EMDR therapy in Surrey, BC · in English, Punjabi & Hindi · online across BC
When the past still runs the present.
EMDR is an evidence-based trauma therapy that helps your brain process difficult memories, so they can feel like something that happened rather than something still happening.
- 1Pick a timeBook a free 30-minute call online through Jane.
- 2Talk it throughBy phone or video. Ask anything, with no obligation.
- 3Decide in your own timeNo pressure to book a session afterwards.
Direct billing to Pacific Blue Cross, Canada Life, Green Shield, TELUS Health and most other extended health plans (coverage varies, so check yours) · Registered Clinical Counsellor, RCC #24906 · EMDR trained (EMDRIA) · EFT trained (ICEEFT)
You'll be talking with Sartaj Sandhu, RCC. I offer EMDR and trauma-focused counselling in English, Punjabi and Hindi, in person in Fleetwood, Surrey, and online anywhere in BC. More about me →
When it isn't just in the past
Some experiences don't stay where they happened.
They show up in your body, your sleep, your relationships and the way you react, long after the event itself is over. You might understand exactly where it comes from, and still feel it land like it's happening now.
EMDR is one of the most researched therapies for trauma, and it's recommended by the World Health Organization for PTSD. Here it's offered by a Registered Clinical Counsellor, in a trauma-informed way and entirely at your pace, in English, Punjabi or Hindi.
What EMDR is
You don't have to relive it to heal from it.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. While you briefly bring a memory to mind, you follow side-to-side eye movements, taps or tones. This bilateral stimulation helps the brain do what it couldn't at the time: file the memory away properly.
You stay awake, aware and in control the whole time. It isn't hypnosis, and you don't need to describe every detail of what happened.
EMDR can help with
What people bring to EMDR
- Single traumatic events: accidents, assaults, sudden loss
- Childhood trauma, and hurt from the people closest to you
- PTSD, flashbacks and nightmares
- Anxiety and panic linked to past experiences
- Deep beliefs like "I'm not enough" or "I'm not safe"
- Grief that feels stuck
- Phobias, performance anxiety and high-pressure situations
- Low self-worth rooted in past experiences
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
- Intergenerational trauma
What to expect
What happens in EMDR, step by step.
EMDR follows a structured eight-phase process. You'll always know where you are, and nothing moves faster than you're ready for.
History & goals
- Understanding your history, your goals and what you'd like to work through, including an ACEs check
- No pressure to share everything at once
Preparation
- Grounding and calming tools before any memory work begins
- So you always have a way to feel steady, during and between sessions
Processing
- Briefly bringing a memory to mind while following eye movements or tapping
- Helping your brain reprocess it, and strengthening a healthier belief about yourself
Closure & review
- Each session closes with grounding, to help you leave feeling settled
- Progress is reviewed regularly, including re-taking your self-check
EMDR + Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Talking about it isn't the same as processing it.
Much of what drives us doesn't live in the thinking brain. It lives in the nervous system, stored as unfinished threat. Trauma usually leaves two things behind: the memory itself, and the feelings and relationship patterns that grew around it. Working on only one often leaves the other untouched.
Both come together in The Praxis Way, a 12-week program: Understand, Process, Practise.
EMDR
Helps your brain reprocess painful memories, so they feel like something that happened rather than something still happening.
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Works with the emotions and relationship patterns those memories left behind, so you can respond differently, not just understand why.
You set the pace
You decide the direction and how fast we go. You're the expert on your own life.
Why EMDR at Praxis Wellness
The skill of the person matters as much as the method.
- Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC #24906): EMDR trained therapist (EMDRIA) and EFT trained (ICEEFT)
- Trauma-informed: sessions move at your pace, always
- EMDR fully in Punjabi or Hindi, as well as English, so you can process in the language you think and feel in
- In person in Fleetwood, Surrey (close to Guildford, Cloverdale and Newton), or online anywhere in BC, with evening and Saturday appointments
- Extended 80-minute sessions when more processing time helps
- Direct billing to most extended health plans
EMDR sessions
Many extended health plans include a Registered Clinical Counsellor, and I can bill most of them directly. Plans vary, so check yours. Sliding scale available.
Free 30-minute consultation
Talk through what's going on, ask how EMDR would work for you, and decide in your own time. No pressure to book.
EMDR therapist in Surrey
EMDR therapy in Surrey, and online across BC.
Looking for an EMDR therapist near you in Surrey? Sessions are in person in Fleetwood, Surrey, a short drive from Guildford, Cloverdale, Newton and South Surrey. If travel is hard, EMDR works online too, by secure video anywhere in BC.
Many people come for EMDR after a car crash, a frightening experience at work, a loss, or hurt that goes back to childhood. You don't need a diagnosis or a referral to start.
Related
- PTSD therapy for flashbacks, nightmares and feeling on edge
- ICBC counselling after a car crash
- EMDR intensive: 3 to 4 hours for one memory that won't let go
- EMDR in Punjabi or Hindi
Common questions
About EMDR
Is EMDR safe?
EMDR is a well-researched, evidence-based therapy with a strong safety record. Grounding and preparation come before any processing begins, and the pace is adjusted to what you can manage.
Is EMDR covered by insurance?
Sessions with a Registered Clinical Counsellor are covered by many extended health plans in BC, and I can bill most of them directly. Payment by credit card or e-Transfer is also available, and a sliding scale is available if cost is a concern.
Can EMDR feel intense?
Sometimes a memory feels strong for a moment while it's being processed, and some people feel tired afterwards. That's why preparation and grounding come first, every session ends with settling, and we always go at a pace you can manage.
How is EMDR different from talk therapy?
Talk therapy works mainly through discussing what happened. EMDR works by helping your brain reprocess how a memory is stored, so its emotional charge eases. You don't need to describe your experiences in detail for it to work.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on what you're working on. A single recent event may need fewer sessions, while complex or childhood trauma usually takes longer. We'll agree on a realistic plan in your first session and review it together.
Does EMDR work online?
Yes. Virtual EMDR uses on-screen eye movements or self-tapping, and it's available anywhere in BC.
Will I have to talk about everything in detail?
No. EMDR doesn't require a detailed retelling. Many people find this one of its biggest advantages.
Can I do EMDR in Punjabi or Hindi?
Yes. All phases can be done in English, Punjabi or Hindi.
Is there an EMDR therapist near me in Surrey?
Yes. I offer EMDR in person in Fleetwood, Surrey, a short drive from Guildford, Cloverdale, Newton and South Surrey, and online anywhere in BC. I'm a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC #24906) and EMDR trained (EMDRIA).
How do I start EMDR therapy?
Book a free 30-minute consultation. We'll talk about what's going on and whether EMDR fits. If it does, the first sessions focus on your history, goals and grounding skills before any memory processing begins.
Read next: What happens in your first EMDR session?
Related
Other ways I can help
Curious whether EMDR is right for you?
Start with the trauma self-check, or ask on a free 30-minute call.