Frequently asked questions

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 neglect Depression linked to unresolved trauma Mom burnout and postpartum trauma Chronic pain with a trauma component People-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.

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) develops as a result of prolonged, repeated trauma — particularly trauma that occurs in childhood or within relationships where there's an imbalance of power and no easy escape. This includes childhood emotional, physical, or sexual abuse; emotional neglect; growing up with a parent who was mentally ill, addicted, or emotionally immature; or chronic relational trauma of any kind.   Unlike single-incident PTSD, complex PTSD affects a person's entire sense of self, relationships, and ability to regulate emotions. It can look like: •       Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in relationships •       Deep shame, worthlessness, or a feeling of being fundamentally broken •       Emotional dysregulation — intense reactions that feel hard to control •       Dissociation or feeling disconnected from yourself or your life •       Chronic emptiness, depression, or numbness •       Persistent self-criticism and harsh inner dialogue   C-PTSD is very treatable — but it requires an approach that goes beyond traditional talk therapy. At Marlo Drago Therapy, complex trauma is treated using a combination of EMDR, somatic therapy, Polyvagal-informed care, parts work (IFS-informed), and inner child work — approaches specifically designed to heal the layers of complex, relational trauma.

Yes. Mom burnout is absolutely real — and it's more than just being tired.   Mom burnout is a state of chronic physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that develops when the demands of motherhood consistently exceed the resources available to meet them. It's what happens when you've been giving everything — to your kids, your family, your job, everyone around you — and there's nothing left for you.   Signs of mom burnout include: •       Exhaustion that doesn't go away no matter how much you sleep •       Emotional detachment from your kids or your life •       Irritability, resentment, or rage that scares you •       Feeling like you're going through the motions — present in body but not in spirit •       Loss of identity outside of being a mother •       Guilt about all of the above   Mom burnout is often compounded by unresolved trauma, perfectionism, people-pleasing patterns, and the invisible load of emotional labour that falls disproportionately on mothers. Therapy can help you understand what's driving the burnout, rebuild your sense of self, and find a way back to yourself — not just to functioning, but to actually feeling okay.   As a mother myself, this is an area I'm deeply passionate about. You deserve support that gets it.

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

You don't have to have survived something catastrophic to benefit from trauma therapy. Trauma isn't defined by the size of the event — it's defined by the impact it had on your nervous system and whether you ever fully recovered.   Trauma therapy in Ontario may be right for you if you: •       Feel stuck in patterns you can't think your way out of •       Struggle with anxiety, hypervigilance, or emotional reactions that feel out of proportion •       Shut down, numb out, or go through the motions without feeling present •       Carry deep shame, harsh self-criticism, or a sense that something is fundamentally wrong with you •       Had a childhood that felt unsafe, unpredictable, chaotic, or emotionally empty •       Experience exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix — especially common in burnout and mom burnout •       Have physical symptoms like chronic pain, tension, or illness with no clear medical cause   If any of this resonates, you're in the right place. Book a free 15-minute consultation and we'll figure out together whether trauma therapy is the right fit.

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.

Most clients begin with weekly sessions, especially in the early stages of trauma therapy. Consistency matters when we're building a therapeutic relationship, getting to know your nervous system, and laying the groundwork for deeper processing.   As things stabilize and you build more internal capacity and resilience, sessions typically shift to biweekly. Some clients stay at biweekly for the long term; others eventually move to monthly check-ins as they approach the end of their work.   Session frequency is always something we decide together based on where you are, what you need, and what's realistic for your life. Some clients want Intensive Therapy where we get a month of therapy in ONE DAY. Click here to learn more about EMDR Intensives

The first session is really about getting to know each other — and letting your nervous system get a read on me. There's no pressure to dive into anything heavy right away.   In your first session, we will: •       Talk about what's bringing you in and what's feeling hard right now •       Explore your history and any previous therapy experiences •       Discuss what you're hoping for from therapy •       Answer any questions you have about the process, EMDR, or my approach •       Get a sense of whether working together feels like a good fit   Therapy only works when you feel safe enough to actually go there. The first session is the beginning of building that foundation. You don't need to prepare anything. Just show up as you are.

Honestly — it depends, and I won't pretend otherwise. Trauma therapy isn't one-size-fits-all, and the length of time varies widely depending on what you're working through, how your nervous system responds, and what your goals are.   Some clients do focused, targeted work over a few months and feel ready to close. Others are working through years of complex or layered trauma and benefit from longer-term support.   What I can tell you is that we won't keep going for the sake of it. Progress is something we check in on regularly, and the goal is always to work toward a point where you don't need me anymore.

If it's affecting your life, it belongs in the room. Some of the areas I work with most often: •       Childhood trauma, emotional neglect, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) •       Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) and single-incident trauma •       Anxiety, hypervigilance, and nervous system dysregulation •       Mom burnout, postpartum depression, and maternal mental health •       Chronic pain and somatic symptoms with a trauma component •       People-pleasing, perfectionism, and difficulty setting boundaries •       Harsh inner critic, low self-worth, and shame •       Adult children of emotionally immature parents (EIP) •       Life transitions, identity shifts, and feeling lost   Not sure if what you're dealing with fits? Reach out. That's exactly what the free consultation is for.

