Amy May Counselling Services

Amy May Counselling Services When you're ready to heal, I'm here. Virtual EMDR therapy across Ontario for trauma, anxiety, PTSD & more. Free 15-minute consultation. www.amymaycounselling.com

Registered Social Worker offering compassionate, evidence-based care.

EMDR & ADHD — How can EMDR therapy help?ADHD is a valid and natural neurodevelopmental difference, not something that ne...
03/23/2026

EMDR & ADHD — How can EMDR therapy help?

ADHD is a valid and natural neurodevelopmental difference, not something that needs to be changed or cured.

At the same time, many people with ADHD carry emotional wounds from experiences of feeling misunderstood, judged, or repeatedly told they are “too much” or “not enough.” EMDR therapy can help process those experiences and reduce the distress connected to them.

According to EMDRIA, EMDR may support people with ADHD by:
• Reducing distress linked to past experiences that shaped negative beliefs
• Helping process “small-t” traumas that build up over time
• Supporting self-acceptance and self-compassion
• Adapting the therapy process to fit neurodivergent brains
• Addressing trauma without trying to change the person’s neurotype

EMDR is not used to eliminate ADHD — but it can help reduce the emotional impact of experiences that make life with ADHD harder.

Sources (EMDRIA):
https://www.emdria.org/blog/emdr-therapy-and-adhd/
https://www.emdria.org/blog/myth-busters-myths-standing-between-emdr-practitioners-and-their-autistic-and-adhd-clients-part-2/
https://www.emdria.org/learning-class/a-multi-modal-treatment-program-for-adhd-and-add/

03/18/2026

Trauma can create **tunnel vision** in how we remember what happened.

Instead of holding the full context of an experience, the brain can lock onto one moment, one feeling, or one belief — often sounding something like:

“It was my fault”
“I should have done something differently”
"I'm responsible"

When this happens, the memory is stored in a way that omits important parts of the story, including the circumstances, the limitations you were under, and the ways you were actually trying to cope or survive.

This narrowed view can keep the nervous system stuck because the brain reacts to the memory as if that small piece were the whole truth.

EMDR helps the brain reprocess the experience so more information can come online.

As the memory integrates, people often notice they can see the event with more context, more balance, and less self-blame.

Healing doesn’t come from forgetting what happened.

It comes from being able to see the **whole picture**.

I’m excited to share that I’m now an EMDRIA-Certified EMDR Therapist ✨Through the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA...
02/27/2026

I’m excited to share that I’m now an EMDRIA-Certified EMDR Therapist ✨

Through the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) certification process, I completed additional consultation, clinical hours, and continuing education beyond my foundational EMDR training.

Both EMDR-trained and EMDR-certified therapists are qualified to provide EMDR therapy.

Certification reflects advanced experience and a commitment to ongoing professional development, which has been acknowledged formally through this process!

This doesn't mean trained therapists aren't well educated or doing the same work I've done! Certification is not for everyone, and there can be barriers to accessing this for many reasons.

I am grateful for the growth and the clients who trust me with their healing work 💛 Many thanks to my colleagues for their support of this milestone!








Struggling with anxiety, trauma, or relationship patterns?Perhaps your relationship with yourself is one shrouded in neg...
02/08/2026

Struggling with anxiety, trauma, or relationship patterns?

Perhaps your relationship with yourself is one shrouded in negative beliefs, low self-esteem or a lack of self-worth?

As a Registered Social Worker and EMDR trained therapist, I understand: Your mental health doesn't exist in a vacuum. Life stressors, systemic barriers, and past trauma all affect how you feel today.

My approach combines:
🌟 Evidence-based EMDR therapy
🌟 Trauma-informed care
🌟 Understanding of real-world challenges
🌟 Safety and trust as the foundation

You don't have to:
→ Talk about everything that happened
→ Relive painful memories in detail
→ "Just think positive."
→ Keep living with trauma symptoms

Serving Ontario virtually!

Free 15-minute consultation. Let's talk about whether EMDR can help.

My approach (informed by Janina Fisher) emphasizes resolution, not just processing.Resolution means:🌟 Transforming your ...
02/08/2026

My approach (informed by Janina Fisher) emphasizes resolution, not just processing.

Resolution means:
🌟 Transforming your relationship with yourself.
🌟 Replacing shame with compassionate acceptance.
🌟 Letting go of guilt for what happened to you.

EMDR doesn't just reduce symptoms. It helps you develop a secure attachment to yourself over time, which can benefit the relationships you have outside yourself.

The goal isn't just feeling better.

It's feeling whole. It's self-compassion. It's reclaiming who you are.

That's resolution.

