Specialized EMDR Therapy for Birth Trauma, PTSD, and Emotional Overload

Are You Struggling After a Life-Changing or Traumatic Event?

Do you feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of who you are—especially after a traumatic or life-altering experience?

Maybe you expected to bounce back, but instead, you find yourself confused or emotionally numb when someone asks about your birth story or when you think about returning to work. What you thought you could handle now feels emotionally overwhelming.

Perhaps you’ve started avoiding family events or special occasions because of the distress they bring. You might struggle to remember details about your past, or wake up feeling exhausted, unmotivated, or emotionally unsafe in your own body. You may even carry a quiet but persistent belief that you're not enough, that you’re a failure, or that your child deserves a better parent.

These are common symptoms of perinatal trauma, PTSD, or postpartum anxiety and depression—and they’re more common than you think.

You May Be Noticing the Impact in Every Area of Your Life:

  • Avoiding leaving the house, social events, or public spaces

  • Feeling hypervigilant—like you’re constantly on edge or walking on eggshells

  • Experiencing nightmares, flashbacks, or intrusive thoughts

  • Struggling with sound sensitivity, discomfort with touch, or emotional overwhelm

  • Feeling stuck in shame, guilt, or a sense of failure as a parent

If any of this resonates, you're not broken—and you're not alone. These are real trauma responses, and they can be addressed through the right support. At Amber Sperling Social Work and Psychotherapy Services, we offer EMDR therapy, trauma-informed care, and perinatal mental health support to help you feel safe, seen, and like yourself again.

Learn more about birth trauma and postpartum healing
Or book a free consultation to get started today.

RELIEF: After treatment with EMDR, your life will be less distressing, and you will be more confident and engaged in a life that you want to live.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can help.

It may feel impossible now, but you can thrive post trauma. You can sleep without nightmares. You can think about your past without feeling overwhelmed and return to work after witnessing a traumatic event. And I can help you get there.

  • EMDR helps you to:

    • identify the root of the problem you are experiencing (the “target”)

    • Learn how the messaging you tell yourself about the problem impacts many different parts of your life including your ability to connect with other people and how you see the world

    • Build a strong tool box of resources so you can confidently face the future without feeling you are not worthy, are powerless or unsafeI’ll help through this process, tailoring each step to your unique needs and circumstances. My approach to treating trauma comes from a place of hope and experience: you are not responsible for the events life has thrown at you and you can feel in control of your life again.

Ever wonder what trauma is and why our memories related to trauma are different?

EMDR Trauma Therapy for Women, Mothers and Parents in Ontario

Past trauma and emotional overwhelm don’t have to define your story.
You deserve more than just surviving—you deserve to feel safe, connected, and confident in your life again. EMDR therapy can help you get there.

What is EMDR Therapy Like?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy approach that helps the brain process and resolve distressing experiences—without requiring you to relive every painful detail.

In our early sessions, we take time to build a strong foundation. I’ll ask about your current challenges, your past, and your concerns about the future. We’ll also explore your personal strengths and existing support systems—because healing happens best when you feel grounded and supported.

Once you're ready, we’ll identify "targets"—memories or events that still hold emotional charge. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require detailed storytelling. My role is to help organize these experiences and guide your brain through the reprocessing phase.

During reprocessing, we use bilateral stimulation—such as gentle side-to-side eye movements or tapping on your knees, shoulders, or a surface. This activates the brain’s natural healing process and allows distressing memories to be stored in a less reactive, more adaptive way.

Watch how EMDR works – explained by EMDRIA


https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/

How Long Will I Need to Be in Therapy?

This is one of the most common questions we hear. And the honest answer? It depends.

Some clients find relief in 6–10 focused EMDR sessions. Others choose to stay longer to process more complex or layered trauma. Your therapy timeline will be shaped by your goals, life circumstances, and how your nervous system responds to resourcing and reprocessing.

I’ll never give a timeline without first hearing your story. After your intake session, we’ll create a therapy plan that feels manageable and meaningful to you.

How Do I Know if EMDR Will Work for Me?

EMDR is backed by decades of research and is widely used for treating trauma, anxiety, grief, birth trauma, and emotional overwhelm. That said, no therapy works the same way for every person.

Before we begin EMDR reprocessing, we’ll assess:

  • Your readiness and tolerance for emotional distress

  • Your internal and external resources

  • Your comfort with coping tools

We’ll also try EMDR-based resourcing techniques to see how your nervous system responds. We want you to feel safe and prepared before the processing begins as it can feel intense emotionally and/or vulnerable for anyone new to therapy or trauma.

📖 Want to learn more? Read:
What Therapy Feels Like Here
Grounding Tools to Use Between Sessions

How Do We Get Started?

Step 1: Book your free consultation
We’ll talk about what brought you here, how we work, and what your goals might be. This is a chance for us both to decide if we’re a good fit.

Step 2: Complete your intake session
Our first full session is 50 minutes. We’ll go deeper into your history, current concerns, and therapy goals. We will also answer your questions and share initial impressions on the best way forward.

Step 3: Begin your healing journey
We’ll start resourcing and identifying EMDR targets as you feel ready. Sessions are booked either in person (in Barrie or Orillia, Ontario) or virtually from anywhere in Ontario.

🔗 Ready to begin?
Book a free consultation
Meet our EMDR therapists

Common Issues EMDR Therapy Can Help With

  • Birth trauma and traumatic pregnancy experiences

  • Postpartum anxiety and intrusive thoughts

  • Childhood trauma and attachment wounds

  • Grief and complicated loss

  • High-functioning anxiety, perfectionism, or burnout

  • Nervous system dysregulation and emotional flooding

📖 Related blog: The Invisible Weight of Motherhood

You Deserve to Feel Like Yourself Again

Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means learning to live without feeling stuck in the pain.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or disconnected from who you used to be—you are not alone.
Let’s talk about how EMDR can support your next chapter.

Contact us today to book your free consultation