Anxiety - Conscientia Counselling

What is EMDR and how to Find a Good, Certified Therapist?

Dayami Fernandes — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 17:26:05 +0000

In recent years, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) has become one of the most effective approaches for treating the effects of psychological trauma. We use it not only for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but also for reducing anxiety, managing phobias, overcoming depression, and addressing other emotional challenges.

Essentially, the body’s fight, flight, or freeze response is a natural part of how we cope with threat. If you leave a distressing experience unprocessed, the thoughts, emotions, and sensations connected to it may feel as though the event is happening again. EMDR therapy enables the brain to reprocess these memories and return to its natural healing state. As a result of EMDR, you will still recall the event, but without the overwhelming survival response.

However, for safety and effectiveness, it needs to be performed by a certified EMDR practitioner. While it is part of psychotherapy, EMDR is more than just “talking through” a problem. In this article, we’ll explain what an EMDR therapist does, what to expect during sessions, and how to choose the right professional in Calgary.

What Is an EMDR Therapist?

An EMDR therapist is a licensed or certified psychotherapist, psychologist, or counsellor who has received specialized training in EMDR. Along with a degree in psychology and counselling, they have additional training in trauma reprocessing.

In Canada, Certified EMDR practitioners must be members of these professional associations:

EMDR Canada — the national organization that certifies and supports trained specialists.
EMDRIA- The international Organization regulating the practice of EMDR

Membership and certification ensure that a therapist is qualified to practice and follows professional standards.

What Does a Therapist Do During an EMDR Session?

The core component of EMDR therapy is bilateral stimulation, which may be provided through guided eye movements using a light bar, auditory tones through headphones, or tactile pulsers. During a session, you will focus on a specific target memory while working within a controlled and safe environment. You will be invited to recall the memory as bilateral stimulation is applied and to observe the physical, emotional, and cognitive responses that arise.

This means an EMDR session involves far more than simple “eye movements”. Your therapist plays an active role in helping you identify, process, and re-evaluate the experiences that continue to affect you.

How to Find a Good EMDR Therapist in Calgary

Finding the right specialist involves several key steps:

Check Licenses and Certification
Make sure the therapist is registered with a professional body. For example, since Alberta does not currently have a regulatory body for counsellors, a certified EMDR counsellor must hold a CCC (Canadian Certified Counsellor) through the CCPA (Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association), and a psychologist in Alberta must belong to the College of Alberta Psychologists. Make sure to look for EMDR certification from EMDR Canada or the international EMDRIA association. If you’re looking specifically for EMDR therapy in Calgary, many licensed professionals list their credentials online, making it easier to confirm qualifications.
Experience
Ask how long they’ve been practicing EMDR and what issues they usually treat. For PTSD or severe trauma, choose someone with significant experience.
Reviews and Recommendations
Websites like Psychology Today list therapists’ profiles with their approaches, contact details, and credentials. You can also ask your family doctor for referrals.
Compatibility
Even the most skilled therapist won’t be effective if there’s no trust. During your first consultation, pay attention to:
- Do you feel safe and understood?
- Are they listening attentively?
- Is the process explained clearly and simply?
Cost and Insurance Coverage
Practical considerations matter too. In Canada, EMDR sessions typically range from $120 to $200 per hour. Some employers and insurance providers cover psychotherapy, so check your plan. If you’re seeking affordable counselling in Calgary Ab, some community organizations and private practices, like Conscientia Counselling, offer sliding-scale fees to make therapy more accessible.

When Should You Consider EMDR Therapy?

EMDR can be especially helpful if you:

Experienced trauma such as an accident, assault, war, or forced migration.
Struggle with intrusive memories or nightmares due to trauma, PTSD or childhood neglect or abuse
Live with chronic anxiety, panic attacks, or phobias.
Haven’t had results with traditional “talk therapy.”

For immigrants in Canada – including Ukrainians coping with relocation stress and difficult memories – EMDR can be a powerful way to restore mental well-being.

Conclusion

EMDR is a science-based therapy recognized by the World Health Organization and widely practiced in Canada. A skilled EMDR therapist helps clients process past trauma in a safe environment, reduce emotional distress, and regain a sense of balance.

To find the right specialist, check credentials, review their experience, read client feedback, and make sure you feel comfortable with them. The right therapist can improve your quality of life, restore confidence, and help you move forward without the weight of the past.

The post What is EMDR and how to Find a Good, Certified Therapist? first appeared on Conscientia Counselling.

