EMDR Intensives for Betrayal Trauma
Evidence based therapy designed exclusively for individuals healing after betrayal
What Is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that helps people process traumatic or distressing life experiences so they no longer feel emotionally overwhelming. EMDR was originally developed to treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but decades of research have demonstrated its effectiveness in treating many other mental health concerns, including betrayal trauma, anxiety, depression, panic, grief, and negative self-beliefs.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR helps your brain naturally process experiences that may have become “stuck,” allowing you to heal rather than simply manage symptoms
Many clients describe EMDR as helping them finally feel “unstuck.” Instead of reliving the betrayal every day, they begin to experience greater emotional regulation, fewer triggers, improved self-worth, and a renewed sense of hope. Rather than spending energy just managing symptoms, EMDR helps address the underlying trauma so genuine healing can begin.
How does EMDR work?
EMDR is based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model.
This model suggests that many emotional struggles develop when difficult or traumatic experiences are not fully processed by the brain. Instead of being stored as ordinary memories, these experiences remain “stuck,” continuing to trigger emotional distress, physical reactions, and negative beliefs long after the event has passed.
For those recovering from betrayal, this may look like:
- Constantly replaying the discovery
- Feeling anxious when your partner leaves the house
- Panic when the phone rings or a text notification appears
- Intrusive images or thoughts
- Feeling emotionally “stuck”
- Wondering if you’ll ever feel safe again
Through EMDR, these painful memories are reprocessed so they become integrated in a healthier way.
As healing occurs, clients often experience:
- Less emotional distress surrounding the betrayal
- Fewer intrusive thoughts and triggers
- Reduced anxiety and hypervigilance
- Improved self-worth and confidence
- Greater emotional regulation
- The ability to reconnect with life instead of constantly reliving the past
Who Can Benefit From an EMDR Intensive?
EMDR Intensives are designed for individuals who are struggling after discovering a partner’s infidelity or other forms of relational betrayal.
You may benefit if you:
- Constantly replay what happened
- Feel consumed by intrusive thoughts
- Have panic attacks or heightened anxiety
- Feel emotionally numb
- Struggle to trust your partner—or anyone
- Avoid reminders of the betrayal
- Feel like you’ve lost yourself
- Can’t stop asking “Why?”
- Know you want to heal but don’t know how
- Haven’t seen progress with weekly sessions
Following betrayal, EMDR can help you:
- Process painful discovery memories
- Reduce anxiety and panic
- Decrease intrusive thoughts
- Lessen emotional triggers
- Improve self-worth
- Rebuild a sense of safety
- Regulate your nervous system
- Move forward without the betrayal defining your future
Healing from betrayal doesn’t have to take years. A 2-day EMDR Intensive offers focused, accelerated trauma treatment so you can begin moving forward with confidence and hope.
The 8-Step Protocol
in EMDR Therapy
If you decide to use EMDR, a trained therapist will guide you through the following 8-step protocol:
Step 1: History Taking –You’ll discuss your past history and goals for therapy.
Step 2: Preparation – The therapist will introduce you to bilateral stimulation and show you relaxation exercises to help you feel safe and comfortable before, during and after treatment.
Step 3: Assessment – With the help of a therapist you’ll select a memory or negative belief on which to focus. The therapist will ask you questions about your feelings, beliefs, and physical sensations while you gently process the traumatic memory. You’ll also give voice to any physical sensations associated with the memory.
Step 4: Desensitization – Next, you’ll focus on the target memory while undergoing bilateral stimulation. The therapist may ask you to follow the movement of her fingers with your eyes, or she may tap on your knees, or use another method such as playing sounds in one ear at a time to stimulate both hemispheres of your brain.
Step 5: Installation – You’ll work with your therapist to replace the negative beliefs you associate with the target memory with more positive beliefs that can serve you better.
Step 6: Body Scan – While holding the target memory in your mind, you’ll scan your body for any signs of remaining physical distress associated with the memory. If there are any, the therapist will guide you to repeat steps 4-6.
Step 7: Closure – The session will end, but if you still have any residual negative feelings about the memory, the therapist will show you how to complete relaxation exercises after the session. These will help you feel safe and comfortable until the next session.
Step 8: Re-evaluation – The therapist will begin your next appointment by assessing how well the target memory was reprocessed, whether any new memories have surfaced, and what memory you’d like to target in the current session.
Why Work With Amy?
Healing from betrayal requires more than simply talking about what happened.
Amy Lombardi, LPC specializes in helping individuals recover from betrayal trauma using evidence-based trauma therapies for over 25 years now.
As a betrayal trauma specialist, Amy understands how infidelity impacts not only your emotions but also your nervous system, sense of safety, identity, and ability to trust.
Her two-day EMDR Intensives provide a compassionate, structured environment where clients can begin finding relief from the overwhelming pain of betrayal and move toward lasting healing.
Would You Like to Try EMDR?
If you’re ready to start healing from betrayal click the button below to schedule a free 30 minute consultation with Amy to determine if a 2-day EMDR intensive would be a good fit.