Understanding EMDR: A Trauma-Focused Approach to Counseling Mertens Counseling in Kearney is highlighting Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a trauma-focused therapy that can help individuals process distressing or traumatic experiences. Sometimes, people understand what happened to them but continue to experience strong emotional or physical reactions when something reminds them of the past. Trauma can affect how a person responds to situations, relationships, anxiety, stress, or