Toxic Positivity

Dayami Fernandes — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 03:00:21 +0000

When Sunshine Turns Sour: The Downside of ‘Good Vibes Only’

By: Piper Jewell

Imagine receiving a high-five from a neighbour while your house is on fire. Sounds ridiculous, right?

Welcome to the world of toxic positivity, where a relentless focus on ‘good vibes only’ can actually do more harm than good. Join us as we explore how this mindset can sometimes result in the opposite of what we intend, and why it’s important to acknowledge all our emotions.

What is toxic positivity?

So, what is toxic positivity besides a confusing oxymoron? Toxic positivity is the overgeneralization of a happy, optimistic state in any situation, often at the expense of true emotional authenticity. Now, what is emotional authenticity? Simply stated, it’s being true to yourself and your emotions, fully. It’s allowing yourself to feel good, while also allowing yourself that same amount of space to feel bad. In other words, toxic positivity can be characterized by an excessive emphasis on positive thinking that invalidates authentic human emotional experiences (Lomas et al, 2020).

So, does that mean “looking at the bright side of things” is harmful to yourself and others? Not necessarily. There is a fine line. In fact, toxic positivity often manifests through well-intentioned behaviour or phrases that unintentionally undermine the complexity of human emotion. People aren’t trying to be toxic, they are trying to be positive.

One of the ways I better understood toxic positivity was through silly examples of how it works. Putting a bandaid on a broken limb, for example. Sure, it looks cute, but it doesn’t really help anything. Telling yourself “It could be worse” because, in theory, it could be, but that doesn’t make your situation any better. These examples illustrate how toxic positivity can oversimplify and invalidate genuine emotional experiences, which in turn, can lead to some pretty harmful things.

When you are made to believe that you should always be positive, you may experience shame for having negative emotions.

No one likes to feel shame, and that may be one reason why individuals steer towards toxic positivity as a coping mechanism. When people are made to believe that they should always be positive, they may experience shame for having negative emotions, which can result in decreased self-esteem and cycles of negative self-judgement (Kross et al., 2011) and on a lack of self-awareness and illiteracy around their real emotions.

When people are made to believe that they should always be positive, and feel shameful when they feel negative emotions, what are they likely to do? Suppress them. Emotional suppression has been shown to increase psychological stress and exacerbate feelings of anxiety and depression (Gross & Levenson, 1997; Gross, 2002). So, in essence, when people are made to believe that they should always be positive, they inadvertently create a cycle of emotional suppression and heightened psychological distress, ultimately worsening their mental health instead of improving it.

Realistic Optimism

While it is beneficial to maintain a positive outlook, it is equally important to be realistic. Let’s talk about realistic optimism. Realistic optimism involves recognizing and accepting negative emotions while choosing to focus on positive aspects and solutions. It is grounded in the present reality and is based on facts (Seligman, 2006). With toxic positivity, there is an avoidance of negative emotions, a refusal to feel them, and a high-five in a house fire. With realistic optimism, there is an acknowledgement of negative emotions in/and difficult situations, while still maintaining a hopeful and proactive outlook – a hug in a house fire.

If you’ve found yourself caught in the cycle of toxic positivity, know that you’re not alone. It’s a common coping mechanism, driven by a desire to feel good and avoid pain. However, by validating and embracing all your emotions, both positive and negative, you can cultivate a more balanced and healthy mindset.

Remember, it’s okay to not be okay all the time. Embracing this truth can free you from the cycle of emotional suppression and lead to a more authentic and fulfilling life.

How to deal with Toxic Positivity?

If you or someone you know is struggling with toxic positivity or other mental health concerns, consider seeking support. At Conscientia Counselling, our psychologists in Calgary are ready to assist you in exploring your emotions and embracing a more balanced approach to mental health. Connect with us today to schedule your FREE 30-minute consultation and take the first step towards a healthier, more authentic you.

References

Gross, J. J., & Levenson, R. W. (1997). Hiding feelings: The acute effects of inhibiting negative and positive emotion. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 106(1), 95-103. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.106.1.95

Gross, J. J. (2002). Emotion regulation: Affective, cognitive, and social consequences. Psychophysiology, 39(3), 281-291. https://doi.org/10.1017.S0048577201393198

Kross, E., Ayduk, O., & Mischel, W. (2011). When asking “why” does not hurt: Distinguishing rumination from reflective processing of negative emotions. Psychological Science, 22(6), 709-715. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611405679

Lomas, T., Waters, L., Williams, P., Oades, L., & Kern, M. L. (2020). Third wave positive psychology: Broadening towards complexity. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(5), 660-674. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2020.1805501

Seligman, M. E. P. (2006). Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. Vintage Books.

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