Soothing the traces of trauma, at your own pace.
EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an experiential therapeutic approach that helps process painful memories by stimulating both hemispheres of the brain, through eye movements, alternating sounds, tapping, or vibrations.
The goal of EMDR is to ease the emotional imprint left by a distressing or traumatic memory. Unlike more traditional talk-based approaches, EMDR does not always require recounting events in detail. This can make the process more accessible, particularly for children or for people who find it hard to put their experience into words.
EMDR is recognized by the Ordre des psychologues du Québec and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of trauma, including sexual violence.
EMDR and sexual violence
The use of EMDR in the context of sexual violence remains an evolving field, and many psychotherapists work on their own, with no space to share their questions.
La Traversée wishes to put its experience at the service of the network. Our goal: to reduce professional isolation, strengthen psychotherapists’ skills and confidence and, ultimately, improve the care offered to survivors. We do so with humility: no one has yet charted this path, and we intend to explore it together.
Thanks to a transformative six-year gift from Desjardins, our team is being trained in EMDR, accessible guides have been created… and a French-language community of practice is emerging.
A French-speaking community of practice - EMDR and sexual violence
A community of practice brings together professionals who share the same field of intervention and the challenges that come with it. Members meet regularly to share their experiences, reflect together on complex clinical situations, and help their practices evolve. Each person contributes their own expertise and draws on that of others, in a space of support, rigor, and care.
Launched by La Traversée in 2026, our community brings together French-speaking psychotherapists who are trained, or in training, in EMDR and who support survivors of sexual violence of all ages and genders. The program includes four virtual meetings per year, peer co-development, an online space to continue the conversation between meetings, and the creation of shared resources. Participation is entirely free.
Are you a psychotherapist who uses EMDR (or is currently training in it) and supports survivors of sexual violence? Join a community that grows, learns, and innovates together.
Joining is simple:
- Review the community charter to learn how it works, what members commit to, and the confidentiality rules.
- Complete the membership form (French only) at the end of the charter.
- Send your application to à [email protected], along with the following documents:
- Your up-t-date curriculum vitæ;
- Your license to practice psychotherapy;
- Your certificate of basic EMDR training, or proof of enrolment in a training currently under way.
Our EMDR guides
Our guides offer a clear, visual, and accessible introduction to EMDR, suitable for children and adults alike.
Using simple language, illustrations, and concrete examples, they explain how this approach can help people overcome trauma and support emotional healing.
