeks of the accident.

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Amy Kobelt

Amy Kobelt

My journey to becoming a counsellor started with my own appointment in a counselling office. I remember feeling nervous about the process, but eventually felt inspired by my own healing journey to support others in the same way that counselling has helped me heal and grow. I am passionate about self-growth and discovery, and I love supporting you to better understand your past, make connections and build skills for a better and stronger future. I work from a trauma informed and attachment model and I strongly believe that part of the healing process that happens in counselling is through the therapeutic relationship. I work collaboratively with you to meet your goals in counselling, and I am truly honoured every time someone chooses to invite me into that journey – I know it is not easy! I welcome working with diverse clients of all ages, cultures, genders, sexual orientations and abilities and I currently work with clients ages 12 and up. I specialize in relational and childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationship concerns and anxiety. I am trained in EMDR, OEI and Lifespan Integration Therapies - all of these therapies are designed to help you process traumatic events or negative self beliefs and bring you healing from your past. Trauma disconnects us from ourselves and our bodies and so part of our work will be to help you become more connected to yourself, your feelings and your body. If you have any questions about this please reach out for a consultation call - I would love to chat with you to see if I'm the right fit for you.

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Ashley Greensmyth

Ashley Greensmyth

The people who come to work with me are looking for a therapist who not gets it, but can also help them figure out how to move forward in life. I often hear things like, "I can't seem to stop worrying," "I feel overwhelmed," and "things seem fine on the outside, but really I'm just holding it together." If this resonates with you, you might benefit from counselling sessions with me. Working with me in therapy often feels like finally making sense of a long-unsolved puzzle—you begin to understand not only what you’re feeling, but why. Understanding how we view ourselves and the world on a deeper level can help with personal transformation. For example, some patterns that we have to undo in our own behaviour can come from secondhand experiences like ancestral trauma and relationship patterns. Gaining this level of self-awareness can create a comfortable space to challenge anxieties and your ideas about being a worthwhile person. Clients often come to therapy feeling anxious, overextended, or stuck in patterns that leave them feeling overwhelmed, empty, or exhausted, and they leave with a deeper sense of clarity, confidence, and self-worth. Through our work together, you’ll learn practical tools tailored to your real life, and shift any long-held beliefs keeping you stuck, so that you can begin to show up in your relationships with more ease and authenticity. My practice is gender, body, ability, sexuality, and race inclusive. I reside and provide services on the unceded ancestral territories of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking people and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh first nations peoples that was not surrendered. I offer direct billing to many insurance providers and I am registered with ICBC and FNHA. You belong.

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Stephanie Markowitz

Stephanie Markowitz

I am a Registered Psychotherapist trained in a range of evidence-based modalities, which I will customize to meet your particular needs and goals. I will work with you, at your own pace, to process the difficulties you are facing and equip you with knowledge and tools for growth and healing.

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Tori  Lewis

Tori Lewis

Hello and welcome. I’m Tori, a Registered Social Worker and therapist who provides a compassionate and collaborative space for healing and growth. Many of the people I work with feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, or like they have spent much of their lives trying to adapt themselves to fit expectations around them. You may be navigating ADHD, autism or other neurodivergent experiences, processing trauma, coping with anxiety or depression, experiencing relationship challenges, or moving through difficult life transitions. Sometimes people come to therapy feeling exhausted from carrying so much on their own and unsure where to begin. My approach is trauma-informed, relational, and client-centered. I draw from a variety of therapeutic approaches including CBT, mindfulness-based strategies, attachment-informed perspectives, and other integrative tools to support your unique needs. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, I believe therapy should feel collaborative. We work together to understand your experiences, identify meaningful goals, and develop tools that feel realistic and authentic for you. I strive to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are without judgment or pressure to have everything figured out. Healing is not always linear, and therapy is not about fixing who you are. It is about building understanding, self-compassion, resilience, and creating meaningful change at your own pace. I offer virtual counselling sessions across Ontario and would be happy to connect through a complimentary consultation to see whether we may be a good fit.

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What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured therapy approach used to help people process memories and experiences that continue to cause distress. Unlike talk therapy, which focuses primarily on discussing events, EMDR works with how memories are stored in the brain. Distressing experiences can become stuck in a way that keeps them feeling vivid and emotionally charged, even long after the events themselves have passed. EMDR aims to help the brain complete its natural processing of those memories so they feel less intense and less disruptive.

Sessions typically involve briefly recalling elements of a distressing experience while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, most commonly guided eye movements but sometimes tapping or auditory tones. This combination appears to reduce the emotional charge attached to the memory without requiring you to talk through it in detail. Many people seek EMDR when past experiences still show up as anxiety, triggers, or reactions that feel hard to explain or shift through insight alone.

EMDR was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and has since become one of the most extensively researched trauma treatments available. It is recognized as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by organizations including the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and Health Canada. Research also supports its use for anxiety, phobias, complicated grief, and other conditions where distressing memories play a central role.

Who this approach may help

Trauma and PTSD

People who have experienced traumatic events, such as accidents, abuse, violence, or sudden loss, and who find that memories of those events continue to feel vivid, intrusive, or emotionally overwhelming.

Anxiety tied to specific memories or triggers

People whose anxiety is linked to past experiences, where certain situations, images, or sensations consistently trigger strong fear or distress responses that feel disproportionate.

Phobias

People with intense, persistent fears that interfere with daily life, particularly when the fear is connected to a specific past experience or a series of difficult early memories.

Complicated grief

People who feel stuck in grief after loss, especially when memories of the death or the circumstances surrounding it remain emotionally raw or difficult to integrate.

Childhood adversity

People processing neglect, emotional abuse, or repeated difficult experiences in childhood that continue to affect their sense of self, relationships, or emotional regulation as adults.

