EMDR Therapy in Pittsburgh, PA and Online Across Pennsylvania
Therapy doesn't have to feel like endlessly circling the same pain
EMDR doesn't ask you to relive your past
It gives your brain and nervous system repeated opportunities to experience what your mind may have known for years...
You’re safe now.
Maybe you've talked about it.
Read the books.
Listened to the podcasts.
Connected the dots.
You understand why you react the way you do.
You know the past is over.
You know you're safe.
And yet...
Your heart still races.
Your body still braces.
Your stomach still drops.
You still find yourself reacting before you even have time to think.
That can be one of the most frustrating parts of trauma.
Knowing isn't always enough.
EMDR therapy helps the brain and nervous system process experiences that continue to feel emotionally and physically present so that the past can finally begin to feel like the past.
Not forgotten.
Not erased.
Integrated.
Healing is not about pretending something never happened.
It is about helping your mind and body recognize that what happened is no longer happening now.
That shift can change everything.
One of the things I hear most often is:
"I know why I do it..."
followed by...
"I just can't seem to stop."
That sentence carries so much frustration.
Because insight matters.
Understanding your story matters.
Learning about trauma matters.
But trauma isn't stored only as information.
It is also stored as emotions...
body sensations...
protective beliefs...
and nervous system responses.
This is why someone can know they are safe while their body still prepares for danger.
Why they can know a relationship is healthy while still expecting abandonment.
Why they can know they are enough while still feeling driven by perfectionism.
Why they can know the panic attack will pass while their heart continues racing.
Your logical mind and your nervous system are not always working from the same timeline.
One may know the danger has passed.
The other may still be waiting for it.
That is not weakness.
It is not failure.
And it does not mean you are broken.
It means your nervous system adapted in the best way it knew how.
Why Knowing Isn't Always Enough
You do not need to forget what happened in order to heal.
The goal of EMDR is not to erase your memories.
The goal is to help your mind and body store them in a way that feels less overwhelming, less emotionally charged, and more like something that happened rather than something you are still living through.
EMDR is one of the most powerful approaches I use because it helps bridge the gap between what your mind already understands and what your body is still carrying.
My hope isn't simply that you understand your story.
My hope is that one day you notice your body responding differently to it.
That the memories feel further away.
That the triggers lose some of their intensity.
That you have more space between what happens around you and how your nervous system responds.
That life begins to feel less like surviving...
and more like living.
Is EMDR Right For You?
You may be wondering whether EMDR is the right fit for you.
The truth is, EMDR is not about how "big" your trauma was.
It is about whether your nervous system is still carrying it.
You may be a good fit for EMDR if you find yourself saying...
"I know I'm safe, but I don't feel safe."
"I know it wasn't my fault, but I still carry the shame."
"I understand why I react this way, but I still can't stop."
"I feel stuck."
"I keep replaying the same memories."
"I avoid certain people, places, or conversations."
"I feel like my body reacts before my mind can catch up."
"I've talked about it for years, but it still feels close."
If you're nodding along...
You're not failing at healing.
Your nervous system may simply need a different approach.
Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, insightful, incredibly self-aware people.
They've done the work.
They've read the books.
They've spent years understanding themselves.
EMDR isn't about replacing that work.
It's about helping your nervous system finally catch up to what your mind has understood for a long time.
This is important.
EMDR isn't about proving how much you've been through.
It isn't reserved only for combat veterans or catastrophic events.
If an experience continues to shape the way you think, feel, relate to others, or move through the world...
It deserves care.
Healing looks different for everyone.
There is no "right" way to experience EMDR.
Every nervous system is different.
Every story is different.
Every healing journey is different.
What I can do is prepare you.
One of my goals is to help you know what to expect so you can walk into the process feeling informed, supported, and empowered.
What EMDR Can Feel Like
Before EMDR
Many people begin EMDR feeling...
• Stuck
• Exhausted
• Hypervigilant
• Constantly "on"
• Emotionally overwhelmed
• Numb
• Disconnected
• Frustrated that insight hasn't changed how they feel
Some people describe carrying their trauma like a heavy backpack.
