PTSD Counselling Kelowna
Trauma may be in the past — but your body doesn’t always know that.
Let’s help your nervous system catch up to the present.
How EMDR Can Treat PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops when the brain and body aren’t able to fully process overwhelming events. Whether the trauma was a single incident or something that happened over time, PTSD can leave you feeling stuck in survival mode — long after the danger has passed.
At Heart Centered EMDR in Kelowna, we use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer feel raw, threatening, or inescapable.
Through EMDR, clients often experience:
Fewer flashbacks or intrusive thoughts
A calmer, more regulated nervous system
Reduced emotional reactivity and avoidance
Increased clarity, confidence, and resilience
You don’t have to relive the trauma to heal from it. EMDR offers a safe and supported way to move through what’s been holding you back.
What PTSD Can Feel Like
PTSD doesn’t always look like what you’ve seen in movies. It can be subtle, persistent, and confusing. You may be dealing with trauma-related PTSD if you:
Feel like you're constantly on edge or easily startled
Experience vivid nightmares or flashbacks
Avoid places, people, or emotions tied to past trauma
Struggle with guilt, shame, or self-blame
Feel disconnected from your body or emotionally numb
Have intense emotional reactions that feel “out of nowhere”
Experience panic, rage, or emotional shutdown without warning
These are not personality flaws — they are protective responses that your body and brain developed to keep you safe. But when they become chronic, they limit your ability to feel grounded, connected, and in control.
How EMDR Helps Rewire Trauma
EMDR works by activating both hemispheres of the brain (usually through eye movements or tapping) while revisiting the memory, emotion, or belief tied to the trauma.
This process allows the brain to:
Access the memory safely without becoming overwhelmed
Reprocess the experience in a way that removes the emotional charge
Install more adaptive beliefs like “I am safe now” or “It wasn’t my fault”
Restore a sense of agency, calm, and nervous system regulation
Research shows that EMDR is one of the most effective treatments for PTSD — and it can be especially helpful for people who feel stuck or retraumatized by traditional talk therapy.
What to Expect in PTSD Counselling
Healing from PTSD is not about “getting over it.” It’s about rewiring your relationship to the past so it no longer controls your present.
At Heart Centered EMDR, your sessions will include:
A focus on emotional and somatic safety before processing begins
Collaborative treatment planning tailored to your nervous system
Grounding tools for moments of overwhelm
Gentle, well-paced trauma processing using EMDR
Space to reconnect with your body, boundaries, and sense of self
You are always in control of the process — and never expected to go deeper than feels safe.
PTSD Can Be Loud. Healing Doesn’t Have to Be.
You don’t need to push through, talk through, or relive your trauma to heal. You just need the right support to gently release its grip.
Whether you’re dealing with the effects of abuse, violence, loss, betrayal, medical trauma, or something unnamed but heavy — EMDR offers a path toward regulation, clarity, and peace.
Kelowna-Based PTSD Counselling That Honors Your Story
Ashlea Lawrenson is a trauma-focused therapist in Kelowna with over a decade of experience supporting people through PTSD, complex trauma, and nervous system dysregulation. Her approach blends EMDR with somatic therapy and deep compassion — always meeting you where you are.
Sessions are available both in-person at her calming Tutt Street office and virtually for BC residents.
