Start EMDR Treatment and Trauma Counseling for Post-Traumatic Stress in New York City

Trusted Local Care for Healing After a Traumatic Event

At Downtown Psychological Services, PC, we offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for people in New York City who are ready to begin a healing journey after a traumatic event. If you're searching for emdr therapy nyc, our trauma therapy team provides a safe space to process traumatic memories and distressing memories, ease post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and panic attacks, and reconnect with your sense of self. Through structured EMDR sessions and EMDR treatment guided by experienced clinicians, we help you notice body sensations linked to past experiences, integrate them into daily life, and take the first step toward trauma recovery.

With over 30 years of serving Manhattan, Brooklyn, and surrounding neighborhoods, Downtown Psychological Services, PC has supported thousands of clients through complex trauma, childhood trauma, relationship issues, grief, and anxiety. Our therapists combine trauma therapy with practical tools drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and mindfulness practices so that progress in therapy sessions carries into the present moment outside the office.

We invite you to request a free consultation to discuss your history, goals, and the treatment plan that fits your life, including options for weekly individual therapy or more focused EMDR-intensive work.

How Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Works

EMDR therapy was originally developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro as a way to help people reprocess disturbing memories that traditional talk therapy alone could not fully resolve. In EMDR, your therapist guides you through specific stimulation techniques—such as side-to-side eye movements, taps, or auditory tones—that create gentle bilateral stimulation of the nervous system. This process helps the brain digest traumatic experiences that were “stuck” and reduce the emotional charge they carry.

Rather than retelling every detail of past trauma, EMDR therapy focuses on how traumatic experiences, intrusive thoughts, and trauma symptoms are stored in your nervous system. During EMDR therapy sessions, we pair memories, images, and body sensations with adaptive beliefs (for example, shifting from “I am powerless” to a more positive belief such as “I survived and have choices now”). Over time, many clients notice that disturbing memories become less vivid, triggers soften, and daily life feels more manageable.

EMDR therapy is recognized by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in many cases. At Downtown Psychological Services, PC, we integrate this evidence base with careful history-taking, detailed treatment planning, and ongoing outcome monitoring.

Who EMDR Treatment Serves Best

We often recommend EMDR treatment for clients experiencing:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder related to a single traumatic event (accident, assault, medical emergency, or sudden loss).

• Complex trauma and childhood trauma, including neglect, emotional abuse, and attachment wounds.

• Anxiety, panic attacks, and performance blocks that feel “stuck” despite prior treatment.

• Persistent triggers and trauma symptoms after grief, loss, relationship ruptures, or major life transitions.

• Depression that intensifies around specific seasons, anniversaries, or distressing memories.

• Intrusive thoughts, disturbing images, or body sensations tied to past trauma.

• Co-occurring concerns such as eating disorders or substance abuse, when coordinated with specialized care.

EMDR therapy helps many people who have already tried traditional talk therapy and still feel that their life experiences are “living in the body.” Our goal is to help you feel safer in the present moment, more connected to yourself and others, and better able to move toward personal growth.

What to Expect in EMDR Sessions

EMDR is a structured, eight-phase approach. At Downtown Psychological Services, PC, we move through each phase at a pace that respects your nervous system and your goals.

1. History-Taking & Treatment Plan
We begin with thorough history-taking to understand your life experiences, trauma symptoms, relationship issues, and strengths. Together we identify target memories, present triggers, and desired future responses, then create a clear treatment plan.

2. Preparation & Stabilization
Before deep trauma processing, we focus on stabilization. You’ll learn grounding skills, imagery techniques, mindfulness practices, and other practical tools to help you stay within a tolerable window of arousal during EMDR sessions. This phase emphasizes building a safe space—both internally and in the therapy relationship.

3. Assessment of Targets
We select specific memories, disturbing images, or traumatic experiences to target. You and your therapist identify the negative beliefs and body sensations linked to each target, along with a desired positive belief you would like to hold instead.

4. Desensitization (Bilateral Stimulation)
Using eye movements, taps, or auditory tones as bilateral stimulation, your therapist guides you through sets of stimulation techniques while you notice thoughts, emotions, and body sensations that arise. The aim is for EMDR therapy works to reduce the intensity of disturbing memories and associated trauma symptoms.