Others describe feeling like every new experience gets filtered through old pain.
Many say:
"I know I'm safe..."
"...but my body doesn't seem to believe me."
That is often where we begin.
Not with judgment.
Not with pressure.
Just with curiosity.
During EMDR
EMDR is an active process.
Sometimes emotions surface.
Sometimes memories.
Sometimes body sensations.
Sometimes surprising connections.
Sometimes relief.
Sometimes grief.
Sometimes laughter.
Sometimes all of those things in the same session.
There isn't one "correct" experience.
Your brain is making connections in the way it needs to.
Throughout the process, I am paying attention not only to what you say...
but also to your pace.
Your nervous system.
Your breathing.
Your body.
Your window of tolerance.
One of the things clients often tell me is that they appreciate feeling deeply contained throughout the process.
You are never expected to push through.
We slow down when your nervous system needs us to.
We ground.
We regulate.
We check in.
You remain in control throughout every session.
Healing happens best when your nervous system knows it is safe.
After EMDR
Every person's experience is unique.
There are no guarantees.
But many people describe noticing...
• More space between a trigger and their reaction.
• Feeling lighter.
• Feeling calmer.
• Feeling more connected to themselves.
• Feeling more present.
• Feeling like they can finally breathe.
Some people notice something even harder to describe.
They'll say...
"It feels like the memory is finally in the past."
Not forgotten.
Not erased.
Just...
different.
More distant.
Less vivid.
Less emotionally charged.
More like something they remember...
than something they are still surviving.
Some people leave a session feeling energized.
Others feel emotionally tired or reflective.
That can be a normal part of the integration process.
Healing doesn't stop when the session ends.
In many ways, your nervous system continues making sense of the work afterward.
That's one reason we spend time talking about sleep, movement, mindfulness, hydration, self-compassion, and creating an intentional plan for caring for yourself between sessions.
EMDR isn't about changing who you .
It's about helping your mind and body recognize that the danger has passed so you can respond to today instead of continually reacting to yesterday.
EMDR is one of the most researched trauma therapies available today.
Despite that, there are still many misconceptions about what it is—and what it isn't.
Let's clear up a few of the biggest ones.
EMDR is not hypnosis.
You remain awake, aware, and fully present throughout every session.
You are never "put under" or controlled in any way.
EMDR is not mind control.
You are always in charge of the process.
We slow down when needed.
We pause when needed.
We check in often.
Healing happens through collaboration—not force.
EMDR is not about forcing yourself to relive trauma.
One of the biggest fears people have is,
"I don't want to have to go through it all over again."
You won't be asked to endlessly retell every detail of your story.
Instead, EMDR helps your brain process experiences differently while staying grounded in the present.
EMDR is not about forgetting what happened.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions.
Healing is not forgetting.
Healing is not pretending.
Healing is not minimizing.
The goal is for your memories to become integrated.
To feel less emotionally charged.
To feel less physically activating.
To become part of your story rather than something that continues to control it.
EMDR is not a magic wand.
Healing still takes courage.
Healing still takes willingness.
Healing still takes support.
But for many people, EMDR becomes the turning point where years of insight begin to feel different inside their body.
Many of the questions I hear about EMDR are closely connected to the myths people believe about trauma healing itself.
If you've ever wondered why healing feels messy, nonlinear, or slower than expected...
I explore those misconceptions in more depth in my Flow Notes article:
Read: What No One Tells You About Trauma Healing →
What EMDR Is Not
This is important.
EMDR isn't designed to erase your past.
It's designed to help your nervous system recognize that your past is no longer your present.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
It is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach originally developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro to help people process traumatic and distressing experiences.
Today, EMDR is used around the world to help treat trauma, PTSD, anxiety, panic, grief, attachment wounds, and many of the beliefs that develop after difficult life experiences.
At its core, EMDR helps the brain process experiences that have become "stuck."
