EMDR therapy in Calgary.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — a structured, evidence-based trauma therapy. EMDR work at FP is led by Farah Premji, MSc., R.Psych.
A trauma-processing method, not a talk therapy.
EMDR is a structured eight-phase therapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. The World Health Organization recommends it for PTSD (WHO, 2013), the American Psychological Association conditionally recommends it in its 2017 PTSD guideline (APA, 2017), and the US Department of Veterans Affairs lists it among recommended psychotherapies for PTSD (VA/DoD, 2023).
The theoretical model behind EMDR (Shapiro’s Adaptive Information Processing framework) holds that traumatic memories can be incompletely processed, and that bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or tones) while briefly recalling the memory helps the brain integrate it. The precise mechanism is still debated in the research literature — what is well-established is that the treatment helps many people with PTSD.
Many clients describe the work as physically distinctive but contained — and report that the target memory feels less intrusive after successful processing.
EMDR isn’t only for big-T trauma.
PTSD — including from single-incident events (accidents, assault, medical trauma).
Complex trauma — ongoing or developmental trauma from childhood, abuse, or chronic stress.
Anxiety, phobias, and panic — where the underlying trigger can be traced to a specific experience.
Grief — particularly traumatic loss or losses that haven’t fully integrated.
Performance and confidence work — addressing the specific memories that drive the inner critic.
FP therapists trained in EMDR.
Browse and click into a bio. The free consult is a call to talk through fit, fees, and insurance.
EMDR, asked and answered.
How many sessions does EMDR take?
It varies widely. Single-incident trauma can sometimes resolve in 3–6 sessions of active processing. Complex or developmental trauma usually takes longer — often months — and includes substantial preparation work before any reprocessing begins.
Do I have to relive the trauma in detail?
No. EMDR doesn’t require you to describe the memory in detail to the therapist — the work happens internally. You bring the image to mind briefly while we use bilateral stimulation, then notice what changes. Many people find this far less re-traumatizing than traditional talk therapy.
Is EMDR covered by insurance?
Yes — EMDR sessions are billed as standard psychological services. Most extended health plans cover them. Direct billing is available with Blue Cross.
Is EMDR safe?
EMDR is well-researched and considered safe when done by a properly trained therapist. The preparation phases exist specifically to make sure you have the resources to handle what reprocessing brings up.
References
APA. (2017). Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. American Psychological Association. apa.org/ptsd-guideline
VA/DoD. (2023). Clinical practice guideline for management of PTSD and acute stress disorder. US Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense. healthquality.va.gov
WHO. (2013). Guidelines for the management of conditions specifically related to stress. World Health Organization. iris.who.int
Cuijpers, P., van Veen, S. C., Sijbrandij, M., Yoder, W., & Cristea, I. A. (2020). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for mental health problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 49(3), 165–180. doi:10.1080/16506073.2019.1703801
Twenty minutes. On the phone. Free.
Tell us what’s going on and ask anything — insurance, format, fees, what a first session looks like. You’ll be on the call with one of our therapists, and we’ll go from there together. If we’re not the right practice for you, we’ll say so.