Image New York City, where Healthy Minds NYC offers EMDR therapy services.

EMDR THERAPY IN NYC

If you find yourself reliving traumatic events with no relief, you might be a candidate for EMDR therapy.

At Healthy Minds NYC, our team of mental health professionals use EMDR to help ease the stress of past trauma. They are experienced at addressing and easing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We also offer EMDR for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and other concerns. Learn how this drug-free, non-invasive therapy can work for you.

Image of woman sitting on a couch appearing relaxed.

About EMDR Therapy in NYC

EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This proven, science-backed therapy is a powerful treatment for psychological stress. You may benefit from EMDR if you experience flashbacks, fears, or persistent sleep problems due to an adverse experience.

During treatment, you’ll discuss your challenging thoughts and memories with a trained therapist while moving your eyes back and forth, left to right. Your therapist will use tools, such as a special EMDR light, to help train your eyes.

Over time, the upsetting thoughts and images will lose their emotional power. Ultimately, the process will help you reprocess your trauma or feelings, reducing their impact on your quality of life. As a result, you’ll feel calmer and more empowered.

EMDR therapy may be right for you if you need help overcoming trauma or managing the symptoms of PTSD. EMDR trauma therapy near NYC is a powerful way to conquer persistent, negative, long-term memories. Our therapists even use EMDR for complex PTSD treatment in adults who experienced childhood trauma.

Likewise, EMDR can be effective for a range of mental health concerns. Our team at Healthy Minds NYC also offers:

  • EMDR for anxiety

  • EMDR for addiction and substance use disorders

  • EMDR for depression

  • EMDR for panic attacks

  • EMDR for eating disorders

EMDR can be especially effective if you have difficulty talking about the trauma triggers in your life. Our team includes EMDR therapists in NYC with training in multiple modalities. They possess the patience, compassion, experience, and expertise to help you process your experiences.

Phases of EMDR Treatment at Healthy Minds NYC

Our team at Healthy Minds NYC breaks your EMDR therapy sessions into different phases. You can expect to schedule a series of visits to address PTSD or other mental health disorders.

In general, EMDR in NYC usually includes 8 specific phases of treatment, including:

  • History taking and treatment planning

  • Preparation

  • Assessment

  • Desensitization

  • Installation

  • Body scan

  • Closure

  • Reevaluation

At Healthy Minds NYC, we think of these phases as falling into 3 overarching categories.

CLOSURE

PREPARATION

During the initial phase, your therapist reviews your physical and mental health history. Together, you will discuss your trauma or presenting issue and identify specific memories or symptoms you wish to treat. You’ll learn coping mechanisms and self-care strategies that help you respond better to your emotions and stressors.

DESENSITIZATION & INSTALLATION

In treatment, you will learn to think about negative memories or triggers. The goal is to reduce the level of reactivity you have to these targets. For example, your therapist might ask you to focus on a negative thought and do specific eye movements at the same time.

After you complete the exercise, your therapist asks you to become aware of how you feel and what you’re thinking. Next, they’ll evaluate how you respond. If you still experience distress, you can continue focusing on that trigger or move on to another. You’ll also strengthen the positive thoughts that are replacing formerly negative cognitions.

Typically, you need 12 sessions or more to regain control over your psychological response to triggering events. Your therapist customizes your therapy plan based on your unique needs and the type of trauma you’re treating. For example, you may need many EMDR sessions for complex PTSD.

We pay close attention to your emotional state throughout treatment. We aim to ensure you have the right level of relaxation and stress-tolerance. The right mental state helps build positive associations over time.

To find out if EMDR therapy is right for you, request an appointment online today.

What Happens During EMDR Therapy?

During your EMDR therapy session, your Healthy Minds NYC therapist asks you to discuss triggering events in your life. As you relay these traumatic experiences, they direct your eye movements.

The goal of EMDR therapy is to divert your attention elsewhere while you recall emotionally upsetting events or situations. This helps to reduce your strong psychological response to the trauma and can lessen the impact your triggering memories have on you mentally and emotionally.

More Resources About EMDR in New York City

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