What Is EMDR Therapy? A Therapist Explains #TraumaTherapy #SomaticTherapy

In this conversation, Downtown Somatic Therapy's Avi Klein sits down with senior therapist Pia Wallgren to break down what EMDR therapy actually is — and what it isn't. Pia has been practicing EMDR for years and brings a relational, trauma-informed approach to the work. In this video, she covers: What EMDR is and how it works (including bilateral stimulation and why it matters) The difference between single-incident trauma and early childhood/developmental trauma Why there's a preparation phase before processing — and why it's worth it Common misconceptions ("Is it a silver bullet?" "Will I have to relive everything?") How EMDR compares to talk therapy and when each approach makes sense The therapist's role during reprocessing — and why you're never alone in the process 0:00 Introduction 1:07 How Pia came to EMDR 2:20 What makes Pia's approach different 5:43 What is EMDR? A plain-language explanation 6:42 Why we need to process trauma 8:05 How bilateral stimulation works 11:51 The preparation phase — and why clients find it frustrating 14:23 Common misconceptions about EMDR 17:47 Single-incident trauma vs. developmental/childhood trauma 19:55 How Pia decides when to use EMDR vs. other approaches 22:15 How people respond to taking it slow 28:24 The therapist's role during processing 31:50 Closing thoughts Whether you've heard about EMDR from a friend, a referral, or your own research, this conversation will help you understand what to expect — and what questions to ask. Interested in EMDR therapy in NYC? Learn more or reach out at www.downtownsomatictherapy.com #emdr #traumatherapy #somatictherapy #EMDRTherapyNYC #DowntownSomaticTherapy