Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing - EMDR
How We Help
If a difficult memory still feels like it's happening today, even years later, you're not imagining it and you're not alone. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is one of the most researched, evidence-based treatments for trauma, and it's a core part of what we offer at Prime Therapy.
What EMDR Actually Is
EMDR was developed in the late 1980s and has since become one of the most widely studied trauma treatments.
It's recommended by organizations including the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization for the treatment of trauma-related conditions.
Rather than asking you to talk through every detail of a painful memory the way traditional talk therapy might, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation. EMDR involves guided eye movements, alternating taps, or tones, done while you briefly focus on a distressing memory.
EMDR helps the brain "reprocess" memories that got stuck during a traumatic event. It reduces their emotional charge over time. And EMDR is supported by a substantial body of research.
Prime is a Leader for EMDR
Our EMDR-trained therapists follow the standard eight-phase protocol: starting with history-taking and preparation, moving through memory processing, and ending with stabilization so you leave each session grounded, not raw. This isn't something we improvise — it's a structured, well-researched clinical protocol.
Who EMDR Helps
EMDR is most commonly associated with PTSD, but it's used for a much broader range of concerns: single-incident trauma (accidents, assaults, medical trauma), complex or childhood trauma, phobias, panic disorder, grief, and even performance anxiety.
EMDR can reach what talk therapy alone sometimes can't. The memories, triggers, or beliefs about yourself, like "I'm not safe," or "It was my fault." The thoughts that feel stuck no matter how much you've thought them through. That's where EMDR can really help. And The National Institutes of Health recognized EMDR as a compelling treatment option.
What EMDR Looks Like at Prime
Your first several sessions focus on building safety and coping skills before any trauma processing begins. This isn't a treatment that dives straight into painful material. Once you and your therapist agree you're ready, processing sessions involve identifying a target memory, noticing the thoughts, feelings, and body sensations connected to it, and working through sets of bilateral stimulation while your therapist checks in regularly.
Many clients describe feeling emotionally lighter after processing. Sometimes they describe the memory as feeling more distant or like it happened, but it doesn't have power over them anymore.
EMDR sessions are available both in our calming, private in-person offices and via secure telehealth, using adapted bilateral stimulation techniques designed specifically for virtual delivery.
Your therapist will help you decide which format supports your processing best, since some clients find the grounded, in-person environment particularly helpful during trauma work.
Prime is a Trusted Provider of EMDR
EMDR requires specialized training beyond a general therapy license, and our clinicians have completed formal EMDR training and consultation through recognized training programs.
We follow the established treatment protocol carefully, we screen for readiness before processing painful material, and we prioritize your stability and safety at every phase. Trauma treatment isn't something to rush, and we won't rush you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in an EMDR session?
Each session generally follows a similar rhythm: your therapist guides you to focus on a specific memory, walks you through sets of eye movements or other bilateral stimulation, and then checks in with you about what came up. You're never required to share every detail of what you're processing — the technique works even without recounting the story aloud. This continues until the memory feels noticeably less distressing.
Is EMDR like hypnosis?
No. This is one of the most common misconceptions. During EMDR, you remain fully awake, aware, and in control the entire time. You're an active participant throughout, not in a trance or altered state. Your therapist is guiding the process, but you're the one doing the processing.
How does EMDR work?
During EMDR, you focus on a specific memory while following a back-and-forth movement, like your therapist's finger or a light bar. This bilateral stimulation helps both sides of your brain engage together, allowing a memory that's been "stuck" to finally get processed and filed away the way less distressing memories naturally are. Over a series of sessions, the memory itself doesn't disappear, but its emotional charge fades significantly.
Can I do EMDR over Telehealth?
Yes. We use adapted bilateral stimulation methods designed for virtual sessions. Many clients complete EMDR successfully via Telehealth. Most people prefer processing trauma in our in-person space. Either option is available to you.