All sessions take place virtually through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform — no app download required. You'll receive a link before your session and can join from your phone, tablet, or computer.   What you'll need for virtual therapy: •       A private, comfortable space where you won't be interrupted •       A reliable internet connection •       Headphones (optional but recommended for privacy and audio quality)   Virtual therapy works — really works. Research consistently shows that online therapy is as effective as in-person therapy for trauma, anxiety, and most other mental health concerns. Many clients actually find it easier to settle into their own space than an office, and for nervous system work, being in a familiar environment can actively support the process.   Virtual therapy is also available to adults across Ontario — whether you're in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, or a rural community with limited access to in-person mental health care

Yes — and the research strongly supports this.   Chronic pain and trauma are deeply connected. Studies consistently show that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), unresolved trauma, and chronic stress significantly increase the likelihood of developing chronic pain conditions. This isn't because the pain is 'in your head' — it's because the nervous system, the immune system, and pain-processing pathways are all profoundly shaped by our history. When the nervous system is stuck in a state of chronic activation or shutdown, pain signals can become amplified and persistent — even in the absence of ongoing tissue damage. Healing the nervous system can therefore directly impact the experience of chronic pain.   Approaches used at Marlo Drago Therapy for chronic pain include: •       EMDR therapy targeting trauma memories and pain-related beliefs •       Somatic therapy to work directly with body sensations •       Polyvagal-informed nervous system regulation •       Mindfulness and breathwork to reduce central sensitization •       Parts work to explore the emotional layers underneath the pain   Therapy for chronic pain isn't about eliminating sensation — it's about changing your relationship with it, reducing the suffering, and addressing the nervous system patterns that may be maintaining it.

People-pleasing is a pattern of prioritizing other people's needs, comfort, and approval above your own — often at significant cost to yourself. It can look like saying yes when you mean no, shrinking yourself to keep the peace, chronic over-giving, difficulty with conflict, and a constant low-level anxiety about what other people think of you.   People-pleasing isn't a personality flaw — it's a survival strategy. For many people, it developed in childhood as a way to stay safe, earn love, or avoid punishment in environments where their needs weren't consistently met or where conflict felt dangerous.   The challenge is that what once kept you safe now keeps you stuck — exhausted, resentful, disconnected from your own wants and needs, and living a life that's shaped more by other people's expectations than your own.   Therapy can absolutely help. Using EMDR to process the underlying experiences that created the pattern, somatic therapy to reconnect with your body's signals, and skills-based work around boundaries and self-worth, we can help you move from people-pleasing to genuine connection — relationships built on honesty, not fear.

Unresolved childhood trauma doesn't always look the way people expect. You might not have a single dramatic memory you can point to. In fact, many people with significant childhood trauma don't think of themselves as traumatized at all — because what they experienced felt normal at the time, or because they've worked so hard to move on from it.   Signs of unresolved childhood trauma in adults include: •       Anxiety, hypervigilance, or a persistent sense of being unsafe •       Difficulty trusting people or feeling truly close to others •       Intense emotional reactions that feel disproportionate to the situation •       Chronic shame, low self-worth, or feeling fundamentally flawed •       People-pleasing, difficulty saying no, or chronic over-giving •       A harsh, relentless inner critic •       Numbness, disconnection, or difficulty feeling joy •       Physical symptoms like chronic pain, fatigue, or digestive issues •       Patterns in relationships that keep repeating, no matter how hard you try to change them   Childhood trauma includes not just abuse, but also emotional neglect — what didn't happen. Growing up without consistent emotional attunement, safety, or validation is traumatic, even if nothing overtly bad occurred.   If you're wondering whether your past is affecting your present, it probably is. That's not a reason for despair — it's a doorway to understanding, and to real change.

The inner critic is the internal voice that tells you you're not good enough, that you're failing, that you should be doing more, being more, achieving more — and that somehow you always fall short. It can sound like harsh self-judgment, relentless self-comparison, or a constant low hum of shame that colours everything.   Most inner critics develop in childhood as a way to adapt to environments where we needed to be different to be safe, loved, or accepted. The part of us that criticizes is usually trying to protect us — from rejection, from failure, from not measuring up. The problem is, it doesn't know how to stop.   Therapy can help — not by silencing the inner critic, but by understanding it. Using approaches like parts work (IFS-informed), EMDR, and somatic therapy, we can explore where the critic came from, what it's trying to protect, and slowly shift the internal relationship from one of war to one of understanding.   Over time, the critic gets quieter. And the voice underneath — the one that knows your worth — gets louder.

Yes — always.   Before we begin, I offer a free 15-minute phone or video consultation. It's a chance to connect, ask questions, get a feel for my approach, and decide whether working together feels right.   There's no pitch and no pressure. If I'm not the right fit for what you're looking for, I'll do my best to point you toward someone who is.   Book your free consultation at marlodragotherapy.janeapp.com.

