Low Cost EMDR Therapy in Vancouver: Healing from Trauma and the Experiences That Keep You Stuck
An article by Liz Vossen
Marcus thought he was handling the breakup well. Eight months after discovering his partner’s affair, he’d done everything “right”—therapy, journaling, leaning on friends. He could talk about it without crying and knew the betrayal wasn’t his fault. By all measures, he should have been moving on.
But his body disagreed. When someone he dated took too long to text back, his chest tightened. If a new partner mentioned an ex, he found himself scanning for inconsistencies. Some nights he woke at 3 AM replaying conversations, searching for signs of deception that weren’t there. Insight hadn’t changed how his body responded to intimacy. He needed something that reached the level where the trauma still lived.
What is EMDR therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of psychotherapy designed to help people recover from distressing or traumatic experiences that continue to influence their present lives. Whether it's a single traumatic event like an assault or an accident, accumulated difficult experiences like growing up in an unpredictable household, or betrayals that shattered your sense of safety, EMDR helps the brain process these memories so they become less overwhelming and more integrated into one’s life story.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses gentle bilateral stimulation such as eye movements, tapping, or sounds to engage both hemispheres of the brain while revisiting stored memories. This process allows the nervous system to release the emotional charge associated with those experiences. Over time, they become easier to think about without triggering the same physical or emotional reactions.
EMDR is supported by extensive research and is recommended by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA) for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is also increasingly used to help with anxiety, depression, phobias, grief, and the deeper experiential roots of patterns that keep people stuck.
How trauma and unprocessed experiences affect you
Trauma comes in many forms. There's "Big-T" trauma: events like accidents, assaults, natural disasters, or sudden losses that are clearly overwhelming. But there's also "small-t" trauma: accumulated experiences of criticism, neglect, rejection, or betrayal that your brain didn't have the resources to fully process.
Trauma is not only what happens, but also how the body responds. When a distressing event occurs, the brain may not fully process it. Instead of being stored as a complete memory, fragments remain “stuck” in the nervous system. These fragments can resurface as flashbacks, irritability, sleep issues, or an ongoing sense of alertness.
When Marcus discovered the affair, his brain tried to make sense of something that shattered his understanding of safety and trust. But betrayal trauma is complex—it's not just one moment, it's the discovery, the lies leading up to it, the realization that reality wasn't what he thought, and the ongoing impact on his sense of judgment. His brain couldn't neatly "file away" this experience, so fragments remained stuck in his nervous system.
These unprocessed experiences don't just stay in the past, they create templates that influence how you respond to current situations:
A betrayal might create hypervigilance in new relationships, even with trustworthy partners
Childhood experiences of criticism might drive perfectionism or chronic self-doubt
Growing up in unpredictability might manifest as control issues or constant anxiety
Repeated experiences of dismissal might lead to difficulty expressing needs or taking up space
Your brain isn't broken, it's operating on old information, trying to keep you safe based on what happened before. EMDR helps update that information so your nervous system can respond to your present reality rather than your past experiences.
The difference between talk therapy and EMDR
Both approaches are valuable, but they work at different levels.
Traditional Talk Therapy:
Focuses on understanding and insight
Helps you make meaning of your experiences
Develops coping strategies and new perspectives
Works primarily through the thinking mind
EMDR Therapy:
Focuses on reprocessing and nervous system integration
Helps your brain complete what it couldn't finish when the experience occurred
Directly targets the stored memories maintaining current struggles
Works with the brain's natural healing capacity
Many people benefit from both. Talk therapy builds understanding and resources, while EMDR addresses the experiential roots that insight alone can't shift.
Marcus had spent months in talk therapy understanding why the betrayal hurt so much, exploring his attachment style, and learning about trust. This was valuable but it didn't change the fact that his body still activated its alarm system every time a new partner was slightly late or mentioned an ex. He needed something that worked where the trauma was actually stored: in his nervous system.
What an EMDR session looks like
EMDR therapy follows a structured eight phase approach that keeps you in control throughout the process:
History and preparation – You and your therapist will discuss your history. You also learn grounding techniques to help you feel safe.
Target identification – Together, you identify specific memories or experiences that may be maintaining your current struggles; they’ll ask you about any images, or sensations that still cause distress.
Desensitization – You focus on the memory while following guided eye movements, sounds, or taps that engage both sides of the brain. Your therapist guides the process while you notice what emerges—images, sensations, emotions, or new insights.
Reprocessing and installation – As emotional intensity decreases, the therapist helps reinforce a new belief such as “I trust my judgement now” or “I am safe in this relationship.”
Body scan and closure – You check in with physical sensations and use grounding exercises before ending the session, ensuring you leave feeling stable. Over time, EMDR helps transform distressing memories into experiences that can be remembered without triggering overwhelming reactions.