When something overwhelming happens, the brain doesn't always get the opportunity to fully organize and integrate what occurred.
Instead, parts of the memory—including emotions, body sensations, beliefs, and nervous system responses—can continue feeling as though they belong in the present.
That's why someone can logically know:
"I'm safe."
while their body still prepares for danger.
EMDR helps reconnect those pieces.
Rather than changing what happened...
It changes how the experience is stored.
Many people describe that shift as:
"I still remember it...
...but it doesn't feel like it's happening anymore."
One of the things I love most about EMDR is that it brings together both science and hope.
Our brains are incredibly adaptable.
Researchers call this neuroplasticity—our brain's lifelong ability to create new connections, adapt, and continue learning.
That means healing remains possible, even years after a painful experience.
Trauma researchers have also found that overwhelming experiences are often stored differently than ordinary memories.
Instead of feeling like something that happened in the past...
They can continue feeling emotionally and physically present.
A sound.
A smell.
A facial expression.
A place.
A date on the calendar.
Your nervous system reacts before you've even had time to think.
One of the leading ways researchers understand EMDR is through the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, which proposes that distressing experiences may become stored in an unprocessed form when they overwhelm our natural coping abilities. EMDR is designed to help the brain resume that processing so the memory can become more integrated and less distressing.
Some researchers have also compared aspects of EMDR to the brain's natural processing during REM sleep, when experiences are sorted, integrated, and organized. While scientists continue studying exactly how EMDR works, decades of research consistently support its effectiveness for many people recovering from trauma and PTSD.
For me, that's one of the most hopeful parts.
Healing isn't about convincing yourself you're okay.
It's about giving your brain and nervous system the opportunity to do what they were designed to do all along:
Process.
Adapt.
Heal.
How EMDR Works Without Getting Lost in the Science
Curious how trauma affects both the brain and the body?
Explore my Trauma Therapy page to learn more about how trauma can become stored in the nervous system, why it can continue feeling present long after an experience has ended, and how healing involves both the mind and the body.
What EMDR Sessions Look Like
One of the biggest questions people ask before starting EMDR is...
"What will a session actually be like?"
The answer is probably much gentler than most people expect.
We don't jump straight into processing difficult memories.
Healing happens best when your nervous system feels supported, not rushed.
That's why we begin by getting to know you—not just what happened to you.
We'll spend time understanding your story, identifying patterns, exploring the beliefs that may have developed over time, and building the resources your nervous system needs before we begin deeper processing.
Together, we'll identify the experiences, memories, themes, or core beliefs that continue to feel unresolved.
As we move through EMDR, I’ll guide you step by step, checking in often and helping you stay connected to the present.
There is no pressure to "perform" therapy.
No expectation that you have to remember every detail.
No expectation that healing happens in one session.
Instead, we move at a pace that honors both your goals and your nervous system.
One of the things I appreciate most about EMDR is that it isn't about pushing harder.
It's about helping your brain and body process what has been waiting to be processed all along.
Healing doesn't happen because we force it.
Healing happens because your nervous system finally has enough safety to do what it was designed to do.
Creating Your Healing Space
One of the unexpected benefits of virtual EMDR is that healing happens in a space that's already familiar to you.
Instead of adjusting to a new office every week, you're able to create an environment that helps your nervous system feel supported from the very beginning.
Before your sessions, I'll help you think through simple ways to prepare your space.
Maybe that's...
• A favorite blanket.
• A supportive pillow.
• Soft lighting.
• A warm cup of tea.
• A journal nearby.
• A comforting scent.
• Your dog sleeping beside you.
• A room where you know you won't be interrupted.
These small details matter more than people realize.
Your environment communicates safety to your nervous system long before we begin processing.
Many clients are surprised by how comforting it feels to finish an EMDR session...
and simply remain in the place where they already feel most at home. There is no drive home while emotionally activated. No rushing back into traffic. No leaving the safety you've created. Instead, you have the opportunity to slowly reconnect with yourself in a space that already belongs to you.
What Can EMDR Help With?
