Healing the Healer: How EMDR Can Support Veterinarians 🐾

# I Can’t Shake This Feeling: Understanding EMDR for Vets

Veterinary medicine is equal parts heart and hustle. You’re diagnosing on the fly, navigating emotional conversations with pet parents, and making life-or-death calls. Somehow, you’re still expected to stay calm, compassionate, and in control.

But here’s the truth: some moments stick. A tough euthanasia, a surgical complication, or a panicked client who took their fear out on you—your brain can replay these events over and over, making it feel like they are still happening. That’s where EMDR comes in.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy originally developed for PTSD. It’s incredibly effective for vets who’ve experienced work-related trauma, compassion fatigue, or burnout. 🧠✨

What Does EMDR Look Like?

Let’s break down what this therapy can look like in practice:

That Procedure Didn’t Go the Way You Hoped 🩺

It was a routine procedure. You followed all the protocols. But something went wrong, and now you can't stop thinking about it. You might find yourself second-guessing decisions or feeling guilty without knowing why.

In EMDR, we return to the moment it got stuck. Perhaps it was an alarm, a specific phrase, or the look on a colleague’s face. EMDR helps your brain reprocess that memory so it feels less charged. You’ll remember what happened, but it won’t own you anymore.

You’re Dreading Another Euthanasia 💔

You became a vet to help animals live long, healthy lives—not to bear the weight of grief daily. Still, euthanasia is part of the job. Sometimes, it hits harder than expected. It might remind you of your own pet or lead to moments like a client pleading, “Please don’t let them suffer.” You might even feel that you need to cry but just don’t have the time.

With EMDR, you will gain the ability to feel the weight of that moment—and ultimately set it down. We address the images, sensations, and beliefs stuck in your nervous system so that you don’t have to carry it alone.

You Had a Tough Conversation with a Client 🗣️

Perhaps a client accused you of not caring, or pushed back on your treatment plan. Maybe they couldn’t afford what their pet needed, and you witnessed their heartbreak and frustration. You maintained your professionalism, but emotionally, you're wiped out.

That “freeze” or stress you felt is not a sign of weakness—it’s simply your nervous system trying to cope. EMDR can help desensitize those stress responses and shift the internal narrative from “I failed” to “I showed up with care in a hard situation.”

When It Hits Too Close to Home: Grieving Your Own Pet 🐶🐱

Even as a vet, losing your own pet can be devastating. You know the science, but you still feel the loss deeply. Perhaps you had to euthanize your own animal. You might find yourself grieving while also trying to support grieving clients.

I have been there. EMDR gave me the space to process my grief without rushing it or over-intellectualizing the experience. Sometimes, the hardest part is allowing yourself to be just a person, not the expert. EMDR helps facilitate that process—gently and without judgment.

Why Choose EMDR for Vets?

Your work is meaningful and incredibly challenging. You’ve encountered situations that most people wouldn’t comprehend. Carrying the burden alone isn’t working anymore. EMDR offers a way to process those tough moments instead of suppressing them or pretending they don’t affect you.

You don’t need to reach rock bottom to benefit from EMDR. If you’re a veterinary student, trainee, tech, or veterinarian who’s feeling tired, anxious, or emotionally worn out, this is for you.

Every day, you show up for your clients and their pets. Let EMDR help you show up for yourself too. 💙🐾

The Importance of Seeking Support

Many in the veterinary field underestimate the importance of mental health support. You deserve to have a space to unload your worries and concerns. Reaching out for help can feel daunting, but it is a necessary step toward healing.

Want to know more about EMDR therapy for veterinarians? I’d love to talk. You deserve support too.

Your journey doesn’t have to be taken alone. Together, we can work toward a brighter, more balanced future.