Who can benefit from EMDR therapy?
EMDR can be helpful for people dealing with:
Recognized Trauma:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Childhood abuse or neglect
Accidents or medical trauma
Assault or violence
Sudden loss or grief
Relationship trauma and betrayal
Witnessing violence or traumatic events
Panic attacks and phobias
Performance anxiety
Patterns Rooted in Difficult Experiences:
Trust issues and hypervigilance in relationships (like Marcus)
Perfectionism driven by early critical experiences
Chronic self-criticism rooted in past messages
People-pleasing behaviors developed as survival strategies
Anxiety tied to specific past experiences
Self-sabotage connected to old beliefs about worthiness
Difficulty setting boundaries stemming from childhood dynamics
Why affordable EMDR therapy matters
In Vancouver, EMDR sessions with senior therapists often range from $150 to $250 per session. This can make consistent therapy difficult for those without extended health benefits. Yet trauma recovery often requires regular sessions over several months.
Affordable or low-cost EMDR therapy helps close that gap by making evidence-based trauma care accessible to people of all income levels. The goal is not to cut corners, but to make professional, supervised support available to anyone ready to start healing.
What healing can look like
People often describe EMDR as a quiet shift. The memories remain, but they lose their grip. Sleep improves, tension eases, and daily triggers become more manageable. Many say they begin to feel calmer, more confident, and more connected to their present life.
Healing does not mean forgetting the past. It means being able to think about it without feeling trapped inside it. EMDR helps people reach that point with safety and self-compassion.
After three months of EMDR, Marcus noticed something remarkable: he could hear his new partner say "I'm going out with friends tonight" without his mind immediately jumping to worst-case scenarios. The betrayal memory was still there—he could remember the affair happening—but it no longer controlled his body's response to everyday relationship moments.
Next steps
Trauma can affect how you see yourself and the world, but it does not have to define your future. EMDR therapy provides a structured, compassionate way to process the past and move toward peace of mind.
At Vancouver Therapy Collective, we believe that effective trauma therapy should be within reach. Our affordable EMDR sessions in Vancouver and across BC make healing possible for more people, regardless of income or background.
If you are ready to take the next step, reach out to learn more about how EMDR therapy can support your recovery and help you feel grounded again.
Frequently Asked Questions about EMDR Therapy
How long does EMDR therapy take?
The length of treatment depends on the person and the nature of the trauma. Some people experience significant relief after a few sessions, while others may work through multiple memories over several months. The therapist will always move at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
Is EMDR only for PTSD?
No. While EMDR was first developed for post-traumatic stress, it is also effective for anxiety, depression, grief, phobias, and other emotional difficulties linked to past experiences.
Does EMDR require talking in detail about the trauma?
Not necessarily. Unlike some other approaches, EMDR does not require detailed verbal descriptions of the event. The focus is on how the memory feels in the body and mind, rather than recounting every detail.
Is EMDR safe?
When provided by a trained therapist, EMDR is considered a safe and evidence-based treatment. Some emotional discomfort can occur as memories are processed, but the therapist ensures you have tools to stay grounded and present.
Can EMDR be done online?
Yes. Many EMDR therapists now provide secure online sessions using visual or auditory bilateral stimulation. Research indicates that virtual EMDR can be just as effective as in-person treatment for many people.
About the author: Liz Vossen, M.Sc. - Trauma-Informed Therapy
Liz Vossen works with people whose past experiences, whether clear traumatic events or accumulated difficult moments, continue to influence their present lives in unwanted ways. Through trauma-informed therapeutic approaches, she helps clients understand the experiential roots of patterns like hypervigilance, people-pleasing, trust issues, perfectionism, and chronic self-doubt. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between insight and actual change, helping you move from understanding why you're stuck to actually becoming unstuck. She's passionate about accessible mental health care and believes that effective therapy shouldn't be financially out of reach.
Affordable EMDR therapy at the Vancouver Therapy Collective
At Vancouver Therapy Collective, we offer affordable EMDR therapy for adults in Vancouver and across British Columbia. Our focus is on trauma-informed, evidence-based care that respects each person’s pace and background.
Clients are matched with practicum counsellors in the final year of their master’s program or with associate therapists trained in EMDR, all working under close professional supervision. Fees are based on a sliding scale that reflects individual financial resources. Counselling is available in person at our Kitsilano office and online across BC, with flexible daytime, evening, and weekend appointments.
Our goal is simple: to make high-quality trauma therapy accessible to anyone seeking recovery.
If you are interested in learning more or trying low cost EMDR therapy, please feel free to fill out the contact form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible!