I work with adults and older teens ages 16 and up across Ontario.   If you're a parent looking for trauma therapy or mental health support for a younger teen (under 16), I'm happy to provide referrals to trusted colleagues who specialize in child and adolescent therapy.

Yes — and the research consistently backs this up.   Multiple studies have found that online therapy produces outcomes equivalent to in-person therapy for a wide range of concerns, including PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, and more. This holds true for EMDR therapy specifically — studies have shown that virtual EMDR is as effective as in-person EMDR for trauma processing.   For many clients, virtual therapy has additional advantages: •       No commute — you can show up from your own home, office, or wherever you feel most comfortable •       Increased privacy — no waiting rooms, no chance of running into someone you know •       Access across Ontario — you don't need to be in Toronto or a major city to access quality trauma therapy •       Nervous system benefits — for trauma work specifically, being in your own environment can actually support the healing process   At Marlo Drago Therapy, all sessions are delivered virtually to adults across Ontario. The connection is real, the work is real, and the results are real.

This is a really common question — and the answer matters when you're trying to find the right support.   Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in mental health. They can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication. They may offer therapy, but many focus primarily on medication management.   Psychologist: A psychologist holds a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in psychology. They can conduct psychological assessments and provide therapy, but in most Canadian provinces cannot prescribe medication.   Registered Social Worker (RSW): A Registered Social Worker (RSW) holds a degree in social work (BSW or MSW) and is regulated by a provincial college. Social workers are trained in mental health assessment, counselling, and psychotherapy — and many specialize in trauma, using approaches like EMDR and somatic therapy. Services provided by an RSW are often covered by extended health benefits.   Marlo Drago is a Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW) and EMDR trained practitioner. She provides trauma-focused psychotherapy for adults across Ontario.

Yes. Marlo Drago Therapy currently offers group therapy for adults across Ontario, delivered virtually.   Current and upcoming groups include: •       EMDR Resourcing Group — a closed biweekly cohort focused on building nervous system resources and stabilization skills using EMDR-based techniques. Ideal for people who are early in trauma work or need to build capacity before deeper processing. •       Women's Support Group — a space for women to connect, be witnessed, and do meaningful work together around shared themes of identity, burnout, relationships, and self-worth.   Group therapy offers something individual therapy can't — the experience of being truly seen and understood by others who get it. For many people, this in itself is deeply healing.   Reach out through marlodrago.com to ask about current group availability and upcoming cohorts.

Here’s the current fee guide for you: 25-minute session (current clients only) $125, 50-minute individual session $200, 85-minute individual session $300, family session (current clients only) $300, intensives (4 hours plus a 1-hour break) $1300, and group therapy $660 for 6 sessions. If you have extended health benefits, your plan may cover therapy with a Registered Social Worker. I direct bill to Telus eHealth and Sun Life, and I can provide receipts for other insurers.

Polyvagal theory, developed by neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Porges, offers a framework for understanding how our nervous system responds to safety, danger, and threat — and why trauma can leave us stuck in states of anxiety, shutdown, or disconnection long after we're no longer in danger.   The theory identifies three primary nervous system states: •       Ventral vagal (safe and social) — calm, connected, present, able to engage •       Sympathetic (fight or flight) — activated, anxious, reactive, on high alert •       Dorsal vagal (freeze or shutdown) — collapsed, numb, dissociated, disconnected   Trauma, especially chronic or childhood trauma, can dysregulate the nervous system so that we get stuck in fight/flight or shutdown states, even in everyday situations that aren't actually dangerous. Polyvagal-informed therapy helps you understand why your nervous system responds the way it does, and builds the capacity to return to a state of safety more easily.   In practice, this means we pay attention to your nervous system cues throughout our work together: noticing when you're activated or shut down, and building the internal resources to regulate. This isn't just coping: it's actually rewiring the system.

Somatic therapy is a body-based approach to healing trauma and emotional distress. The word 'somatic' simply means 'of the body' — and somatic therapy is built on the understanding that trauma doesn't just live in our memories or thoughts. It lives in our bodies.   When we experience something overwhelming, the body responds — heart racing, muscles bracing, breath shortening. If we don't get the chance to complete that stress response, it can stay stuck in the nervous system long after the event is over. This is why trauma can show up as chronic tension, pain, fatigue, digestive issues, or a persistent sense of being unsafe even when you're not.   Talk therapy helps you understand what happened and why you respond the way you do. Somatic therapy helps your body finally feel like it's over.   Somatic therapy techniques may include: •       Tracking body sensations during session •       Breathwork and grounding practices •       Titrated exposure — approaching difficult material slowly and safely •       Pendulation — moving between activation and calm to build nervous system flexibility •       Mindful awareness of posture, movement, and physical response   At Marlo Drago Therapy, somatic approaches are woven throughout all clinical work — not offered as a standalone technique, but integrated into EMDR, Polyvagal-informed care, and parts work for a whole-person approach to healing.