Brooke Patterson

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based approach that helps you heal from trauma and distressing life experiences. EMDR uses guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral simulation to allow your brain to reprocess painful memories and reduce their emotional intensity.

How Does EMDR Work?

When something feels overwhelming, your brain can get stuck and prevent you from processing the memory. EMDR helps by:

• Using bilateral stimulation that targets your working memory. This involves gentle, guided eye movements, taps, or sounds.
• Allowing your memories to be reprocessed so they no longer feel as triggering.
• Helping you develop healthier beliefs and perspectives about yourself and your experiences.

Yes, research shows that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is very effective for low self-esteem. Many people with low self-esteem have had experiences that leave them feeling “less than” or believing “I’m not good enough.” EMDR works by targeting these distressing memories and present triggers in your life so that you can reprocess them. This allows for new adaptive beliefs about yourself to emerge.

I specialize in working with young adults who want to work on their self-esteem and their relationship with themselves. Throughout our work together, I’ll help you develop the confidence and skills to create your version of a fulfilled and joyful life.

Pre-martial couples counselling is an opportunity for you and your  partner to strengthen your relational skills so that you’re set up for a future built on trust, connection, and shared values.

During pre-martial couples counselling, we will discuss the relational pattern that you and your partner get stuck in and you’ll learn how to change the dance that happens between you. We will also focus on important relevant topics, including conflict resolution, finances, in-laws, intimacy, children, and, more broadly, your vision for your lives together. Pre-martial couples counselling is the best gift you can give your relationship as you begin this next phase of your lives, together. 

Pre-marital couples counselling can be helpful for couples who get stuck in conflict cycles, have competing core values, struggle to communicate effectively, or are dealing with external stressors and would like some support. 

Attending pre-martial couples counselling is not a sign that your relationship is in trouble. Rather, you can view it as an investment in your relationship that will help you learn how to communicate effectively with your partner, understand each other’s needs and expectations, and collaborate on important decisions that work for both of you.

Evidence-based approaches, such as exposure therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), are very effective at treating phobias. In my work, I use both exposure therapy and EMDR to support clients who have a specific phobia.

Exposure therapy works by gently retraining yourself to learn that you can approach your fear and handle it. Together, we collaboratively develop an exposure ladder with each rung on the ladder representing a small step you can take to face your fear. When you face your fear in controlled, repeated ways, your brain learns that you’re actually safe. As a result, your fear response naturally decreases over time.

EMDR is an effective treatment for a phobia if a traumatic or distressing event led to the phobia. We will process any distressing events with bilateral stimulation (eye movement, taps, or tones) to reduce the emotional intensity associated with specific distressing memories. We will also work on developing a positive future template that represents how you would like to behave in previously feared situations as you move into the future.