Your nervous system remembers what your attachment experiences taught you about relationships.Thinking about the work of...
02/06/2026

Your nervous system remembers what your attachment experiences taught you about relationships.

Thinking about the work of Janina Fisher, she talks about how interruptions in attachment (not always traumatic) don't just affect how you feel—it affects your nervous system's capacity to tolerate proximity.

You might:

▪ Pull away when someone gets too close
▪ Panic when you sense distance
▪ Feel unsafe even in safe relationships

EMDR reprocesses the early experiences that disrupted or impacted your view of attachment to others.

Connection can feel different over time.

Sources: Janina Fisher, EMDRIA.org 💙

Here's what I believe about therapy:✨ The relationship is the foundation. Everything else builds from there. ✨ Before we...
02/03/2026

Here's what I believe about therapy:

✨ The relationship is the foundation. Everything else builds from there. ✨

Before we dive into EMDR or trauma work, I make sure you feel safe with me. Not just comfortable—actually safe. Safe enough to be honest, to be messy, to say "I'm not ready."

The research is clear; this isn't optional. Trust and safety are essential for healing.

That's why our first sessions focus on connection. You're not just a client to me. You're a person who deserves to feel seen and have a safe space to do the work important to you.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK608012/

One of the biggest myths about EMDR: "I can't do it because I don't remember what happened."EMDRIA is clear on this: You...
02/02/2026

One of the biggest myths about EMDR: "I can't do it because I don't remember what happened."

EMDRIA is clear on this: You don't need full memories.

Your brain and body remember—even when your conscious mind doesn't. That's actually common with trauma. The brain protects you by not keeping everything accessible.

EMDR works with what's there. No pressure to remember. No forcing details.

Many people heal without ever "remembering" everything.
Your brain has what it needs.

Source: EMDRIA.org 💚


Ever notice your body reacts before your brain catches up?✔ Heart racing in a safe situation. ✔ Shoulders tense when som...
01/31/2026

Ever notice your body reacts before your brain catches up?

✔ Heart racing in a safe situation.
✔ Shoulders tense when someone raises their voice.
✔ Shutting down when you're not actually in danger.
✔ Chronic tension patterns, needing to be "ready" for anything on a moment's notice.

From an EMDR perspective, trauma or past impactful situations get stored in your nervous system—in your body. That's why talking about it sometimes isn't enough.

EMDR works differently. The bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping) helps your body process what it's holding. Your nervous system gets to complete the response it couldn't finish during the trauma or impactful event(s).

Your body has the opportunity to see the memory or experience as complete. This can shift old patterns into more relaxation and less physical triggering over time.

EMDR doesn't just work with what we think or remember; it honours the body as a valid source of information about how life has been.

You know that voice that says "I'm not good enough" or "I'm going to fail"?From an EMDR perspective, those beliefs often...
01/31/2026

You know that voice that says "I'm not good enough" or "I'm going to fail"?

From an EMDR perspective, those beliefs often come from past experiences your brain hasn't fully processed. Maybe criticism from years ago. A painful rejection. A moment where you felt small.

Here's the thing: Your brain stored those moments as proof. EMDR helps your brain reprocess them—so the belief loses its grip. It helps you see a bigger picture of yourself and reach new conclusions about these experiences!

Not by convincing you otherwise. By letting your brain finish what it started.

Curious to learn more?
Visit my website: www.amymaycounselling.com

You know the way you'd comfort or encourage a friend? You can learn to do that for yourself, too.It might feel unfamilia...
01/29/2026

You know the way you'd comfort or encourage a friend? You can learn to do that for yourself, too.

It might feel unfamiliar at first—being kind to yourself often does. But self-compassion is a practice, and every small moment of gentleness counts.

You're learning. You're growing. You're doing better than you think.

Start where you are. 💙

As a social worker, acknowledging systemic issues in therapy isn't biased—that's our training.Social work is different f...
01/28/2026

As a social worker, acknowledging systemic issues in therapy isn't biased—that's our training.

Social work is different from other mental health professions. We're required to recognize that:
▪ The depression you describe might be linked to financial stress from systemic inequality.

▪ The anxiety might be a response to real threats to your safety or rights.

▪ Your trauma might be from discrimination and marginalization.

Our Code of Ethics requires us to address social justice.

This means we see you as a whole person, not separate from the world affecting you.

Personal AND political. Both matter.
That's social work.

Address

72 Ross Street
Barrie, ON
L4N1G3

Opening Hours

Monday 4pm - 7:30pm
Wednesday 4pm - 7:30pm
Thursday 4pm - 7:30pm

Telephone

+17053041626

Website

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