What happens in a session?

  1. 1

    History and treatment planning

    The therapist gathers a detailed picture of your history, the experiences contributing to your current distress, and what you want to address. Together you identify which memories or concerns to target and in what order.

  2. 2

    Preparation and stabilization

    Before any memory processing begins, the therapist teaches coping tools and grounding techniques. This phase ensures you can manage what comes up between sessions and feel as safe as possible during the work.

  3. 3

    Assessment

    You identify the specific image, thought, body sensation, and belief connected to the target memory. The therapist also checks in on the current level of distress to track progress.

  4. 4

    Desensitization with bilateral stimulation

    You hold the memory in mind while following the therapist's guided eye movements or another form of bilateral stimulation. Processing continues in sets until the memory's emotional intensity reduces.

  5. 5

    Installation and body scan

    A more positive belief is strengthened and linked to the memory. You then scan your body for any remaining tension or discomfort, which may be addressed in further processing.

  6. 6

    Closure and review

    Each session ends with a return to a stable state, even if processing is not complete. At the next session, the therapist checks what has shifted and continues from there.

How it compares to other approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns through structured exercises and discussion. EMDR works more directly with memory and does not require detailed verbal processing of events. Both are evidence-based for trauma and anxiety, and some therapists draw on both.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy

Prolonged Exposure involves repeatedly recounting traumatic memories in detail to reduce their emotional charge over time. EMDR also reduces distress around memories but typically involves less verbal retelling and uses bilateral stimulation as a core component of processing.

Somatic Therapy

Somatic approaches focus on body sensations, movement, and nervous system regulation. EMDR includes body awareness but is more memory-focused and protocol-driven. Some therapists integrate somatic and EMDR approaches.

Emotion Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET)

EAET works through direct verbal expression of suppressed emotions, particularly where those emotions connect to physical symptoms. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to reprocess specific memories rather than encouraging emotional expression through conversation.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy explores how past relationships and unconscious patterns shape current difficulties, typically over a longer course of treatment. EMDR is more structured and protocol-based, focused on processing specific memories rather than uncovering underlying patterns through open-ended exploration.

How to choose an EMDR therapist

Questions to ask before booking:

  1. 1

    Ask about their EMDR training and certification. Look for therapists who have completed formal EMDR training through an EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)-approved program, rather than those who have only attended a brief workshop.

  2. 2

    Ask how they approach the preparation phase. A well-trained EMDR therapist will not rush into memory processing. They should spend time establishing coping tools and assessing whether you are ready before beginning reprocessing work.

  3. 3

    Ask about their experience with your specific concern. EMDR has been used for many different presentations, from single-incident trauma to complex developmental trauma and anxiety. A therapist with experience relevant to your situation will be better placed to tailor the approach.

  4. 4

    Ask how they handle sessions where distressing material comes up and is not fully resolved within the appointment. Good EMDR therapists have a clear approach to closing incomplete sessions so you leave in a stable state.

  5. 5

    Ask whether they integrate EMDR with other approaches. Some therapists use EMDR as one tool alongside CBT, somatic work, or other modalities. If that applies to them, ask how they decide which approach to use and when.

  6. 6

    If you have a complex trauma history or significant dissociation, ask specifically whether they have training in working with those presentations, as standard EMDR protocols may need to be modified.

When this may not be the right fit

EMDR involves briefly engaging with distressing memories, which can be activating. If you are in acute crisis, experiencing active psychosis, or have a dissociative disorder that has not been assessed, a therapist may recommend stabilization work before beginning EMDR processing.

If you are dealing with significant life instability, such as a current unsafe living situation or an ongoing crisis, building safety and coping resources may need to come first. EMDR tends to work best when your day-to-day life is stable enough to support the processing between sessions.

If you strongly prefer a talking-based approach and find it difficult to engage with the bilateral stimulation component, you may find other evidence-based trauma approaches more accessible, at least as a starting point.

EMDR is a therapy for psychological distress, not a medical intervention. If you are experiencing physical symptoms alongside your emotional concerns, therapy works best alongside appropriate medical care rather than as a substitute for it.

Related specialties

Frequently asked questions

What is EMDR therapy used for?

EMDR is most widely used for trauma and PTSD, but it is also used for anxiety, phobias, panic, complicated grief, and distressing memories that continue to affect daily functioning. It targets the emotional charge attached to specific memories rather than working primarily through discussion or thought-change exercises.

How does EMDR actually work?

EMDR uses guided recall of distressing memories combined with bilateral stimulation, typically eye movements. This process appears to help the brain reprocess stuck memories so they feel less emotionally intense. The exact mechanism is still studied, but the clinical evidence for its effectiveness is well established.

Is EMDR evidence-based?

Yes. EMDR is recognized as an effective treatment for PTSD by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and other major health bodies. It has a substantial body of randomized controlled trial evidence supporting its use for trauma and related conditions.

Do I have to describe what happened in detail during EMDR?

No. One of the features of EMDR is that you do not need to verbally recount traumatic events in full. You hold the memory in mind internally while engaging with bilateral stimulation. Some people find this preferable to therapies that involve detailed verbal retelling.

How many EMDR sessions does it take?

It depends on what you are addressing. A single, clearly defined traumatic incident may require fewer sessions than a longer history of complex or developmental trauma. Your therapist will give you a clearer estimate once they understand your history, but treatment is always paced to what you can manage.

Can EMDR be done online?

Yes. EMDR can be adapted for online delivery. Therapists use screen-based tools for eye movements or alternative bilateral stimulation methods that work over video. Many people complete full courses of EMDR online with good outcomes. Check each therapist profile for available session formats.

Looking for an EMDR therapist?

Browse therapists in Canada who specialize in emdr. Filter by location, fee, and session format to find the right fit.