EMDR therapist in
Burlington,
Ontario
Our registered EMDR-trained trauma therapists serve Burlington, Ontario in-person at our Harvester Rd clinic and online across the province — for PTSD, single-incident trauma, phobias, panic, and trauma processing. Same-day availability, no waitlist, free 15-minute discovery call.
Our EMDR therapists in Burlington
Alisa offers trauma reprocessing in-person at our Burlington clinic and online across Ontario, with a particular focus on complex trauma (CPTSD). She does not run a purist 8-phase EMDR protocol but uses EMDR-adjacent trauma reprocessing methods drawing on trauma-informed CBT, DBT, EFT, and somatic awareness within a warm, slow, relational style that prioritises safety and attunement. If you specifically want classical EMDR, please mention this on your discovery call so we can match you appropriately.
Olga is a Gestalt-trained Registered Psychotherapist with 7+ years of clinical experience offering trauma reprocessing in-person in Oakville and online across Burlington and Halton Region. Her approach is somatic and Gestalt-informed rather than purist EMDR — a compatible bilateral-attention and body-based reprocessing style that attends to how trauma is held in the body. Particularly suited to clients drawn to a slower, relational alternative to protocol EMDR. Mention purist EMDR preference on your discovery call.
More EMDR therapists — online across Ontario
Donna brings 18+ years of clinical experience, making her one of the most experienced trauma therapists in our practice. She provides trauma reprocessing online to Burlington residents and across Ontario using a trauma-informed framework drawn from CBT, DBT, Mindfulness-Based, Solution-Focused and Person-Centred therapy — EMDR-adjacent processing rather than purist EMDR protocol. She works with PTSD, complex trauma, trauma and addiction, and the lasting impact of adverse childhood experience. Mention if you specifically want classical EMDR.
Justine is a Registered Social Worker (M.S.W., R.S.W.) offering trauma reprocessing online to Burlington-area clients and across Ontario. Her trauma-informed integrative approach draws on CBT, DBT, Attachment-Based therapy and MBSR, and is well aligned with EMDR-style memory and emotional processing without running the purist 8-phase protocol. She brings particular depth in intergenerational trauma, family trauma, crisis intervention, child and youth trauma, and Indigenous mental health.
Oksana specialises in developmental trauma — the impact of early relational experience on adult patterns of anxiety, self-worth, and relationships. Her work is developmental and attachment-based rather than EMDR protocol-driven; for clients whose trauma sits primarily in early relational patterns rather than single-incident memory, this depth-orientated approach often suits better than EMDR. She offers sessions in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.
Gina is a Registered Psychotherapist (MA, RP) offering online therapy to Burlington-area clients and across Ontario, drawing from CBT, ACT, DBT, and mindfulness-based methods. She does not run EMDR but her trauma-informed lens suits clients whose anxiety, low self-esteem, or self-critical patterns are rooted in past experiences — useful as adjunct or alternative work to formal EMDR. Sessions in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
Our Burlington trauma practitioners also see clients at Anytime Anywhere Therapy, a few steps away.
Visit clinic website →EMDR therapy in Burlington, Ontario
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured, eight-phase trauma therapy developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It uses bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements, alternating taps, or audio tones — while the client briefly attends to a distressing memory. Over a series of sessions the memory loses its emotional charge and becomes integrated as ordinary autobiographical recall rather than a re-experienced event. The World Health Organization recommends EMDR alongside trauma-focused CBT as a first-line treatment for PTSD.
At GestaltReview, our Burlington trauma therapists offer EMDR and EMDR-adjacent reprocessing methods including trauma-informed CBT, somatic reprocessing, and Gestalt-informed trauma work. Not every practitioner runs the purist 8-phase EMDR protocol — some integrate bilateral and body-based reprocessing within a wider trauma-informed frame. If you specifically want classical EMDR, please mention this on your discovery call so we can match you appropriately.
In-person EMDR sessions in Burlington are available at 3425 Harvester Rd, Unit 213. Online EMDR is available province-wide using validated remote bilateral-stimulation tools. Sessions start at $140, are HST exempt, and all practitioners hold current registration with CRPO or OCSWSSW.
Is EMDR right for you?
EMDR has its strongest evidence base for single-incident PTSD — trauma stemming from a discrete event such as an accident, assault, medical emergency, disaster, or sudden loss. It is also well-supported for specific phobias, panic disorder, and performance anxiety where a recallable distressing memory drives the present-day reaction. Many clients see meaningful reduction in distress within 6 to 12 sessions for these presentations.
For complex or developmental trauma — patterns rooted in chronic relational injury, neglect, or adverse childhood experience — EMDR can still be useful, but is typically embedded in a longer trauma-informed therapy and preceded by significant stabilisation work. For these presentations, somatic, relational, attachment-based, or Gestalt-informed approaches often suit better than protocol EMDR alone.
EMDR is generally not appropriate during active crisis, active dissociation without preparatory work, or when adequate stabilisation has not yet been established. A trauma-trained therapist will assess this carefully before beginning processing. The free 15-minute discovery call lets you and the practitioner explore whether EMDR — or an EMDR-adjacent approach — is the right fit for your situation.
