EMDR Therapy in Mooresville, NC

EMDR helps people work through memories that still feel upsetting. During reprocessing, you briefly bring a memory to mind while noticing back-and-forth (bilateral) stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements, tones, or taps (EMDRIA; VA National Center for PTSD). The goal is for the memory to feel less intense and for the beliefs tied to it, like "I'm not safe," to shift toward something more helpful.

EMDR is a one-on-one therapy. It doesn't involve homework, and you don't have to describe the memory in detail (VA National Center for PTSD).

A single traumatic event can have a lasting impact on your daily life and emotional well-being. Whether you have experienced a car accident, the death of a loved one, a traumatic birth, a medical emergency, an assault, or another distressing event, EMDR can help you process the experience and find relief.

EMDR has been studied most for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and major health organizations include it in their PTSD guidance:

• The VA National Center for PTSD calls EMDR one of the most effective types of treatment for PTSD.
• The World Health Organization recommends trauma-focused CBT or EMDR for adults with PTSD.
• In the UK, NICE recommends offering EMDR to adults with PTSD that started more than 3 months after a non-combat trauma.
• The American Psychological Association's PTSD guideline gives EMDR a conditional recommendation for adults ("suggests" rather than "recommends").

The research has limits. Study quality varies, and NICE found less evidence for EMDR than for trauma-focused CBT, and limited evidence for combat-related trauma. Everyone responds differently, so no therapist can promise a specific result.

Research on EMDR for anxiety on its own is limited. A 2020 review of EMDR studies (Cuijpers et al.) found some positive results for phobias and test anxiety, but the studies were small and at high risk of bias. The authors concluded there is not yet enough evidence to recommend EMDR for problems other than PTSD.

If your anxiety is tied to a distressing experience, ask one of our EMDR-trained therapists whether EMDR is a good fit. If not, our anxiety therapy page describes other approaches we use.

EMDR follows eight phases (EMDRIA). Some take one session; others repeat over several sessions.

• Phase 1, history and treatment planning: your therapist learns your history and you choose which memories or situations to work on.
• Phase 2, preparation: you learn calming and grounding skills before any reprocessing, and your therapist explains how EMDR works.
• Phase 3, assessment: you pick out an image, a negative belief, the belief you would prefer, and the feelings and body sensations linked to the memory.
• Phase 4, desensitization: you hold the memory in mind during short sets of bilateral stimulation and notice whatever comes up.
• Phase 5, installation: the more helpful belief is strengthened.
• Phase 6, body scan: you notice any leftover tension or sensation in your body.
• Phase 7, closure: every session ends with steps to help you leave feeling steady, even if the memory isn't fully processed yet.
• Phase 8, reevaluation: the next session starts by checking how you have been and what has changed.

Not in detail. In most cases you think about the memory rather than describe it out loud (VA National Center for PTSD). EMDRIA notes that processing a memory doesn't mean talking about it. You stay in control: you can ask to stop or pause at any time.

It depends on your history and goals. NICE describes a typical course of 8 to 12 sessions for PTSD, with more when there are several traumas. The VA describes about three months of weekly sessions, and some people notice changes after a few sessions. A single, recent event may need fewer sessions than many years of difficult experiences.

Your therapist will talk with you about a plan at the start. Ask us how long EMDR sessions run with your therapist and whether weekly sessions or an EMDR Intensive makes more sense for you.

EMDR is considered a safe treatment when it is delivered by a trained clinician, but it can stir up strong feelings. Focusing on a painful memory can feel uncomfortable, and these feelings are usually brief (VA National Center for PTSD).

Between sessions, some processing may continue. New memories, thoughts, feelings, or dreams can come up (EMDRIA). Your therapist may suggest jotting these down and using the calming skills you practiced in preparation. If reactions feel overwhelming, contact your therapist. In an emergency, call 911 or call or text 988.

EMDR isn't the right first step for everyone. That's why the history and preparation phases come before any memory work, and why your therapist checks that you feel steady enough to begin.

For clients who need focused, accelerated progress on a specific trauma or treatment goal, Maddie Biddle, LCSW offers EMDR Intensives ranging from extended 2 to 4 hour sessions to full-day single-event formats. Intensives are not covered by insurance.

During an EMDR Intensive, sessions may include EMDR reprocessing, grounding and regulation skills, resourcing, and integration work. Breaks are incorporated throughout the session to support emotional regulation and comfort.

Intensives may not be appropriate for everyone. Individuals with extensive or severe childhood trauma, highly complex trauma histories, or multiple unresolved trauma targets may benefit more from ongoing weekly therapy rather than a condensed intensive format.

Learn more about Intensive Therapy

Meet our team to find a therapist whose experience matches what you are looking for.

Greenwood Counseling Center offers in-person appointments at our Mooresville office and virtual appointments for clients across North Carolina. Each therapist sets their own schedule, so ask us which EMDR therapists have in-person or virtual openings when you reach out.

We accept most major insurance plans including BlueCross and BlueShield (including Blue Value), Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, UMR, Medcost, and Blue Home Novant. Private pay and out-of-network options are also available. Sessions are 45 to 60 minutes and range from $125 to $175. Visit our Insurance page for full details.

Schedule an appointment to book your first session. Taking the first step is the hardest part. Our Mooresville therapists are here when you are ready.