EMDR Therapy in Salt Lake City, UT
EMDR can help the past feel more like the past.
You’re ready for a different way to work through what happened.
Maybe you’ve already talked about what happened. You understand why you react the way you do, and you can explain your patterns backward and forward. But insight hasn’t stopped your chest from tightening, your mind from replaying the same moment, or your nervous system from preparing for something bad to happen.
That doesn’t mean therapy hasn’t worked. It may mean that understanding the experience and fully processing it are two different things.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured form of therapy that helps your brain revisit distressing experiences without requiring you to describe every detail aloud. We work with the memories, emotions, beliefs, and body sensations that still carry a charge.
I’m an EMDRIA-certified therapist with eight years of experience using EMDR. I’ll help you approach this work carefully, with preparation, clear pacing, and practical tools to keep you grounded along the way.
About EMDR therapy for trauma
How does EMDR work?
During EMDR, you briefly focus on a distressing memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, usually guided eye movements or alternating taps.
This process helps your brain make new connections around an experience that may not have been fully processed when it happened. The memory doesn’t disappear, but it can begin to feel less immediate, less overwhelming, and less powerful.
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What should you expect?
We don’t jump directly into the hardest memory.
We’ll begin by understanding what brings you to therapy, identifying your goals, and building regulation skills you can use inside and outside our sessions. When you’re ready, we’ll choose a specific target and move through the process at a pace your nervous system can handle.
You remain awake, aware, and in control throughout the session.
If you’re nervous about how EMDR might affect you, here’s a guide to what to expect after an EMDR session.
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How can EMDR help?
As an experience becomes less emotionally charged, you may notice that triggers feel more manageable, intrusive memories come up less often, or an old belief no longer feels entirely true.
The goal isn’t to erase what happened. It’s to help the experience take up less space in your present so you have more freedom in how you respond now.
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You stay in control of the pace, the process, and what you share.
EMDR may be a good fit for you if…
You understand what happened intellectually, but your body still reacts as though you’re in danger.
A particular memory, relationship, loss, or experience still feels more present than past.
You experience triggers, intrusive memories, nightmares, shutdown, or a constant sense of being on guard.
Talk therapy has helped you gain insight, but you still feel stuck in the same emotional reaction.
You carry shame, fear, or self-blame connected to a painful relationship or religious experience.
You avoid certain conversations, places, people, or situations because of what they bring up.
You want a structured approach that does not require you to describe every detail aloud.
You’re willing to build safety and regulation skills before moving into deeper processing.
EMDR is not automatically the right approach for every person or every concern. We’ll talk about what you’re experiencing, what you want to change, and whether EMDR makes sense for you.
If you’re looking for broader support with the effects of trauma, learn more about my Trauma Therapy in Salt Lake City services. If your experience involves a high-control faith environment, spiritual harm, or a faith transition, visit my Religious Trauma Therapy page.
Together we will…
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Prepare
Before processing difficult material, we’ll create a foundation of safety.
You’ll learn grounding and regulation strategies, understand how EMDR works, and identify the signals that tell us when to continue, slow down, or pause. We’ll also decide which experience to begin with rather than trying to address everything at once.
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Reprocess
When you’re ready, we’ll bring a specific memory or experience to mind while using bilateral stimulation.
You may notice images, thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations shift as your brain makes new connections. You don’t need to force anything or explain every thought that arises. I’ll guide the process and check in with you throughout.
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Integrate
We’ll pay attention to what changes during sessions and in your daily life.
A trigger may feel less intense. An old belief may loosen. You may have more space between what you feel and how you respond. We’ll reinforce those changes, address anything unfinished, and make sure you leave each session feeling adequately grounded.
EMDR with an experienced, certified therapist
I’m Nicole Herway, an EMDRIA-certified therapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I have eight years of experience practicing EMDR and provide consultation to other clinicians working with trauma and complex cases.
My approach is practical, collaborative, and carefully paced. EMDR is one tool, not something I apply automatically or rush you into. When it is a good fit, I integrate it with stabilization skills and strategies you can use between sessions so that change carries into your daily life.
I offer in-person EMDR therapy at my Murray office, minutes from Salt Lake City, Holladay, and Cottonwood Heights. I also provide online EMDR therapy throughout Utah.
What happened may always be part of your story.
But it doesn’t have to keep feeling like it is happening now.
FAQS About EMDR
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EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a structured form of therapy that uses bilateral stimulation, often guided eye movements or alternating taps, while you briefly focus on parts of a distressing experience.
The goal is to help your brain process the memory so it feels less immediate and disruptive in your present life.
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No. You’ll need to share enough for us to identify what you want to work on, but EMDR does not require a detailed verbal retelling of everything that happened.
During processing, you can describe as much or as little as feels useful. Much of the work happens through noticing internal changes rather than explaining every part of the experience aloud.
This is a big pivot from the early days of trauma work, and is one of the wonderful aspects of EMDR. You are in the driver’s seat, and we respect your body and mind every step of the way.
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EMDR asks you to briefly bring aspects of an experience to mind, but the goal is not to make you relive it or become overwhelmed. We focus on the negative beliefs you have about yourself because of the experience, so understanding your inner experience is a vital part of the process.
Preparation and pacing matter. We’ll build grounding skills first, monitor how your nervous system is responding, and pause whenever necessary. You remain in control throughout the process.
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EMDR is most closely associated with trauma and PTSD, but it may also help with distress connected to painful relationships, religious trauma, loss, shame, anxiety, upsetting childhood experiences, and memories that continue to trigger strong reactions.
We’ll discuss your symptoms and goals before deciding whether EMDR is the most appropriate approach.
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There is no universal timeline, and we regularly discuss progress in treatment to assess for growth and healing. A single, clearly defined experience may require less time than longstanding or repeated trauma.
Your readiness, current stressors, support system, and treatment goals all affect the process. We’ll establish clear goals and regularly evaluate whether the work is helping.
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EMDR is generally considered safe when you’re properly assessed and prepared. Some people notice temporary effects after a session, such as fatigue, vivid dreams, or feeling emotionally raw. These usually ease within a day or two. For a closer look, read my post on EMDR side effects and risks.
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Yes. I offer secure online EMDR therapy to clients throughout Utah, as well as in-person appointments at my Murray office.
We’ll discuss privacy, technology, bilateral-stimulation options, and how you can remain grounded before beginning EMDR remotely.
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Yes. I’m an EMDRIA-certified therapist with eight years of experience practicing EMDR. I also provide consultation to other clinicians working with trauma cases.
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I’m currently paneled with Blue Cross and Blue Shield HMHI-BHN, EMI Health, and some University of Utah Health Plans. Coverage varies by plan, so I recommend confirming your behavioral-health benefits directly with your insurance provider.
More questions? Check out my FAQs page.
