EMDR therapy in Chicago, Illinois
EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy is a therapeutic tool to address symptoms related to trauma, anxiety, depression, and addressing negative thoughts.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a form of psychotherapy designed to help people process and heal from traumatic or distressing experiences. Trauma can cause traumatic memories to become “stuck” in the brain instead of being processed and stored in their correct place in the brain. When this happens, the memory—and its associated emotions, body sensations, and beliefs—can repeatedly resurface, causing ongoing distress.
EMDR helps the brain reprocess these memories so they are stored in a more adaptive, less emotionally charged way.
Why EMDR Therapy for trauma?
EMDR can be benefit for many people. It is a therapeutic modality that was developed for trauma and can be helpful in treating:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Combat trauma, sexual assault, accidents, natural disasters, medical trauma, etc.
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD): Chronic trauma from childhood abuse, neglect, or repeated interpersonal harm.
EMDR is a structured psychotherapy that helps people process distressing memories and traumatic experiences. It combines recalling difficult memories with guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation (like tapping or sounds).
The goal is to help your brain “reprocess” painful experiences so they no longer feel as intense or intrusive.
EMDR beyond trauma.
EMDR has been found to be helpful in healing a variety of issues, not just trauma based responses.
Anxiety-Related Conditions
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Phobias (e.g., flying, public speaking, animals)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Performance anxiety (work, sports, exams, etc.)
Depression and Grief
EMDR can target underlying memories or beliefs fueling depression (“I’m not good enough,” “It’s my fault,” etc.)
Can support complicated grief or loss-related trauma.
Relationship and Attachment Issues
Childhood emotional neglect or abuse
Attachment wounds (feeling unsafe or rejected in relationships)
Betrayal trauma or infidelity recovery
Other issues
OCD
Eating disorders
Frequently asked questions about EMDR Therapy
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EMDR helps to both process and desensitize a memory to reduce feelings of being on edge, hypervigilance, and flashbacks that may be experienced by someone who has experienced a trauma.
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EMDR session can be completed in person or virtually and have been found to be effective in both settings.
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Yes! EMDR have been found to be a helpful tool in treating a variety of issues including, anxiety, phobias, depression, OCD, and eating disorders.
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You don’t need any special equipment to engage in EMDR. EMDR utilizes bilateral movements as part of processing. This can be something like tapping your shoulders or feet or following something with your eyes. Your therapist may provide other equipment like “tappers” (small objects you hold in your hand that gently vibrate) or headphones for bilateral with sound. It can be helpful to have your own headphones if engaging in EMDR virtually.
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Feel free to send us a message or give us a call and we will connect you one of our EMDR trained practitioners.