EMDR Therapy in Houston, TX
When the past keeps showing up in the present, EMDR offers a different way through.
Maybe you know you’re safe now, but your body didn’t get the memo. Your heart races in a hard conversation, you brace for people to leave, and you pick apart that conversation you had earlier at 2am. If that sounds familiar, there’s nothing wrong with you. Your nervous system learned to protect you, and it’s doing the job a little too well.
I’m Katie, and I offer EMDR therapy in Houston at my office near the Galleria, plus virtual sessions for anyone in Texas. Together, we can help the memories and patterns that feel stuck start to settle.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (Yes, it’s a mouthful, let’s stick with EMDR). It’s a structured, well-researched therapy first developed to help people heal from trauma.
The simple version…When something overwhelming happens, especially when we are young, our brain can store the memory with the same, fear, shame, or panic we felt back then. So a tone of voice or being left on “read” can set off a reaction that feels much bigger than what’s actually happening in the moment. This is usually the part where you feel out of control, question if you’re blowing things out of proportion, and that one family member is calling you dramatic and “too sensitive.” (I call bullshit).
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (gentle side to side eye movements, tapping of sounds) while you briefly bring a memory to mind. This helps your brain finish processing it, so the memory can feel more like something that happened and less like something that is happening.
Who I help with EMDR?
I work with women who are overwhelmed, exhausted, and tired of logically “getting it” but feel powerless to do anything different.
Anxiety and overwhelm - feeling like you’re always “on” and can never turn your brain off
Relational and attachment trauma like people pleasing, fear of abandonment, or picking the same kind of relationship over and over
Big emotions that feel hard to manage, where you go from zero to 100 or shut down completely
That mean voice in your head that says “I’m too much,”, “I’m not enough,” or “It’s my job to keep everyone happy.”
Also, you don’t need a big, dramatic event for your experiences to “count.” Sometimes what shapes us most is what happened over and over, or what didn’t happen, like feeling seen or comforted. I wonder what would shift if you have yourself permission to take your own story seriously?
How EMDR Therapy Works
EMDR follows eight phases. You don’t need to memorize them. I’ll walk you through each one, and move at a pace that feels right for you.
Getting to know you. We talk about your history, your goals, and patterns you want to change.
Building your toolkit. Before any memory work, you learn ways to calm your nervous system and stay within your "window of tolerance" (the zone where you can feel your feelings without getting flooded).
Choosing a target. We pick a memory to work with, the negative belief attached to it ("I'm not safe") and the belief you'd rather hold ("I can handle this").
Reprocessing. You hold the memory in mind for while following bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sound), then notice what comes up.
Strengthening the new belief. We help the more helpful belief feel true, not just in your head but in your body.
Body scan. I'll ask, "What's happening in your body right now?" and we clear any leftover tension.
Closing the session. We will always finish our processing followed by a calming exercise from our toolkit, even if we’re mid-processing.
Checking in. Next time you come in, we look at what’s shifted and decide where to go next.
You’re in charge the whole time. You don’t have to share every detail out loud, and we can pause whenever you need.
Why work with me for EMDR
Trauma-informed and nervous system focused care. We start with safety, skills, and understanding how your body responds to stress. I’m not going to throw you into the deep end without your floaties.
Warm and real. Expect validation, a little humor and gentle honest when I notice a pattern worth getting curious about.
Tailored to you. What works for one person doesn’t always work for another, so we’ll shape our work around what you need. EMDR is one tool, not the only one.
Specialized training. I have completed EMDRIA-approved EMDR training.
Online EMDR therapy in Texas
EMDR works well over secure video on a computer or tablet. With virtual, EMDR, we can use on-screen eye movements or self-tapping, so you can do this work from your couch with your favorite blanket nearby. I offer online EMDR to anyone located in Texas, plus in-person sessions at my Houston office in the Uptown/Galleria area.
Ready to get started?
Reaching out can feel like a big step. How does it feel to imagine making that call? Whatever comes up is welcome. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have!
Schedule a consultation call to see if we'd be a good fit. We'll talk about what's bringing you in, answer your questions and figure out if EMDR feels like the right next step.
Common Questions about EMDR
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EMDR is one of the most effective and well-researched trauma therapies, first developed in the late 1980s. Since then, research has also shown it can help with other struggles, such as anxiety, panic attacks, depression and more. That said, healing looks different for everyone, so we’ll keep checking in on your goals and progress made!
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Nope. EMDR doesn’t require you to describe every detail out loud. You focus on the memory internally and share only what you feel comfortable with.
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Often, yes. Anxiety is a signal, and can be tied to old experiences that taught your nervous system to stay on high alert. EMDR can help us get to the root of those patterns, not just the symptoms.
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It depends on your history and goals. One specific memory may take fewer sessions, while more complex trauma usually takes longer. We will make a plan together and adjust as we go.
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Yes. I offer virtual EMDR to anyone located in Texas, using on-screen eye movements or self-tapping.
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The best way to find out is to talk it through. Schedule a consultation call, and we’ll explore whether EMDR or another approach fits what you need.