Question 1

Do you have to talk about your trauma in EMDR therapy?

Accepted Answer

No — and this surprises many people. EMDR therapy is fundamentally different from traditional talk therapy. You do not need to narrate what happened in detail for your brain to process it. In fact, some clients barely speak about the content of their trauma during active EMDR processing at all. What matters isn't the story — it's the felt sense of the memory. The emotions, the body sensations, the core beliefs that got wired in. Your job isn't to explain your trauma to me. Your job is simply to notice what comes up. I follow your nervous system, not a script. There is some discussion involved — particularly in the early phases of EMDR when we identify targets and build a clearer picture of what needs to be processed. But even then, you only share what feels safe to share. Pacing is always in your hands.

Question 2

What if talk therapy hasn't worked for me?

Accepted Answer

This is one of the most common things I hear — and it makes complete sense.
 
Many people have sat across from a therapist, talked through their past, gained real insight into their patterns — and still felt stuck. Still anxious. Still exhausted. Still reacting in ways they couldn't seem to change no matter how much self-awareness they had.
 
Here's the thing: understanding your trauma and processing it are two different things. Talk therapy is powerful for building awareness — but trauma lives in the body and nervous system, not just the mind. If the approach you tried before stayed mostly in your head, it may simply not have been the right tool for what you're carrying.
 
Body-based, trauma-focused approaches like EMDR, somatic therapy, and Polyvagal-informed care go where the trauma actually lives. We're not just talking about what happened — we're helping your nervous system finally register that it's over.
 
If therapy hasn't worked before, it doesn't mean you're too broken to heal. It may just mean you haven't found the right door yet.

Click here to book a intro call

Question 3

What is EMDR and how does it actually work?

Accepted Answer

EMDR(Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based trauma therapy used to treat PTSD, childhood trauma, anxiety, and other trauma-related conditions. It is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and backed by decades of clinical research. When something traumatic or overwhelming happens, the brain sometimes can't fully process the experience. The memory gets stored in a raw, activated state — which is why past trauma can feel so present. A smell, a tone of voice, a particular look from someone — and suddenly your nervous system is reacting as if it's happening all over again. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — most commonly eye movements, tapping, or sound — to help the brain complete the processing it couldn't do at the time. The memory doesn't disappear. But it loses its emotional charge. You can think about what happened without being hijacked by it. Common conditions treated with EMDR therapy include:Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (C-PTSD)Childhood trauma and emotional neglectDepression linked to unresolved traumaMom burnout and postpartum traumaChronic pain with a trauma componentPeople-pleasing patterns and low self-worth EMDR is one of the most effective trauma treatments available — and it works for a lot of people who thought nothing would. Read the full breakdown on the EMDR Therapy page, or the blog post What Is EMDR Therapy? How It Works for Trauma, Anxiety & PTSD.

Question 4

What if I feel overwhelmed during an EMDR session — can I stop?

Accepted Answer

Yes, always. You're never rushed into reprocessing before you're ready, and you can pause or stop at any point. Because my approach is Polyvagal- and IFS-informed, we spend time building nervous system safety and checking in with any protective parts of you before we ever approach the memory itself — which makes overwhelm far less likely in the first place. See how this pacing works on the EMDR Therapy and Internal Family Systems Therapy pages.

Question 5

How many EMDR sessions will I need?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you're processing and how long it's been held in the body. Some people notice a shift in how “loud” a memory or trigger feels within the first several sessions; more complex or childhood-rooted trauma may take longer. A free consultation is the best way to talk through what pacing might realistically look like for you — book one here.

Question 6

What are your credentials and training in EMDR?

Accepted Answer

I'm Marlo Drago, MSW, RSW — a Registered Social Worker in Ontario with fourteen years in the field. I'm EMDR-trained and a member of EMDR Canada, and a verified provider on Psychology Today. I am currently working on my hours of consultation to become a Certified EMDR Therapist. I continue to take advanced training on different topics and specializations related to EMDR. More on my background and approach is on the About page.

marlo drago
THERAPY

EMDR Therapy

EMDR THERAPY IN ETOBICOKE AND ACROSS ONTARIO

You don't have to keep reliving it to heal from it.

What Is EMDR Therapy and how does it actually work?

EMDR Can Help With:

What You Might Notice Over Time

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to talk about your trauma in EMDR therapy?

What if talk therapy hasn't worked for me?

What is EMDR and how does it actually work?

What if I feel overwhelmed during an EMDR session — can I stop?

How many EMDR sessions will I need?

What are your credentials and training in EMDR?

How to start EMDR Therapy with Marlo Drago Therapy

EMDR Therapy

EMDR THERAPY IN ETOBICOKE AND ACROSS ONTARIO

You don't have to keep reliving it to heal from it.

​What Is EMDR Therapy and how does it actually work?

EMDR Can Help With:

What You Might Notice Over Time

​

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to talk about your trauma in EMDR therapy?

What if talk therapy hasn't worked for me?

What is EMDR and how does it actually work?

What if I feel overwhelmed during an EMDR session — can I stop?

How many EMDR sessions will I need?

What are your credentials and training in EMDR?

How to start EMDR Therapy with Marlo Drago Therapy

What Is EMDR Therapy and how does it actually work?