5. Installation of Positive Beliefs
Once the emotional charge decreases, we strengthen a more adaptive, positive belief about yourself and your sense of safety, worth, or competence.

6. Body Scan
You and your therapist scan for residual tension, numbness, or other body sensations related to the traumatic event and process any remaining distress.

7. Closure
Each EMDR therapy session ends with grounding and regulation so you can return to daily life feeling as steady as possible.

8. Reevaluation
At the start of later therapy sessions, we reassess how previous targets feel in the present moment and adjust the treatment plan as needed.

Pro Tip for a Safer Healing Journey

EMDR therapy helps most when your nervous system feels as safe and supported as possible. Our clinicians prioritize stabilization—sleep, nutrition, gentle movement, and daily micro-practices—before and alongside processing work. This allows EMDR therapy helps to unfold in a way that respects your resilience and limits.

Timing, Frequency and Practical Details

Most clients attend weekly or twice-weekly EMDR sessions for approximately 8–20 sessions, depending on trauma history, complexity of life experiences, and goals. Some clients choose EMDR-intensive formats (longer sessions over a shorter time frame) when clinically appropriate and when their schedule allows for extra integration time between therapy sessions.

We offer:

• Flexible scheduling, including evening options for busy professionals.

• In-person individual therapy and secure virtual sessions for clients across New York City.

• Transparent pricing and superbills for out-of-network insurance benefits.

• A brief, free consultation to explore whether an EMDR therapy session, a hybrid model, or another approach is the best first step for you.

Local Expertise and Flexible Access to Care

Downtown Psychological Services, PC proudly serves clients who live and work in the Financial District, Tribeca, SoHo, Lower Manhattan, Midtown, the Upper West Side, the Upper East Side, and Brooklyn neighborhoods including Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Williamsburg, and Park Slope. Many clients commute from Queens and other boroughs and appreciate the ability to combine in-person care with online therapy sessions when needed.

Our clinician team includes seasoned therapists with advanced training in integrative EMDR—combining EMDR with Internal Family Systems, somatic skills, attachment-informed counseling, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This integrated approach supports complex trauma, chronic anxiety, depression, and co-occurring concerns while honoring each client’s pace and cultural background.

Expert Insight on Coordinated Care

A hidden cost to watch for is fragmented care. When counseling is split across multiple providers without coordination, progress can stall. With your consent, our therapists collaborate with psychiatrists, primary care physicians, and other allied clinicians so your treatment plan remains cohesive and aligned. This is especially important when trauma therapy intersects with medication management, eating disorder treatment, or substance abuse recovery.

How to Choose the Right Therapist

Questions to Ask Potential Providers

• Are your therapists EMDR-trained and actively supervised by senior clinicians with extensive trauma therapy experience?

• Do you offer integrative EMDR for complex trauma, childhood trauma, and dissociation?

• How do you ensure safety and stabilization before deep processing?

• Can we establish measurable goals and a clear session roadmap for my healing journey?

• How do you incorporate traditional talk therapy, mindfulness practices, and practical tools into EMDR treatment?

Credentials and Licenses to Verify

• Current state licensure (e.g., PhD, PsyD, LCSW, LMHC, LMFT).

• Verified EMDR training; ask about advanced workshops, consultation hours, and ongoing supervision.

• Documented experience with trauma recovery, post-traumatic stress disorder, and culturally responsive care for diverse communities.

Red Flags When Reviewing Proposals

• Guarantees of a “cure” within a fixed number of sessions.

• No clear plan for stabilization, aftercare, or relapse prevention.

• Minimal coordination with other providers when medication, eating disorders, or substance abuse treatment are relevant.

• Pressure to move into deep processing without adequate preparation or a felt sense of safety.

Why Downtown Psychological Services, PC Stands Out

• Depth of Experience: Over 30 years serving New Yorkers with trauma therapy, individual therapy, couples and family work, and integrative care.

• Senior Supervision: EMDR clinicians receive ongoing supervision and consultation from senior psychologists who specialize in trauma recovery.

