EMDR Therapy

Many people come to therapy knowing that something from their past still affects them, even if they cannot always put it into words. You might notice strong emotional reactions, recurring memories, anxiety, difficulty trusting, or patterns in relationships that feel hard to shift. EMDR therapy helps the brain and nervous system process past experiences that lead  to symptoms in the present so they no longer feel as intense or overwhelming.EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is an evidence-based therapy originally developed to treat trauma and is now used to support a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, relationship patterns, grief, substance use, performance blocks, and childhood experiences that continue to shape adult life.

When something overwhelming happens, the brain may not fully process the experience. Instead, parts of the memory, emotions, and body sensations can remain activated long after the event has passed. EMDR helps the brain reprocess these memories in a way that allows them to integrate more fully, reducing emotional charge, and increasing a sense of stability and perspective.

At Therapists of New York, a number of our psychologists are trained in EMDR and offer this modality both in person and virtually. EMDR is not about reliving trauma or forcing painful memories. The work moves at your pace and is grounded in safety, trust, and emotional attunement.

Here are some examples of how EMDR may be used in therapy:

  • Process traumatic or overwhelming experiences that continue to affect daily life

  • Address dissociative symptoms or experiences

  • Reduce anxiety, panic, or emotional reactivity connected to past events

  • Work through relationship patterns that feel repetitive or hard to change

  • Address childhood experiences that shape self-esteem, attachment, or emotional regulation

  • Support recovery from grief, loss, medical trauma, or major life transitions

  • Strengthen a sense of internal stability, confidence, and emotional flexibility

EMDR can be integrated into longer-term psychodynamic therapy or used in a more focused way when appropriate, depending on your goals and needs.

If you are looking for EMDR therapy in NYC or virtual EMDR therapy in California, our team can help match you with a therapist who offers this service. Click here for an appointment.