Who is a good candidate for EMDR?

EMDR is suitable for individuals dealing with trauma, PTSD, anxiety, grief, phobias, or negative self-beliefs. It’s especially effective for those who feel stuck in the past.

Do I have to talk in detail about my trauma in EMDR?

No. EMDR does not require you to verbally share all the details of your trauma. The focus is on internal processing guided by a trained therapist.

How long does EMDR therapy take?

Many clients notice progress in 6–12 sessions. However, treatment length can vary based on the complexity of the trauma.

Is EMDR therapy available online?

Yes. Rafati Counselling Services offers online EMDR sessions to clients across Ontario, ensuring safety and accessibility.

EMDR Therapy in Toronto for Trauma, PTSD, and Anxiety

Q: What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy technique that helps people heal from trauma, anxiety, and PTSD by reprocessing distressing memories using bilateral stimulation.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, evidence-based psychotherapy method designed to help people recover from trauma and emotional distress. Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro, EMDR has transformed how we understand and treat trauma, PTSD, anxiety disorders, and phobias.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR focuses on processing traumatic memories and reprogramming the brain’s response to distress. It uses bilateral stimulation (often eye movements, tapping, or tones) to help reprocess stuck or disturbing experiences, allowing the brain to naturally move toward healing.

Who Can Benefit from EMDR?

EMDR is ideal for individuals who have experienced:

Childhood trauma or abuse
Sexual or physical assault
Car accidents or medical trauma
Panic attacks or anxiety disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Grief and loss
Phobias or irrational fears
Repetitive negative thoughts and self-beliefs

Take the first step toward healing:

If you feel stuck in the past or triggered by memories that still feel fresh, EMDR may be the breakthrough you’ve been searching for.

Meet Your Therapist: Pantea Rafati, MACP, RP, EMDR Therapist

Pantea Rafati is a Toronto-based Registered Psychotherapist with a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. She is a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).

Pantea brings warmth, safety, and professionalism to every session. With advanced training in EMDR therapy, she works with clients to:

Process and reframe traumatic experiences
Reduce emotional intensity and distress
Build resilience and self-regulation
Reclaim a sense of personal safety and inner peace

How Does EMDR Therapy Work?

EMDR is an 8-phase process that helps you reprocess memories that are “stuck” or maladaptively stored in the brain:

1. History Taking & Treatment Planning

Understanding your story, goals, and identifying target memories.

2. Preparation

Explaining the EMDR process, building trust, and teaching grounding techniques.

3. Assessment

Activating the traumatic memory and identifying negative beliefs and physical sensations.

4. Desensitization

Using bilateral stimulation to process the memory and reduce emotional charge.

5. Installation

Replacing the negative belief with a positive, adaptive belief.

6. Body Scan

Checking for residual physical tension linked to the memory.

7. Closure

Ensuring emotional stability before ending the session.

8. Reevaluation

Assessing progress and identifying new targets in future sessions.

best emdr therapy in toronto

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EMDR Therapy Helps With:

Trauma: Abuse, neglect, accidents, or violence
PTSD: Flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance
Anxiety: Panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, phobias
Low Self-Esteem: Internalized negative beliefs
Phobias: Fear of flying, public speaking, dogs, heights
Medical Trauma: Painful procedures or diagnoses

Ready to feel more connected?

EMDR is supported by over 30 years of research and is recommended by major mental health organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization.

What Makes EMDR Unique?

Unlike traditional therapy, which often requires detailed discussion of traumatic events, this approach allows clients to heal without revisiting every painful memory. It works by directly targeting how trauma is stored in the brain, making it a faster and more efficient method for many people. Rather than simply teaching coping mechanisms, it promotes true healing and resolution of traumatic experiences.

EMDR for Anxiety and Phobias

Anxiety is often linked to unprocessed experiences. EMDR identifies and neutralizes the root cause of anxiety by:

Targeting fear-based memories
Reprocessing distress into manageable thoughts
Rewiring the body’s response to triggers

Many clients report significant reductions in anxiety and panic after just a few sessions.

EMDR Therapy for PTSD

PTSD can result from a single event or prolonged exposure to distress. EMDR helps people:

Desensitize disturbing memories
Stop the cycle of re-living the trauma
Reduce anxiety, nightmares, and physical symptoms
Reconnect with a sense of safety and control

You no longer have to live in reaction to your past. EMDR can help you reclaim your present.

Common EMDR Session Experiences

Clients often describe EMDR as:

Emotionally intense, but deeply relieving
A shift from feeling “stuck” to feeling empowered
Unexpected insights or memories surfacing
Experiencing emotional release and lightness

Each person’s journey is unique. Pantea ensures your pace and readiness guide the process.

Why Choose Rafati Counselling Services for EMDR?

Offering a trauma-informed and compassionate approach, this practice is led by an experienced EMDR-trained Registered Psychotherapist and provides a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment. It is culturally sensitive and conveniently located in Thornhill, Ontario.

Start Healing with EMDR

You deserve peace. You deserve healing. And it is possible.

Contact Rafati Counselling Services today and book your EMDR consultation with Pantea Rafati.