EMDR is best known for treating trauma and PTSD, but its applications often extend far beyond a single traumatic event.
Many of the people I work with use EMDR to address experiences and patterns that continue affecting their daily lives.
Together, we may use EMDR to support healing from:
✦ Childhood Trauma
✦ Complex Trauma
✦ PTSD
✦ Attachment Trauma
✦ Medical Trauma
✦ Religious Trauma
✦ Racial Trauma
✦ Grief and Loss
✦ Anxiety and Panic
✦ OCD and Intrusive Thoughts
✦ Perfectionism
✦ Burnout
✦ Negative Core Beliefs
✦ Relationship Patterns
✦ Life Transitions
Sometimes the focus isn't a single event.
Sometimes it's a belief that quietly formed over years.
"I am not enough."
"I have to earn my worth."
"I can't trust anyone."
"I'm too much."
"I'm not safe."
These beliefs often begin as survival strategies.
EMDR gives us an opportunity to revisit where they came from—and whether they still belong in your life today.
How I Integrate EMDR
EMDR is one of the most powerful tools I use.
It is also one piece of a much larger picture.
Healing rarely happens through one approach alone.
That's why I integrate EMDR with other evidence-based therapies that support both your nervous system and your day-to-day life.
EMDR
To help your brain process memories, beliefs, and experiences that continue to feel unresolved.
Somatic Therapy
To notice what your body is communicating and develop skills that help you move from survival toward regulation.
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
To reconnect with your values and build a life that feels meaningful—not one organized around fear.
IFS-Informed Parts Work
To approach protective parts with curiosity rather than judgment and create more connection between the different parts of yourself.
Mindfulness
To strengthen your ability to stay present with compassion instead of becoming overwhelmed by the past or consumed by the future.
Narrative Therapy
To explore the stories you've carried about yourself and create space for new possibilities.
Integration Planning
Because healing doesn't end when the session does.
Together, we'll create practical ways to carry what you're learning into everyday life so the work continues long after we log off.
Your Trusted EMDR Therapist
Brittany Steiner, LPC, YTT - 200
EMDR is one of the most meaningful tools I use, but the technique itself is only part of the healing process.
Equally important is the relationship we build together.
Healing happens best when your nervous system feels safe enough to slow down, become curious, and move at a pace that honors your story.
Clients and colleagues have often reflected on my ability to create a calm, steady environment where people feel deeply supported, understood, and never rushed.
My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and grounded in both science and humanity.
As an EMDR-trained therapist, I continue to pursue ongoing consultation, supervision, and advanced training because I believe my clients deserve care that continues to grow alongside the research.
Whether we're working through a single memory, a lifelong pattern, or years of accumulated experiences, my role is not to rush your healing.
It's to walk beside you with curiosity, compassion, and confidence in your nervous system's ability to heal.
Want to learn more about my approach and story?
Why I Continue Coming Back to EMDR
Of all the approaches I use, EMDR continues to be one of the most meaningful tools in my therapy room.
Not because it makes healing easy.
And not because it works like magic.
I continue coming back to EMDR because I've watched people move from feeling stuck to feeling hopeful.
From carrying the past every day...
to remembering it without reliving it.
I've watched people reconnect with themselves in ways they weren't sure were possible.
I've witnessed people spend years understanding their stories...
and finally experience what it feels like for their nervous system to understand them too.
Watching someone realize,
"I don't carry that the same way anymore."
never gets old.
Moments like that remind me why I continue coming back to EMDR.
Not because it's a quick fix.
Not because healing is easy.
But because I have seen what's possible when people are given enough safety, enough time, and enough support to allow their nervous systems to do what they were designed to do.
It's one of the greatest privileges of my work.
And it's one of the reasons I believe so deeply in this process.
One of the biggest misconceptions about EMDR is that healing only happens during the therapy session.
In reality...
Some of the most meaningful healing happens afterward.
As your brain and nervous system continue integrating the work, you may notice new insights, emotions, memories, dreams, or moments of clarity begin to emerge.
