In my work as a counselor and pastor, I’ve had many people walk into my office carrying invisible burdens. These include traumas from childhood, painful memories from relationships, or moments of loss that still sting years later. These experiences can quietly shape how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, and even how we relate to God.
One of the most powerful tools I’ve found for helping people heal from these wounds is EMDR therapy in Atlanta. If you’ve never heard of EMDR or you’re curious about how it works, this post is for you. My hope is that by the end of this, you’ll have a better understanding of EMDR therapy and how it can support your healing journey.
What is EMDR? 
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a therapy method that was originally developed to help people recover from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it’s now widely used for many emotional challenges. These can include anxiety, depression, grief, and more.
At its core, EMDR helps people process painful memories that have become “stuck.” These are the kinds of memories that keep showing up in your life, even if you’ve tried to push them down or ignore them. Maybe it’s a flashback, a panic response, or a feeling of shame or worthlessness that seems to come out of nowhere. EMDR helps the brain do what it was designed to do: heal.
Why Do Memories Get “Stuck”?
Let’s say someone has gone through a painful experience. Maybe it was a car accident, a betrayal, or an abusive relationship. In a healthy situation, our brains take that experience and learn from it. Then it would file it away as something in the past. But trauma interrupts that process.
When something is too overwhelming for us to process at the time, the memory can get frozen in our nervous system. It’s like a file that never got properly saved. And instead of staying in the past, it keeps replaying in the present. Sometimes through intrusive thoughts, emotional overreactions, or even physical symptoms. This is where EMDR therapy in Atlanta comes in.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
As an EMDR therapist in Atlanta, I often explain to clients that EMDR doesn’t involve talking about the trauma over and over. In fact, one of the reasons people appreciate this approach is that it doesn’t require retelling every painful detail. Here’s how it typically works:
We Identify the Target Memory
This is often the starting point of EMDR therapy. We work together to identify a specific memory or experience that feels emotionally charged. Sometimes, it’s a clear, traumatic event. Other times, it’s connected to a pattern of negative beliefs, like “I’m not safe,” or “I’m not good enough.” These beliefs tend to echo through various parts of life, and targeting them allows us to begin healing at the root.
We Prepare
Before diving into any reprocessing, we take time to establish safety. This means learning grounding techniques and developing coping strategies. Plus, we take time to build trust in the therapeutic relationship. I want you to feel emotionally and spiritually supported every step of the way. And preparation is what makes the deeper work possible.
We Reprocess Using Bilateral Stimulation
Reprocessing is where the brain begins to do what it was unable to do during the original trauma. We use bilateral stimulation, like side-to-side eye movements or tapping, to help your brain. Bilateral stimulation helps it access and begin processing the memory. This mimics natural mechanisms in REM sleep and can allow for profound shifts in how the memory is stored and experienced.
Your Brain Does the Work
One of the most encouraging parts of EMDR is that your brain knows how to heal. As the memory arises, the bilateral stimulation helps it move through your system and get “unstuck.” Over time, the intensity fades. You may still remember the event, but it won’t carry the same emotional weight.
We Close and Reflect
Each session ends with space to settle your nervous system and reflect on what came up. This helps you feel grounded before leaving and integrates what you’ve experienced. It’s also a time to talk through anything that needs care. And it’s a time to honor the progress you’re making. No matter how big or small it may seem.
EMDR and Faith
One of the things I love about EMDR therapy is how it aligns with the healing we see throughout Scripture. Time and again, we see Jesus meeting people in their pain. Not to erase the past but to restore them in the present. In John 5, Jesus meets a man who’s been lying near the pool of Bethesda for 38 years. When Jesus asks him, “Do you want to be made well?” He’s offering not just physical healing but also emotional and spiritual restoration. That’s the kind of healing EMDR can offer. It helps people rise, pick up their mat, and walk again—not because the past didn’t happen but because it no longer has power over them.
Who Can Benefit from EMDR Therapy? 
You don’t need a specific diagnosis to benefit from EMDR. Many of the clients I work with come in feeling stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed. They may not have realized that their struggles are connected to unprocessed experiences from earlier in life.
EMDR can help with:
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Grief and complicated loss
- Betrayal or relationship trauma
- Spiritual trauma or church hurt
- Feelings of shame or low self-worth
If you’ve ever thought, “I know this shouldn’t bother me anymore, but it still does,” you’re not alone. Many people carry wounds that never had the chance to heal properly. EMDR offers a way to revisit and reprocess those memories gently. It might just be the right path forward for your healing journey.
What to Expect from EMDR Therapy in Atlanta
Choosing to begin EMDR therapy is a courageous and sacred step. It’s not about reliving your deepest wounds, it’s about creating space for your brain and spirit to heal in a way that feels safe and supported.
As an EMDR therapist in Atlanta, I walk alongside you with care and compassion. I offer guidance rooted in clinical wisdom and, when desired, a faith-based lens. Whether the wounds come from spiritual harm or family dynamics, EMDR offers a steady path forward. Everyday pressures that wear you down can also leave lasting marks. EMDR gently helps you tend to those places of pain. It invites God’s healing presence into the areas that most need peace.
Healing is Possible 
I’ve witnessed how EMDR can restore what once felt lost. A sense of identity, meaningful connection, and even one’s relationship with God. It’s not a quick or easy process, but it is deeply transformative. This kind of healing honors your story and your strength. It opens the door to a renewed sense of freedom and faith. If you’re considering EMDR therapy in Atlanta, know that you don’t have to take that step alone. Whether you’ve carried pain for years or have just begun to notice something stirring within your soul, I’d be honored to walk alongside you. There is hope. And healing is possible.
Find Support and Clarity with EMDR Therapy in Atlanta, GA
Don’t wait until you feel overwhelmed or shut down to explore EMDR therapy in Atlanta. Tending to your emotional health now can help prevent deeper patterns of distress from taking root. EMDR offers a powerful way to process difficult memories and find relief from the pain they carry. It’s a step toward healing that meets you where you are, with care and intention. At Faith and Family Empowerment, William Hemphill offers EMDR therapy in Atlanta, GA, as part of a compassionate and client-centered approach to healing. Whether in person or online, our therapists help clients move through difficult memories, reduce emotional reactivity, and reconnect with their core sense of self. Our Decatur, GA, office provides a safe and welcoming environment where healing can begin. When you’re ready to take the next step, here’s how to get started:
- Contact me to schedule your initial appointment.
- Learn more about my services and approach.
- Begin healing with EMDR therapy and rediscover a sense of peace, clarity, and connection.
Other Therapy Services Offered at Faith and Family Empowerment
EMDR therapy might be only one of the services you need. At Faith and Family Empowerment in Decatur, GA, we offer a variety of therapy services to support you through any situation you may be facing. I’m pleased to provide a variety of in-person and online mental health services. These include premarital counseling, marriage counseling, and discernment counseling. Other mental health services include: Online Therapy, Christian Counseling, Depression Support Groups, and Counseling for Affair Recovery. Learn more by visiting my about, blog, or FAQ pages today!
About the Author
William Hemphill is a compassionate therapist and ordained pastor based in Decatur, GA, with over two decades of experience walking alongside individuals, couples, and families in their healing journeys. As the founder of Faith and Family Empowerment, he integrates clinical wisdom with spiritual insight, offering a safe and faith-sensitive space for clients seeking restoration and growth. Whether you’re navigating trauma, relationship struggles, or spiritual pain, William brings warmth, understanding, and practical guidance rooted in both psychological expertise and pastoral care. If you’re looking for EMDR therapy in Atlanta or faith-integrated counseling support, William is honored to help you take the next step toward healing and wholeness.