Single-incident trauma
After one overwhelming event; examples are described in the trauma section below.
EMDR THERAPIST IN BURLINGTON
EMDR Therapy in Burlington
Past experiences can keep showing up as anxiety, strong reactions, or beliefs about yourself that are hard to shift.
EMDR therapy helps people process distressing experiences and the emotional charge they still carry.
Angelica Esposito, MA, MSW, RSW · Adults 18+
In person in Burlington · Online across Ontario · English & Italian
UNDERSTANDING EMDR
What is EMDR therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy approach that helps people process distressing experiences that may still be affecting them today.
The goal isn’t to erase your memories. It’s to help them feel less overwhelming and change how they affect you in the present.
MEMORIES, EMOTIONS & EVERYDAY LIFE
What can EMDR help with?
EMDR is best established for PTSD. It’s also used for other difficulties linked to distressing experiences; its usefulness depends on your circumstances and goals.
Childhood and relational trauma
Early experiences or repeated harm in relationships.
Distressing memories
Memories that interrupt everyday life or still carry a strong emotional charge.
Negative beliefs about yourself
Thoughts like “I’m not good enough,” “I’m unsafe,” or “I don’t belong.”
Anxiety and fears
Strong reactions connected to difficult experiences or reminders of what happened.
Emotional and relationship patterns
Present-day triggers or reactions that seem connected to earlier experiences.
Grief and loss
Painful memories or emotional responses connected to losing someone or something meaningful.
TRAUMA EXPERIENCES & EVERYDAY LIFE
One overwhelming experience.
Or a history that still affects you.
Trauma can follow one event or repeated experiences. These descriptions give examples of support, rather than diagnostic labels.
Single-Incident & Recent Trauma
After a car accident, assault, frightening medical experience, distressing event, or traumatic loss, everyday activities may feel different. Unwanted memories, alertness, or avoidance can affect driving, sleep, concentration, or appointments.
The event might be recent or years in the past. Experiencing something overwhelming doesn’t automatically mean you’ll develop PTSD.
Childhood & Developmental Trauma
Emotional neglect, frequent criticism, unpredictability, or difficult family relationships can shape beliefs about yourself and others. Later, those experiences may show up as self-criticism, difficulty trusting your judgment, or strong reactions in relationships.
Relational & Complex Trauma
Repeated harmful experiences can affect trust, emotions, boundaries, and your sense of safety. You might watch for what could go wrong, pull away, or want closeness while also feeling wary of it.
Recent stress reactions and longer-lasting difficulties
Recent events, acute reactions, and lasting difficulties
After a frightening event, feeling shaken, having trouble sleeping, or being on edge can be understandable stress responses. For some people these ease over time; for others they continue or become harder to manage.
Acute stress disorder and PTSD have specific diagnostic criteria, including different time frames. They aren’t interchangeable with everyday stress reactions. If a diagnosis is relevant, I’ll explain it in plain language and we’ll talk about what it means for you.
Further reading: National Center for PTSD: acute stress disorder (opens in a new tab).
How we can approach the work
Alongside EMDR, I may draw on IFS-informed therapy, ACT, or somatic-informed approaches. The session section below explains how we begin.
I offer planned outpatient psychotherapy for adults 18+, in Burlington and online across Ontario. AE Therapy isn’t an emergency or crisis-response service.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation ↗MEMORIES, BELIEFS & THE PRESENT
Why do some experiences stay with us?
Usually, our brains make sense of what happens to us over time. But an upsetting or overwhelming experience can stay emotionally charged, even when you know it’s over.
You might understand that you’re safe now, while your body goes on high alert or an old belief shows up. EMDR helps you work through those experiences so they can feel more like part of your past.
This is the idea behind the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, which helps explain how EMDR is understood to work.
WHAT TO EXPECT
What does EMDR actually look like?
We’ll take things at a pace that feels manageable, and I’ll explain what we’re doing along the way. You can ask questions or pause at any point.
First, we get to know you.
We’ll talk about your experiences, what you’d like help with, and the support around you. Together, we’ll decide what to work on and discuss the process so you can make informed choices.
We build useful resources.
We’ll practise ways to stay connected to the present and manage difficult feelings, with tools you can also use between sessions.
We work with selected memories.
I’ll guide you through steps that may involve eye movements or alternating taps. You don’t have to describe every detail or find perfect words. We’ll check in about what you’re noticing and how the work is unfolding.
THE EMDR PROCESS
The 8 Phases of EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy is a structured, eight-phase approach that goes beyond eye movements. Each phase plays an important role in helping you prepare for, process, and integrate difficult experiences. The process is individualized, and we move at a pace that feels manageable for you.
Click to enlarge
Understanding the Eight Phases of EMDR Therapy
If you’d like a fuller picture, this video explains the eight phases of EMDR, from our first conversations through processing memories and reviewing how things are going.
Video created by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA).
Watch “What Is EMDR Therapy?” on YouTube
Use this link if the embedded player is unavailable.
YOUR QUESTIONS MATTER
You stay part
of every decision.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on what brings you here and how the work unfolds. We’ll check in about what’s changing and what you need as we go.
Can sessions feel emotional?
Yes, difficult memories can bring up strong feelings or physical sensations. We’ll talk about what you might notice during and between sessions, and what support could help.
Can I access online EMDR therapy in Ontario?
Yes. I offer online EMDR therapy across Ontario. We’ll talk through the setup, including a private space, a reliable connection, and what to do if we get disconnected.
CLOSE TO HOME
EMDR in Burlington
and online across Ontario.
I’m Angelica Esposito, MA, MSW, RSW, a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. My training includes EMDR Basic Training and advanced EMDR training, and I’m a member of EMDRIA and EMDR Canada. Learn more about my background and approach.
You can meet me at AE Therapy, 3344 Mainway in Burlington, or online from elsewhere in Ontario. Sessions are available in English and Italian.
PRACTICAL DETAILS
Sessions at a glance.
Appointment length and fee
Individual therapy appointments are $195 for 60 minutes, including approximately 50 minutes of direct therapy and 10 minutes for documentation and related administrative tasks. Extended appointments are $290 for 90 minutes, including approximately 75 minutes of direct therapy and 15 minutes for documentation and case review. Please discuss a different session length in advance.
Insurance and payment
Coverage depends on your plan. Ask your insurer whether psychotherapy provided by a Registered Social Worker is covered. Receipts are available for reimbursement.
Payment is by e-transfer or credit card; credit card payments have a $5 processing surcharge. Read the full session, payment, and cancellation details.
A missed consultation or one cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice is charged $40.
A FIRST CONVERSATION
Curious about EMDR therapy?
We can use a complimentary 15-minute consultation to discuss what you’d like help with and answer your questions about EMDR.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation
Complimentary · 15 minutes · English or Italian