EMDR Therapy NYC | Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing
What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a highly researched, evidence-based treatment for trauma.
It helps reprocess and desensitize individuals to past traumatic experiences, reducing their emotional intensity and impact.
EMDR is one of the few trauma treatments endorsed by major organizations like the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Developed by Francine Shapiro, EMDR was initially created to help Vietnam War veterans find relief from flashbacks and nightmares. Today, it has become a life-changing tool for individuals who have experienced all different kinds of trauma.
Something happened — and even though time has passed, your body hasn't gotten the memo. Your chest still tightens. Certain sounds, smells, or words send you somewhere you don't want to go. You've tried to move on, but moving on hasn't quite worked.
That's not a personal failure. That's what unprocessed trauma does — it stays lodged in the nervous system, showing up uninvited, replaying on loop.
EMDR therapy helps your brain finish what it couldn't at the time. Rather than asking you to relive everything, it gently guides your nervous system through reprocessing frozen memories — so they stop hijacking the present. Many people describe it as the first time they've truly felt lighter.
At Shifting Tides Therapy in New York City, our EMDR therapists work with people carrying all kinds of trauma — from single-incident events to years of cumulative stress. Whether you're navigating PTSD, anxiety, grief, or something harder to name, EMDR can help you move through it rather than around it.
You don't have to keep bracing. There's another way.
Is EMDR right for me?
You might wonder: “How do I know if I’m a good fit for EMDR?
Is my trauma enough?”The short answer is yes.Trauma is subjective—what deeply impacts one person may not affect another in the same way.
Trauma can encompass any experience that negatively alters your view of yourself, others, or the world.EMDR doesn’t erase your trauma or make you forget it. Instead, it helps you resolve it.
Think about closing a door today—you might recall doing it, but it likely doesn’t carry any strong emotion. EMDR helps you process traumatic memories in a similar way. While the events remain part of your story, they no longer evoke overwhelming fear, hyper-vigilance, flashbacks, or nightmares.
What to expect in an EMDR session?
We’ll collaborate with you to identify which traumatic memories to reprocess. If you’re unsure where to start, don’t worry—that’s part of our training and expertise.
Once we’ve identified the memories to target, we’ll guide you through the reprocessing phase step by step.
We offer both 60-minute and 90-minute EMDR sessions and can help you decide which format works best for your needs.
Reach out today to schedule a free 15-minute consultation and learn more about how EMDR can support your healing journey.
Conditions We Treat with EMDR Therapy in NYC
Trauma and PTSD: Childhood trauma, combat trauma, accidents, natural disasters, relational trauma, estrangement, first responders, and sexual trauma.
Grief and Loss: Traumatic or sudden loss, anticipatory grief, compounded loss, unresolved grief.
Anxiety and Phobias: Social anxiety, specific phobias (including emetophobia, agoraphobia), generalized anxiety.
Negative Beliefs: Low self-esteem, feelings of unworthiness, or feeling"not good enough."
Stress and Burnout: Caregiver stress, high-pressure careers, emotional exhaustion.
Relationships: Healing from abusive intimate relationships, attachment wounds, trust issues.
Sexual Issues: Healing from sexual trauma, addressing intimacy concerns, resolving shame around sexual identity or experiences.
Health-Related Trauma: Chronic illness, pain, life changing diagnosis, or medical trauma.
Addictions: Substance use disorders, gambling, internet addiction.
Life Transitions: Divorce, career shifts, major life changes.