Your guide to healing at A Time to Heal Clinic
You don’t need to know all the science to feel better—but sometimes, knowing what to expect can make starting therapy feel a whole lot less overwhelming.
If you’ve been considering EMDR therapy at A Time to Heal Clinic in Vaughan, you might be wondering:
What is this going to feel like? Do I have to talk about everything? Is this like hypnosis? Will I cry? What will my brain do?
Let’s walk through it—step by step, no jargon, no pressure. Just clarity.
First things first—do I have to talk about everything?
No. That’s one of the gentler things about EMDR.
You don’t have to retell every painful detail. EMDR is less about explaining and more about experiencing. You’ll share enough for your therapist to understand what memory or theme you want to work with, but you won’t be pushed to spill it all.
Instead, your therapist will guide you to notice—how your body responds, what emotions pop up, what images or thoughts flash by—while using a tool called bilateral stimulation (like tracking their fingers with your eyes, tapping, or listening to sounds alternating left and right). It sounds simple, but it’s powerful.
How do I prepare for my first session?
You don’t need to do anything fancy.
Just come as you are.
Your therapist will walk you through some grounding exercises ahead of time—like finding a calming image in your mind, building a container to safely tuck away experiences or choosing a “stop” signal if something feels too much. These little rituals create safety but also give you the power to take the lead and dive into emotional things at your own pace.
The 8 Phases of EMDR (aka: it’s not all eye movements)
EMDR isn’t one-size-fits-all. But it is structured. There are 8 phases that act like a trail map—your therapist knows the path, but you choose the pace.
Getting to Know You
What’s brought you in? What’s feeling stuck? This part helps build trust and gather the pieces.Preparation
You’ll learn nervous system skills to help you stay steady when things get tender. No deep dives yet—just learning how to swim.Assessment
Together, you’ll choose a specific memory or belief to focus on (like “I’m not safe” or “It was my fault”). We name the thing—but gently.Desensitization
This is where the eye movements or taps begin. You focus on the memory, and your brain begins to do the healing work it already knows how to do.Installation
We help strengthen a more true, supportive belief—something like “I’m safe now” or “It wasn’t my fault.”Body Scan
Your therapist will ask you to check in with your body—are you holding tension? Any leftover discomfort? This helps clear out what’s still stuck.Closure
Sessions end with calm. You’ll be guided back to a place of steadiness before you leave.Re-evaluation
In your next session, you’ll check in on how things are landing. Healing isn’t linear—this step helps fine-tune.
What kinds of issues can EMDR help with?
EMDR was first used for trauma, but its reach is much broader now.
It can support you if you’re navigating:
Childhood experiences that still echo in your adult life
Anxiety or panic that seems to come from nowhere
Grief that feels frozen or too big to digest
Low self-worth or stuck negative inner beliefs
Stress linked to chronic pain or illness
Performance anxiety (like public speaking or tests)
If it feels like your reactions don’t always match the moment—you’re not “overreacting.” You’re responding from a deeper place that EMDR can help access and untangle.
What will I feel during a session?
People often say things like:
“It’s weird, but I started to see things I hadn’t remembered in years.”
“I could feel something shift, like the memory was still there but didn’t hurt the same.”
“My body finally let go of something I didn’t even know I was holding.”
You might cry. You might laugh. You might feel nothing at all, and then notice subtle changes later. It’s all valid.
Wait—is EMDR just hypnosis with extra steps?
Nope. Not hypnosis.
In EMDR, you’re awake, aware, and fully in control. There’s no trance state, no suggestions planted in your subconscious. Instead, it’s your brain doing what it naturally does when given the right environment—heal.
A bit like what happens in REM sleep (yes, when your eyes move back and forth)—your brain integrates things that felt too big, too confusing, or too painful before.
One last thing...
If you’ve made it this far, maybe part of you is ready.
Ready to feel less trapped. Ready to let go of something heavy. Ready for a way forward.
At A Time to Heal Clinic in Vaughan, EMDR is offered in a way that honors your story, your pace, and your nervous system. You're not broken—and you don’t have to go it alone.
