EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy helps you work through painful or traumatic memories so they feel less overwhelming. Unlike traditional talk therapy, you don’t have to go into every detail of what happened.
During a session, you briefly focus on a difficult memory while your therapist guides eye movements, tapping, or tones in short sets. This helps your brain reprocess the experience, so the memory feels less intense and easier to carry. The goal isn’t to forget what happened. It’s to let the memory settle.
EMDR can help teens and adults who are carrying a painful memory that still feels raw, whether it comes from a single event or from experiences that built up over years.
Therapist specialty
EMDR Therapy
Provided by a licensed therapist with EMDRIA-approved EMDR training.
Adolescents & Teens
8–17 years of age
Paced for kids and teens, with parent check-ins.
Adults
18+ years of age
Single events, childhood trauma, or memories that still feel raw.
Associated Conditions
EMDR is best known for treating trauma and PTSD, but research supports its use for many other difficult experiences.
Progress often shows up gradually: a memory that stings less, a calmer body, a belief that starts to shift. These are the areas the work is aimed at, and what we check in with you about as sessions go on.
Less distress from memories
Remembering no longer feels like reliving it.
Healthier beliefs
From “It was my fault” to “I’m safe now.”
A calmer body
Less tension, fewer flashbacks, better sleep.
Confidence moving forward
Meet triggers with calm and control.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Starting EMDR often brings up questions about safety, what a session feels like and how long the work takes. Knowing what to expect can make the first session feel easier, so these are the questions clients ask most often before they begin. Have another? Ask during your free 15-minute consult.
Yes. EMDR has a strong safety record and decades of research behind it. Some people feel tired or emotional, or have vivid dreams, for a day or two after a session, and distress can rise before it settles. That’s expected, which is why your therapist builds coping skills with you first.
No. Your therapist needs enough to help you target the memory, but you’re never asked to narrate it. Many people choose EMDR for exactly this reason.
You sit comfortably and bring a memory to mind while following your therapist’s hand, a light, or a tapping rhythm in short sets of about 30 seconds. Between sets, you share a word or two about what came up. Most people find it less draining than expected.
Talk therapy works mainly through discussion. EMDR relies less on explanation: you briefly hold a memory in mind during short sets of eye movements or tapping, and your brain does much of the processing. Many people find it a good fit when talking about what happened feels too hard, and it can be combined with other approaches.
It depends on what you’re working on. A single recent event may resolve in a handful of sessions, while trauma that built up over years takes longer. Your therapist will give you a realistic picture after the first few sessions.
Yes, absolutely. Our EMDR-trained therapist enjoys working with kids and teens ages 8 to 17. Sessions move at a pace that feels right for your child, and we’ll keep you updated on their progress along the way.
Many plans cover EMDR therapy. It’s billed as psychotherapy, so your plan generally covers it like any therapy session. Clarity Counseling accepts most commercial insurance as well as Medicaid. See insurance and pricing for the current list, or ask during your free consult.
Book a free 15-minute consult. We’ll talk through what you’re hoping to work on, answer your questions about EMDR and go over insurance, then schedule your first session.
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