That doesn't mean something is wrong.
Often, it means your brain is continuing the work it started during session.
Healing isn't something that only happens while we're together.
It happens in the ordinary moments, too.
On your morning walk.
While making dinner.
While sitting quietly with your coffee.
During a conversation that suddenly feels different.
When you notice yourself responding instead of reacting.
When your body pauses instead of bracing.
Those moments matter.
That's why we spend time creating an integration plan that's realistic for your life.
Healing Continues Beyond the Session
Together, we may discuss:
→ Sleep and recovery
→ Gentle movement
→ Nervous system regulation
→ Mindfulness
→ Journaling
→ Boundaries
→ Self-compassion
→ Values-based action
→ Healthy relationships
Healing is not about doing more.
It's about creating enough safety for your nervous system to begin responding differently to the life you're already living.
Healing isn't measured only by how you feel during therapy.
Sometimes it's measured by the moments you suddenly realize...
"That situation would have completely overwhelmed me six months ago."
For some people, weekly therapy feels like the right pace.
For others, life circumstances, schedules, or the desire for more focused work make an EMDR Intensive a better fit.
Therapy intensives provide dedicated time to move more deeply into the work without having to stop just as you begin gaining momentum.
Many clients appreciate having the opportunity to focus on a specific memory, theme, life transition, or core belief in a structured, supportive environment.
Every intensive is individualized.
Every nervous system is different.
Every healing journey deserves its own pace.
Looking for More Focused Healing?
One of the biggest barriers to getting support is the assumption that therapy will be too expensive.
If your insurance plan includes out-of-network coverage, you may be eligible for reimbursement for a portion of your therapy costs.
I've partnered with Mentaya to make checking your benefits quick and easy.
Use the tool below to see whether you qualify for reimbursement and what your estimated coverage may be.
I accept AETNA and BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD plans including Highmark.
Therapy May Be More Affordable Than You Think
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
Every person and every story is different.
Some people experience meaningful changes within a relatively short period of focused work, while others benefit from longer-term therapy. During our consultation and early sessions, we'll create a plan based on your goals, history, and current needs.
Does EMDR work virtually?
Yes.
Research and clinical experience support the effectiveness of virtual EMDR for many people. I'll guide you in creating a comfortable, supportive environment so you feel prepared before we begin processing.
Do I have to tell you every detail of what happened?
No.
You never have to share more than feels comfortable.
Many people are surprised to learn that EMDR does not require repeatedly retelling every detail of a traumatic experience in order to be effective.
What if I become overwhelmed?
Your nervous system always comes first.
We move at a pace that feels manageable.
We'll build grounding skills, resources, and regulation strategies before moving into deeper processing, and we'll pause whenever needed.
Can EMDR help with anxiety or OCD?
Often, yes.
For many people, anxiety and OCD symptoms are connected to earlier learning experiences, core beliefs, or distressing memories. When appropriate, EMDR can become one part of a broader treatment plan alongside approaches such as ERP, ACT, somatic therapy, and mindfulness.
Is EMDR right for everyone?
Not always.
Part of my role is helping determine whether EMDR is the right approach—and whether it's the right time.
Sometimes additional preparation, stabilization, or another therapeutic approach may be the best place to begin.
Together, we'll make that decision collaboratively.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you've made it this far...
There's a good chance part of you is tired.
Tired of understanding your patterns without feeling different.
Tired of carrying memories that still feel close.
Tired of wondering why your body keeps responding to experiences that happened years ago.
I want you to know something.
Healing is possible.
Not because we'll erase your past.
Not because you'll suddenly become someone new.
But because your brain and nervous system are capable of change.
You may understand what happened.
Now it's time for your nervous system to understand it too.
It would be an honor to walk alongside you.
Whether we meet through weekly therapy or a focused EMDR intensive, my hope is that you leave therapy carrying your story differently.
Not erased.
Not forgotten.
Integrated.
So you can spend less time surviving...
and more time living.
You Don't Have To Keep Carrying This Alone
