EMDR therapy in Ontario, online
A structured, evidence-based approach for working with distressing memories and the thoughts, emotions, and body sensations that remain connected to them.
- Online across Ontario
- Secure video
- Free 15-minute call first
- CRPO#17275
- Verified on
This may be the right fit if
- There is one event, or a handful of them, that you still avoid thinking about
- Intrusive images, flashbacks, or dreams bring you back to the same experience
- Your reaction feels much bigger than what is happening in front of you now
- You have talked about it more than once, but it still carries the same emotional charge
- Particular sounds, smells, dates, places, or situations reliably bring the reaction back
None of this is a diagnosis, and you don’t need to identify with all of it. If one line rings true, that’s enough to start a conversation.
Not sure this is the right approach for you?
If something above rings true, that’s enough to start a conversation. Working out which approach makes sense is something we can figure out together. You don’t have to settle that before getting in touch.
Book a free 15-minute callFifteen minutes, free, with nothing to prepare and no obligation to book sessions.
Some difficult memories become less emotionally charged with time. Traumatic experiences can be different. A memory may continue to feel intensely present, with images, sensations, emotions, or beliefs that are easily triggered by something happening now.
EMDR is designed to help you work with those memories so that what happened can feel more like something that happened in the past, rather than something your mind and body continue to respond to as though it is happening now.
Is EMDR going to make me relive it?
EMDR can involve bringing a difficult memory to mind, but the goal is not to make you relive the experience.
While you hold a particular aspect of the memory in mind, we use bilateral stimulation. Online, this may involve following a moving point on your screen or using alternating taps or other forms of stimulation you can do yourself.
You may notice memories, thoughts, sensations, emotions, or associations arising as we work. You don’t have to narrate the entire event in detail, and you can pause, slow down, or stop at any point.
How well evidenced is it?
EMDR is an established trauma-focused psychotherapy with a substantial research base. It is recommended for post-traumatic stress disorder in clinical guidelines, including guidance from the World Health Organization.
As with any therapy, evidence for EMDR does not mean it is the right approach for everyone. Part of our work is considering whether it makes sense for what you’re experiencing.
How do you use it?
EMDR is not something I use automatically or in isolation. I integrate it with preparation, grounding, and body-based work when those approaches are helpful.
We don’t move into memory reprocessing simply because a difficult memory exists. We first develop enough stability and resources for you to approach the work without becoming overwhelmed.
For some people, EMDR becomes a central part of therapy. For others, it may be used selectively for particular memories or experiences while we spend more time working with longer-standing patterns, relationships, or nervous-system responses.
“People often expect the reprocessing to be the hardest part. Preparation is what helps make the work manageable.”
Anjana Iyer, Registered Psychotherapist
What will the work look like?
History and mapping
We look at what has happened, how it is affecting you now, and which experiences or memories may be connected to the patterns you’re experiencing. The most important starting point isn’t always the event you would expect.
Preparation and stabilisation
We develop resources you can use to settle yourself, notice when activation is increasing, and return to a sense of stability. We also establish a clear way for you to pause or stop the process whenever you need to.
Identifying a target
We focus on a specific memory or experience and identify the image, belief, emotions, and body sensations connected with it.
Reprocessing
We use sets of bilateral stimulation while you hold the target in mind, pausing regularly to notice what you experience and what changes. You remain involved in the process throughout.
Strengthening and body awareness
Once the distress associated with the memory has shifted, we work with a more adaptive belief and check whether any physical activation remains.
Closure and review
Sessions end with time to return to a more settled state, whether or not we have completed the target. We review what you notice between sessions and use that information to guide what comes next.
This is the usual order rather than a fixed schedule. People move back and forth through these stages, and spending significant time on preparation is completely normal.
Questions people ask before they book
Does EMDR work over video?
Yes. Bilateral stimulation can be adapted for online therapy using visual, auditory, or tactile methods. Online EMDR is widely practised, but what matters most is having a private, uninterrupted space and enough stability to engage with the work.
Will I have to describe what happened in detail?
No. EMDR generally involves less narration than traditional approaches that rely heavily on talking through an experience. You will need to bring the memory to mind and tell me what you are noticing as we work, but you do not have to tell me the entire story or describe every detail.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
It depends on what we’re working with. A single event may require less treatment time than trauma that occurred repeatedly or over many years. Preparation and stabilisation can also take time, particularly when there is a history of complex or ongoing trauma. Once I understand more about what you’re experiencing, I can give you a better sense of what the process might look like.
Is EMDR safe if I have complex trauma?
EMDR can be used with complex trauma, but the pacing and preparation matter. When someone has difficulty staying within a manageable range of emotional activation, we may spend more time developing stability before beginning reprocessing. The work is adjusted to your capacity rather than following a predetermined timeline.
What if the eye movements don’t do anything for me?
Bilateral stimulation doesn’t have to involve eye movements. Depending on what works for you, we can use visual, auditory, or tactile forms of stimulation. And if EMDR isn’t the right approach for what you’re bringing, we don’t force it. Other approaches, including somatic therapy, grounding, mindfulness, and CBT, may be more useful for different parts of the work.
Other approaches that may be part of the work
These are some of the approaches that may sit alongside EMDR. Any of them can become more central depending on what you’re experiencing and what we’re working toward.
Recommended by other therapists
Registered psychotherapists are not permitted to publish client testimonials in Ontario, and I would not want to. These are endorsements from other registered therapists, left publicly on my Psychology Today profile.
Anjana brings something rare to her work: a trauma-informed, somatic approach grounded in EMDR and genuine attunement. She holds clients through the kind of healing that goes beyond the surface. A colleague I refer to with confidence.
Blanca Alagon
Registered Psychotherapist
Anjana is a thoughtful, compassionate, and highly skilled psychotherapist. She brings warmth, professionalism, and genuine care to her work, creating a supportive space where clients can feel understood and empowered to make meaningful change.
Max Tkachenko
Registered Psychotherapist, MEd, C-EFIT
Anjana is a compassionate therapist who supports adults with anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, life transitions, and burnout. She brings a calm, steady presence and offers a culturally aware space where clients can reflect and move toward healing.
Kamakshi Marwah
Registered Psychotherapist, MA, MSc
Can you see me where I live?
Yes, if you’re in Ontario. Sessions are held online, so you can work with me from wherever you are in the province, including Durham Region, York Region, Halton, Barrie, Guelph, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Sudbury and Thunder Bay.
All you need is a private space where you can talk freely and an hour that belongs to you.
What happens next?
A free 15-minute call.
No preparation, no obligation, and nothing to book during the call. It’s a chance to tell me a little about what’s bringing you in, ask questions, and hear how I work.
If you’d rather look at the practical details first, you can read about fees, insurance, and the other concerns I work with.