EMDR THERAPY
IN NYC

How does EMDR work?

EMDR is an 8 phase treatment modality and includes much more than just eye movements. The 8 phases of EMDR treatment include:

1. History taking and treatment planning – This involves your therapist getting to know you through sharing your history, with an emphasis on traumatic events you’d like to work through.

2. Preparation – Your therapist will share what the process of EMDR looks like and answer any questions you may have. They’ll also share grounding and coping skills that you can turn to if you’re feeling overwhelmed during a session.

3. Assessment – During this phase you’ll identify the events, thoughts, feelings, beliefs that you’d like to target for reprocessing with your therapist.

4. Desensitization – This is the phrase that people usually think of when they hear EMDR. During this time, your therapist will use bilateral stimulation techniques (either auditory, visual, or tactile stimulations that involve both sides of the body).

5. Installation – During this phase, you’ll learn how to create and associate new positive, core beliefs that will replace traumatic memories.

6. Body scan – You’ll be prompted to scan your body and share the sensation you’re experiencing, while keeping in mind your traumatic event and positive belief.

7. Closure –  Once the reprocessing has taken place, your therapist will help ensure that you’re feeling grounded and calm to help you return to the present moment. You may be asked to share about your thoughts, feelings, and reactions to the traumatic event, as well as how you’re feeling in your body.

8. Reevaluation – At the start of each new session, your therapist will revisit your thoughts, feelings, beliefs about the event as well as your distress level to assess how progress is going. Together, you may identify and address additional traumatic memories to reprocess in subsequent sessions.

When most people think of EMDR, they’re often picturing Phase 4—the Desensitization phase. However, before reaching that stage, there’s often essential work to be done in Phase 2, where you and your therapist focus on building resources and developing skills to ensure you feel grounded and ready for the process ahead.

In Phase 4, your therapist will guide you through sets of dual awareness stimulation, such as eye movements, auditory tones, or tapping. After each set, you’ll share any thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations that arise. This process helps to reprocess traumatic memories by transforming how they are stored and integrated in your brain, paving the way for healing and lasting change.

How can EMDR help me?

EMDR Therapy offers a path to freedom from the thoughts and emotions that weigh you down.

Research shows that EMDR therapy is highly effective in reducing the overwhelming symptoms of trauma and PTSD, such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks. It helps you release the grip of past events that have kept you feeling stuck, transforming feelings of powerlessness into resilience as your brain learns to calm and soothe itself.

Trauma can disrupt the vital connections between your brain, body, and emotions, leaving you feeling unbalanced and disconnected. EMDR therapy works to restore these connections, allowing your brain to process traumatic memories in a healthier, less distressing way. Over time, when you think of a past traumatic event, you’ll feel more grounded and centered, equipped with new strategies to manage your emotions and regain control. 

EMDR also helps with anxiety and depression

EMDR is one of the only PTSD treatments approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and World Health Organization. While originally developed as a treatment for PTSD and trauma, research on different uses of EMDR has shown it is an effective treatment for:

• • Anxiety

  • Panic disorders

  • Depression

  • Grief and loss

  • Eating disorders

  • Addiction and Substance Abuse 

  • Constant sadness

  • Fear

  • Feelings of insecurity and self-esteem issues

  • Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)

emdr isn’t ideal if you are:

• Having active thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

• Going through a crisis or a emergency situation which requires immediate support (i.e. relapse or active withdrawal from substance use that requires medical intervention)

• Dealing with high levels of dissociation including derealization or depersonalization. 

• Facing symptoms of psychosis such as hallucinations (seeing, hearing, feeling, or smelling things that other people can’t) or delusions (unusual beliefs that aren’t shared by those around you).

If you’re experiencing any of the scenarios above, it doesn’t mean EMDR isn’t right for you—it may simply not be the best option at this moment. One of our trained NYC therapists can help you explore your therapy goals and identify the most effective short-term and long-term treatments tailored to your needs.

For instance, once you’re feeling more grounded and out of crisis mode, your therapist can focus on building resources and skills to prepare you for EMDR, making it a safe and effective tool for your healing journey.

Other types of therapy to help you heal from trauma

ACCELERATED RESOLUTION THERAPY (ART)

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a short-term therapeutic approach similar to EMDR. It’s designed to help people find relief from traumatic memories, stress, anxiety, phobias, and depression through positive imagery and releasing uncomfortable body sensations.

A unique aspect of ART is that you don’t need to discuss the specifics of the traumatic event with your therapist. You may find that you experience relief in a short amount of time, as it’s designed to be delivered in one to five 60 minute sessions. Click here to learn how it works.