EMDR therapy

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What is EMDR therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy approach developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It uses bilateral stimulation — most commonly eye movements — to help the brain naturally process and integrate distressing or traumatic experiences.

EMDR is scientifically proven and highly effective in treating trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also shows strong results with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, phobias, performance blocks, and other stress-related conditions.

What makes EMDR unique is its ability to bring faster and deeper results than traditional talk therapy in many trauma-related cases. It relies on neurobiological processes and the brain’s innate ability to heal by integrating unresolved experiences.

EMDR doesn't require talking in detail

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR allows you to process painful memories without having to describe them in detail.
Instead, the therapist gently guides your attention to a specific memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation — usually through guided eye movements.

This rhythmic stimulation activates both hemispheres of the brain, helping your nervous system release emotional tension and integrate the experience.

Other forms of bilateral input — such as tapping on alternating sides of the body (tactile stimulation) or alternating sounds through headphones (auditory stimulation) — can also be used depending on your comfort and needs.

What to expect in an EMDR session?

EMDR sessions follow a structured, evidence-based protocol that helps your nervous system safely process and release difficult experiences.

In the early stages, the focus is on building your sense of safety and stability in the here and now, creating a foundation before processing distressing memories.

We'll work together to identify a target memory, current triggers, and the positive beliefs you want to strengthen — whether it’s related to a recent event or something from earlier in life.

Once you're ready, you’ll be guided through sets of bilateral stimulation — most often eye movements — while briefly bringing the memory to mind.

The process continues in short rounds, allowing new sensations, emotions and insights to emerge and shift naturally. Over time, the memory loses its emotional charge, and a sense of resolution and calm replaces distress.

EMDR sessions last 60 minutes and are fully tailored to your needs, pace, and readiness.

Who can benefit from EMDR therapy?

EMDR therapy can help people dealing with a wide range of emotional challenges — not just those who’ve experienced major trauma, but also those who feel stuck or overwhelmed by past experiences.

EMDR is often effective for:

Trauma and post-traumatic stress (PTSD)
(e.g. car accidents, violence, loss, birth trauma)
Panic attacks and anxiety
(chronic tension, racing thoughts, fear without a clear cause)
Phobias and irrational fears
(such as fear of flying, dentists, crowds, or enclosed spaces)
Low self-esteem and inner criticism
(persistent feelings of “not being good enough”)
Emotional blocks and feeling “stuck”
(repeating patterns in relationships, indecisiveness)
Painful childhood memories
(emotional neglect, humiliation, parental divorce)
Stress related to work, family, or relationships
(burnout, feeling overwhelmed, frequent conflict)

How body psychotherapy enhances EMDR therapy

While EMDR is already a powerful method for trauma resolution, combining it with body psychotherapy adds depth and embodiment. Trauma is not only stored in thoughts and memories — it's held in the nervous system, in patterns of tension, numbness, and disconnection.

A body-oriented approach supports the EMDR process by gently including physical sensations, posture, breath, and body awareness as part of the healing work. This helps the nervous system feel safer and more regulated, allowing deeper layers of trauma to surface and resolve at a pace that feels manageable.

In sessions, this might mean:

Tracking how emotions show up in the body (e.g., tightness in the chest, heaviness in the limbs)
Using grounding techniques to stay present and connected during processing
Supporting the body's natural rhythm of activation and settling — without pushing or retraumatizing
Inviting moments of movement or breath to release stored tension

By including the body, EMDR becomes not just a cognitive process, but a full-person integration. Clients often describe feeling more connected, stable, and embodied — not just mentally “better,” but more alive.

EMDR therapy with Vanja

You can choose to work with me in person — in Novi Sad or Belgrade — or online from anywhere in the world, in English or Serbian language. Sessions last 60 minutes.

I offer a free 20-minute consultation to get to know each other and to answer any quesions (available upon request).

If you're interested in scheduling a session or have any questions, feel free to reach out:

📧 Email: jelaca.vanja@gmail.com
📞 Phone / Viber / WhatsApp: +381 63 847 4810
🗣️ Languages: English & Serbian

Or use a contact form by clicking below:

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About me

Vanja Jelaca, EMDR therapist and body psychotherapist under supervision

I am a certified EMDR therapist, accredited by the EMDR Europe Association, with additional training in using EMDR with children and adolescents.

As a member of the EMDR Crisis Intervention Team in Serbia, I also support people in acute and emergency situations.

My approach to EMDR is deeply somatic — informed by years of training in body psychotherapy and Somatic Experiencing. This allows me to gently support the nervous system, not just the mind, during trauma processing.

I specialize in working with stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and psychosomatic symptoms, helping clients restore safety, resilience, and a deeper connection with themselves.