EMDR vs other trauma approaches compared
EMDR is one of several evidence-supported trauma reprocessing modalities. This table helps you compare the key differences before booking your free discovery call.
| Approach | EMDR | Trauma-focused CBT | Somatic Experiencing | Brainspotting | Gestalt/Relational |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Memory reprocessing via bilateral stimulation | Thoughts, beliefs & avoidance patterns | Body, nervous system & survival responses | Visual field & brain-body trauma access | Relationship, contact, meaning |
| Best for | Single-incident PTSD, phobias, panic | PTSD with avoidance, intrusive thoughts | Body-held trauma, dissociation, freeze | Trauma resistant to talking therapy | Complex & developmental trauma |
| Structure | Structured 8-phase protocol | Structured, skill-based | Exploratory, body-led | Semi-structured, attentional | Relational, exploratory |
| Body-focused | Partly (bilateral stimulation) | Minimal | Yes — central | Yes — brain-body bridge | Yes — central |
| Evidence base | Strong — WHO recommended | Very strong — first-line for PTSD | Growing | Emerging | Growing — strong for relational |
| Session length | 50–90 min | 50 min | 50–60 min | 50–60 min | 50 min |
EMDR therapy across Halton Region and Ontario
All our EMDR-trained therapists offer online sessions province-wide. In-person EMDR is available in Burlington, with trauma reprocessing also offered in nearby Oakville and Mississauga.
Common questions about EMDR
What is EMDR and how does it work?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured trauma therapy in which the client briefly attends to a distressing memory while the therapist guides bilateral stimulation — typically side-to-side eye movements, alternating taps, or audio tones. The theory is that this dual attention — holding the memory while engaging the brain in another task — allows the memory to be reprocessed and stored as ordinary autobiographical material rather than a re-experienced threat. The full protocol unfolds across eight phases, beginning with history, preparation and resourcing before any reprocessing begins.
What conditions does EMDR treat?
EMDR has its strongest evidence base for single-incident PTSD — trauma stemming from a discrete event such as an accident, assault, medical emergency, or sudden loss. It is also well-supported for specific phobias, panic disorder, performance anxiety, and acute grief reactions. EMDR can be useful for complex PTSD and developmental trauma but is typically embedded in a longer trauma-informed therapy and preceded by significant stabilisation work. It is not a first-line treatment for psychosis, active addiction, or active suicidal crisis; these require stabilisation first.
How many EMDR sessions are needed?
For single-incident PTSD, many clients see meaningful reduction in distress within 6 to 12 sessions, sometimes fewer. Multiple-incident or complex trauma typically requires longer — often 20 sessions or more — because each memory network is processed separately and additional stabilisation work is interspersed. Sessions usually run 50 to 90 minutes to give adequate time for full reprocessing within a single sitting. Your therapist will give a clearer estimate after the initial history-taking and assessment phases.
Is EMDR safe?
EMDR is generally safe when delivered by a trauma-trained, registered therapist who properly assesses readiness and builds preparation and resourcing before reprocessing begins. The most common short-term effect is temporary increased emotional intensity or vivid dreams between sessions — a sign that reprocessing is occurring. EMDR is not recommended during active crisis, active dissociation without preparation, or significant unmanaged substance use. A trauma-trained therapist will assess this and may recommend stabilisation, somatic, or relational work first — EMDR is a tool, not the only one.
Is online EMDR effective?
Yes — research and clinical experience since 2020 support online EMDR as effective for most presentations where in-person EMDR is indicated. Bilateral stimulation can be delivered remotely through guided eye movements on screen, validated mobile and desktop apps that the client uses during session, or self-tapping with the therapist's guidance. The therapeutic relationship and pacing remain the most important factors. All our online practitioners use PHIPA-compliant, encrypted platforms. For severely dysregulated trauma or active dissociation, in-person sessions may still be preferable.
How much does EMDR therapy in Burlington cost?
EMDR and trauma reprocessing sessions in Burlington at GestaltReview range from $140 to $190 per 50-minute session, depending on the practitioner. Extended 90-minute EMDR sessions may be priced accordingly. Sliding scale is available if cost is a barrier — mention this on your free discovery call. Psychotherapy is HST exempt in Ontario. Most extended health benefit plans cover registered psychotherapy; confirm your coverage and annual limit with your insurer before starting, as trauma reprocessing often involves multiple sessions.
Understanding EMDR and trauma reprocessing — editorial resources
GestaltReview's editorial content explores how trauma reprocessing methods — EMDR, somatic, and Gestalt-informed — work in practice and where they differ. Whether you are weighing classical EMDR against more relational or somatic alternatives, or trying to understand why the therapeutic relationship matters as much as the technique, the articles below offer substantive grounding.
Coming to a first EMDR or trauma reprocessing session with some understanding of what to expect and why pacing matters can help reduce anticipatory anxiety. Our trauma therapists welcome clients who arrive curious about the process.