EMDR & trauma-informed care
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is an evidence-based trauma therapy recognized as first-line treatment by the WHO, APA, and Department of Veterans Affairs. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn't require you to narrate the trauma in detail — the brain reprocesses the memory through bilateral stimulation while the therapist guides the process.
Most major insurances accepted.
Don’t see your plan? We sign new contracts a few times a year — ask during intake and we’ll let you know if yours is being added soon.
How EMDR works in our practice.
EMDR follows an 8-phase protocol developed by Francine Shapiro in the 1980s. The core insight: traumatic memories get stored in a different way than ordinary memories — they stay 'frozen' in the body, easily activated, hard to integrate. Bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or alternating sounds) appears to help the brain reprocess them so they become ordinary memories instead of intrusive ones.
Most clients describe the experience as 'difficult but contained.' You don't have to relive the trauma; you observe it while the bilateral stimulation runs. Strong emotion may surface during sessions; our clinicians pace the work so you leave regulated.
Single-incident trauma (one specific event — birth, medical injury, assault) often resolves in 6–12 sessions. Complex trauma (developmental, chronic, layered) takes longer. Our trauma-trained clinicians adjust the protocol for pregnancy, postpartum, and dissociative presentations.
From first call to first session.
- 01
History and resourcing
First 2–4 sessions: history-taking, identifying targets, and building grounding/calm-place resources you'll use during processing.
- 02
Reprocessing sessions
60–90 minutes. We identify a specific memory, hold it in mind while doing bilateral stimulation, and let the brain do its work. You report what comes up between sets.
- 03
Integration
After processing, we work on what changed — beliefs, body sensations, relationship to the memory. Most clients report the memory is still there but no longer activates.
Common questions about emdr & trauma-informed care.
Is EMDR scientifically validated?+
Yes. EMDR is recognized as a first-line PTSD treatment by the WHO, the American Psychological Association, the VA/Department of Defense, and SAMHSA. Hundreds of randomized trials support it.
Can EMDR be done virtually?+
Yes. Virtual EMDR uses self-tapping (butterfly hug or alternating shoulder taps) or visual bilateral stimulation through screen-share. Outcomes match in-person for most presentations.
Is EMDR safe during pregnancy?+
Yes, with adjustments. Our perinatal trauma clinicians are trained to adapt the protocol — using modified somatic resources, longer pacing, and avoiding deep activation during high-risk pregnancy.
How does it actually work?+
The exact mechanism isn't fully understood, but the leading theory is that bilateral stimulation engages the same neural process as REM sleep — which is when the brain ordinarily integrates memory. Trauma seems to disrupt that integration; EMDR resumes it.
Will I have to talk about details I don't want to share?+
No. EMDR doesn't require detailed verbal narration. You can hold a memory privately while the processing runs and only share what feels useful.
EMDR & trauma-informed care is also referred to as EMDR therapy, trauma reprocessing therapy, PTSD treatment, and bilateral stimulation therapy. Whatever you call it, our specialists treat it.
Often paired with this work.
Trauma & PTSD
Sexual trauma, betrayal, narcissistic abuse, IPV, birth trauma, PTSD — treated with EMDR, somatic, and trauma-informed CBT.
Postpartum depression & anxiety
PPD, PPA, intrusive thoughts, sleep disruption, and the identity shift of new motherhood.
Pregnancy & perinatal mental health
Antenatal anxiety, prenatal depression, and the loneliness of a high-risk pregnancy.
Ready to start?
Same-week availability, in-network with major insurance, and a specialist who actually treats emdr & trauma-informed care as their main work.