How EMDR can change your beliefs about yourself

WhaT Stops us from taking risks?

What stops us from taking risks or moving forward with our dreams in life? FEAR. Maybe It’s fear of failure or judgment from others. Maybe its the fear that we’re not good enough. At its core, It often comes down to this: it doesn’t feel safe.

Trauma and adverse childhood experiences can prime us to carry negative beliefs about ourselves. In EMDR therapy, one of the ways we identify which memories impact our present is by asking: “What is the negative belief you hold about yourself?”

I often hear responses like : “I’m not good enough”, “I can’t trust myself”, “I’m a failure.” These land like a punch in the gut. As a therapist, I sit across from someone who truly believes these things, and yet what I see is the opposite: strength, resilience, and someone who has gotten themselves through every challenge life has thrown their way.

When someone holds onto a negative self-belief for years, it starts to shape every experience, every memory. Eventually, it becomes unconscious, a core belief that quietly drives how we see the world and ourselves.

HOw Can we heal these negative beliefs

Just as trauma can wire in harmful beliefs, supportive people and experiences can create adaptive networks in the brain. Personally and professionally, I’ve seen how powerful that can be. I had two parents who didn’t take many risks themselves, but they always believed in me. They instilled the idea that I could do anything I put my mind to, and I carried that forward. It shaped the way I approached challenges in my own life. Was I nervous to start my own business and eventually grow into a group practice? Absolutely. Did I do it anyway? Yes, because even though I was scared, I trusted myself. I believed I could figure it out, and ask for help. That belief is what helped me take the leap.

Through EMDR therapy, we are able to change these negative beliefs about yourself. Throughout the process, we identify the negative belief that’s showing up in your day to day life. We explore how it connects to your emotions and where you feel it in your body. By working with all three: thoughts, emotions, and body sensations, we access a deeper level of healing. Then adding in the bilateral stimulation (like eye movements, buzzers or a light bar), we help your brain reprocess the stuck material.

When you start to believe something new “I am enough”, “I can trust myself”, “I am capable”, your life changes. You stop being held back by old stories. You move forward with your goals, your relationships, and your vision for life. To walk through the world with a completely different belief system is transformative. EMDR helps you get there, often faster and deeper, by reaching the layers you didn’t even know were running the show.

What is EMDR Therapy And how can we help you

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured evidenced based therapy that helps people heal from trauma and other distressing life experiences. It’s especially effective for those who have experienced events that continue to impact how they feel, think, and react in their current lives.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require a person to talk in detail about the trauma. Instead, it uses bilateral stimulation (often a form of guided eye movements, tapping, or tones) while the client focuses on specific memories, thoughts, and body sensations. This process helps the brain reprocess disturbing information, reducing its emotional charge and allowing for more adaptive thoughts and beliefs to emerge.

At Align Therapy and Coaching, Jennifer is trained in EMDR therapy. She has been using this practice as well as other trauma therapies for 13 years, and has helped many clients heal from their past.

If you’d like to learn more or schedule an appointment, please reach out. We’d be honored to walk with you on your healing path.

Ready to feel more grounded?
Contact us today to begin your journey.