• Personalized Roadmaps: We create detailed treatment plans with clear goals, regular outcome reviews, and skills to practice between sessions.

• Integrated Modalities: We blend EMDR with Internal Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness practices, and somatic approaches.

• Flexible Access: Evening and virtual sessions support busy professionals, parents, and caregivers across the city.

Advanced Insights from Our Team

In our clinical experience, clients who combine EMDR trauma work with light skills practice between sessions often report faster relief from triggers tied to traumatic memories. Many notice downstream benefits: improved sleep, fewer intrusive thoughts, reduced avoidance, and a more stable mood where anxiety and depression once spiked. For those navigating post-traumatic stress disorder after a traumatic event, EMDR can help uncouple the memory from the fight–flight–freeze response so that daily life in New York City feels more balanced again.

We also see EMDR therapy support personal growth in areas beyond trauma symptoms—such as relationship issues, work performance, self-confidence, and a more compassionate sense of self.

Another Pro Tip

If you’re unsure whether to begin with weekly EMDR sessions or a more intensive format, schedule a consultation. Together we’ll consider your history, current bandwidth, and support system to recommend a pace that protects stability while accelerating healing.

EMDR Compared with Traditional Talk Therapy

Many clients ask how EMDR differs from traditional talk therapy. The table below summarizes key distinctions:

Focus AreaEMDR ApproachTraditional Talk TherapyCore MethodUses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, auditory tones) while recalling traumatic experiences.Relies primarily on conversation, reflection, and insight-building.TargetReprocesses traumatic memories, disturbing memories, and body sensations.Explores thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and life patterns.GoalReduce emotional charge of past trauma and install adaptive positive beliefs.Increase understanding, coping skills, and relationship insight.Session StructureEight-phase protocol with specific history-taking, assessment, and desensitization steps.Varies widely depending on therapist style and modality.

Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR

Is EMDR therapy safe?

When provided by a properly trained and licensed therapist, EMDR is considered a safe, evidence-based treatment for many people with trauma symptoms. At Downtown Psychological Services, PC, we move at your pace, prioritize stabilization, and never rush into processing before you feel ready.

How long does EMDR therapy usually take?

Some clients experience meaningful relief within a few EMDR therapy sessions focused on a specific traumatic event. Others with complex trauma or multiple traumatic experiences may benefit from a longer course of treatment. Your therapist will review estimated timelines during history-taking and reassess progress regularly.

Can EMDR be done online?

Yes. EMDR stimulation techniques can be adapted for secure online therapy using visual, tactile, or auditory tools. Many clients appreciate the ability to receive trauma therapy from a familiar environment while still working closely with a dedicated therapist.

Does EMDR replace other therapies like CBT or Internal Family Systems?

Not necessarily. EMDR can stand alone, but it is often most powerful when combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, mindfulness practices, and other approaches tailored to your needs. We will collaborate with you to decide how best to integrate these modalities.

What if I feel overwhelmed during EMDR?

Your therapist will stay closely attuned and check in throughout the process. If emotions or body sensations feel too intense, we slow down, return to grounding techniques, and adjust the treatment plan. Your sense of safety and choice remains central at every step.

Ready to Take the First Step?

If you live or work in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, or greater New York City and are considering trauma therapy, we invite you to connect with Downtown Psychological Services, PC. Our therapists provide thoughtful coordination with your existing care team, clear treatment planning, and a compassionate space to explore past trauma and present challenges.

Contact and Next Steps

• Book a brief free consultation to explore whether EMDR treatment, individual therapy, or another approach is right for you.

• Meet your dedicated therapist and outline goals for the first 4–6 weeks, including how we’ll track progress and adjust as needed.

• Begin EMDR therapy when you feel ready—at a pace that supports safety, integration, and lasting change.

Take the first step today. Schedule an appointment with Downtown Psychological Services, PC and start transforming how your mind and body hold difficult memories so you can move toward a more grounded, connected life.

We also offer the following therapy:

• Marriage Counseling

• Couples Therapy

• CBT Therapy

• Somatic Therapy

• Trauma Therapy