Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is an alternative therapy modality to traditional talk therapy. EMDR helps our mind to reprocess the memories, thoughts, body sensations and emotions that keep us stuck in our daily life. Through the use of bilateral stimulation (a fancy way of saying back and forth movement), your brain will be given the opportunity to do what it is naturally designed to do: heal.

Think of your brain like a filing system. Each day when you enter REM sleep, your brain begins the tedious process of filing away each moment into long-term memory for storage. When something gets “stuck,” your brain isn’t quite sure where to file it, leaving it in perpetual limbo. EMDR will help your brain to finally file those moments away, allowing you to move about your life without the triggers.

The Phases of EMDR Therapy

  1. History & Treatment Planning: You and your therapist gather pertinent information to uncover target memories to reprocess. This is a standalone phase.

  2. Preparation: Your therapist will help you to create a toolbox of coping skills to help you stay in your window of tolerance. This is often a standalone phase.

  3. Assessment: Your therapist will set the stage for the reprocessing work of a specific target memory. This phase is immediately followed by phase four.

  4. Desensitization: Through the use of bilateral stimulation, you will reprocess the target memory. This phase is immediately followed by phase five.

  5. Installation: With the negative reactions to the target memory neutralized, you and your therapist will strengthen a positive belief you want to associate with this memory. This phase is immediately followed by phase six.

  6. Body Scan: Ensure your body has no residual negative associations with the target memory through a guided body scan. This phase is immediately followed by phase seven.

  7. Closure: Your therapist will help ground you if needed and process the clearing of the target memory, or just the conclusion of the session if the target memory has not been fully cleared.

  8. Reevaluation: You and your therapist will revisit your treatment plan and determine if further EMDR is warranted.

The Prongs of EMDR Therapy

  1. Past: This prong is about uncovering target memories from your past for reprocessing. Traditionally, this is the first prong but can sometimes come later with clients who lack early memories or struggle more with present or future issues.

  2. Present: This prong is about identifying present day triggers that are rooted in the past. For clients with early memory issues, this can sometimes be the first prong.

  3. Future: This prong is about helping clients to create adaptive and healthy templates for future events. This is traditionally the last prong addressed in treatment.

Extended EMDR Therapy

As EMDR Therapy gained popularity and continued to show efficacy in treating a wide variety of issues, the desire for longer sessions began to emerge. Extended EMDR Therapy allows clients to have more reprocessing time per session to ultimately speed the healing process. In a traditional 60-minute session, a client may get a maximum of 40-45 minutes of reprocessing time. With Extended EMDR Therapy sessions ranging anywhere from 1.5-4 hours, it guarantees that a client is receiving more than double the standard amount of reprocessing time.

Cost of EMDR Therapy

Accepted Insurances

Insurance can be billed for 60 minute EMDR Therapy sessions. Any time beyond 60 minutes will be billed to the client separately.

  • Aetna

  • Cigna/Evernorth

  • Optum/Harvard Pilgrim/United Healthcare

  • Tricare/Martin’s Point

  • Tufts

Intake Appointment: $165.00

60 Minute Session: $150.00

Extended EMDR Sessions: $150.00/hour

EMDR THERAPY TEAM

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