Your first EMDR session is about building trust, safety, and understanding. We'll discuss:

• What brought you to therapy and what you hope to achieve

• Your trauma history and how it's affecting your daily life

• Whether EMDR is the right fit for your specific needs

• How EMDR works and what to expect in future sessions

• Coping strategies to help you feel safe and grounded

EMDR requires preparation. We won't jump into reprocessing traumatic memories until you feel ready and have the tools to manage any distress that may arise.

You'll also practice the bilateral stimulation technique (usually following the therapist's fingers with your eyes) so you know what to expect.

Yes. EMDR therapy is a safe, evidence-based treatment when conducted by a trained and certified EMDR therapist. It has been extensively researched and is endorsed by major mental health organizations worldwide.

During EMDR, you may experience temporary emotional intensity as you reprocess memories, but your therapist will equip you with tools to manage these feelings. You are always in control and can stop or pause at any time

The length of EMDR therapy varies depending on:

• The nature and complexity of your trauma

• How many traumatic memories need reprocessing

• Your personal history and current symptoms

• How quickly your brain responds to the treatment

Some people experience significant relief after just a few sessions, especially for single-incident trauma. Complex trauma or multiple traumatic experiences may require several months of treatment.

What matters most is that you're healing at a pace that feels right for you.

EMDR therapy may be a good fit if you:

• Have experienced trauma and want to heal without extensive talk therapy

• Have been diagnosed with PTSD or complex trauma

• Feel triggered by reminders of past experiences

• Experience flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts

• Have tried talk therapy but still feel stuck

• Want an evidence-based, scientifically-proven treatment

• Prefer a structured, goal-oriented approach to healing

• Are ready to do the work of healing (EMDR requires active participation)

You don't need a formal PTSD diagnosis to benefit from EMDR. If past experiences are impacting your present, EMDR can help.

Online therapy (also called teletherapy or telehealth counseling) is a form of mental health treatment conducted remotely using secure video calls. A licensed therapist provides the same kinds of support they would in person—including talk therapy, coping strategies, and treatment plans—but through an online platform.

Life happens! If you need to reschedule or cancel, just let us know as soon as possible. Our policy requires 24-hour notice to avoid a late cancellation fee, and we'll always do our best to find a new time that works for you.

While traditional talk therapy focuses on discussing and understanding your trauma, EMDR focuses on reprocessing how your brain has stored the traumatic memory.

Traditional Talk Therapy:

• Focuses on verbal processing and insight

• Can take months or years to see results

• Requires detailed discussion of traumatic events

• Primarily cognitive (thought-based)

EMDR Therapy:

• Focuses on reprocessing how memories are stored in the brain

• Often produces results more quickly

• Doesn't require extensive verbal description of trauma

• Addresses thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and beliefs simultaneously

Both approaches are valuable, and sometimes they work well together. Your therapist can help you decide what's best for your needs.

Yes, for many people and many mental health conditions, research shows that online therapy can be just as effective as traditional in-person therapy. Studies have found comparable outcomes for conditions like:

• Generalized anxiety disorder

• Major depressive disorder

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Relationship and stress-related concerns

A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis published in JMIR Mental Health found that psychiatric treatment conducted via telemedicine showed comparable effectiveness to in-person modality for posttraumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders.

Yes. Online therapy uses HIPAA-compliant platforms to ensure confidentiality. Many people feel safer starting trauma therapy from the comfort of their own home.

Your first session is usually focused on getting to know each other and setting goals. Common steps include:

• Reviewing confidentiality and how online therapy works

• Discussing your concerns, history, and what brought you to therapy

• Setting short- and long-term goals

• Testing the technology (e.g., audio/video, comfort with the platform)

• Asking any questions about the therapist's approach

You won't have to share everything at once—it's okay to go at your own pace.

Online therapy may be a good fit if you:

• Prefer the convenience of home sessions or have mobility or scheduling challenges

• Feel comfortable communicating over video or phone

• Want access to more therapist options outside your immediate area

Not unless you want to. Some trauma therapies (like EMDR) don't require you to share every detail. You are always in control of what you share and when.

A therapist can help you understand your symptoms and whether they meet the criteria for PTSD. Either way, if trauma is affecting your life, you deserve support.

Yes, in many cases. Most major insurance plans in Texas and New Jersey cover online therapy (telehealth) similarly to in-person sessions, especially since coverage expanded after the COVID-19 pandemic. Coverage depends on your specific plan—co-pays, deductibles, and in-network requirements may still apply.

To learn more about our accepted insurance plans and self-pay rates, visit our Rates & Insurance page.

Yes. Your privacy is very important to us. All sessions are conducted on a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform to ensure that your information and conversations remain completely confidential.

Find a quiet, private space where you feel comfortable and won't be interrupted. It can help to have a notebook or something to drink nearby, and most importantly… just come as you are! There's no need to prepare anything special.

Most clients start with weekly sessions to build consistency and momentum. As you begin to feel more grounded and confident, we can adjust the frequency to fit your needs and goals.

That's common. Trauma can affect memory. Therapy focuses on how trauma is affecting you now, not on recovering every memory.