EMDR Therapy
Trauma therapy for painful memories, PTSD, grief, anxiety, and experiences that still feel hard to move past.
If something from your past still feels present in your body, emotions, or relationships, EMDR therapy can help your brain and nervous system begin to process it in a new way. You do not have to retell every detail of what happened or push yourself before you feel ready.
In person therapy in Lebanon, Sunrise Beach, & Lake of the Ozarks | Telehealth available throughout Missouri
Is EMDR right for me?
EMDR therapy may be helpful if past experiences still feel emotionally intense, hard to move past, or connected to the way you respond to stress today. You do not have to have a single “big” trauma to benefit from EMDR. Many people seek EMDR for painful memories, grief, anxiety, or patterns that feel deeply rooted.
You may benefit from EMDR if you are experiencing:
Trauma or PTSD
Anxiety connected to past experiences
Grief or loss that still feels overwhelming
Panic, fear, or emotional triggers
Distressing memories that feel hard to move past
Negative beliefs about yourself that feel deeply rooted
A sense of being “back in the moment” when reminded of the past
Not sure if EMDR is right for you?
Laurie can help you decide during an initial consultation.
How EMDR Helps Painful Memories Feel Less Overwhelming
EMDR helps the brain reprocess painful or overwhelming memories so they no longer feel as intense. You still remember what happened, but the memory may feel less emotionally charged and less disruptive in your daily life.
EMDR does not require you to talk in detail about everything that happened. Laurie will help you move at a pace that feels safe, with time spent building coping skills and grounding tools before any reprocessing begins.
EMDR Is an Evidence-Based Trauma Therapy
EMDR is a well-established, evidence-based trauma therapy used to treat PTSD, trauma, and other distressing life experiences. EMDRIA describes EMDR as a structured approach that helps the brain process painful memories, allowing the nervous system to become less activated by reminders of the original experience.
To learn more about EMDR therapy, click the button below.
What happens during an EMDR session?
During EMDR, Laurie may use eye movements, tapping, or another form of bilateral stimulation while you focus on a specific memory, belief, emotion, or body sensation. Many clients prefer tapping. This process helps your brain stay connected to the present while working through distressing material from the past.
EMDR Therapy by Telehealth
EMDR can be offered through secure telehealth, allowing you to receive trauma therapy from the comfort and privacy of your own home. Using an online platform designed for EMDR, Laurie can provide bilateral stimulation through visual, auditory, or tactile tools that support the reprocessing process in a way that closely mirrors in-person EMDR.
Online EMDR may be a helpful option if traveling to the office is difficult, you live outside the Lebanon area, or you prefer the convenience of therapy from home. Laurie will help you prepare for sessions, create a safe and private setup, and move at a pace that supports your nervous system.
How Long Does EMDR Therapy Take?
EMDR therapy is a phased approach, and the length of treatment depends on your goals, history, and what you want to focus on. A typical EMDR therapy session is 60 minutes and is often scheduled weekly.
Some clients are able to work through a specific memory, belief, or experience in a few sessions. Others may need more time, especially when working with complex trauma, long-term stress, grief, or multiple painful experiences.
Laurie will move at a pace that supports your nervous system and helps you feel prepared throughout the process. Before reprocessing begins, time is spent building coping skills, grounding tools, and ways to manage distress both inside and outside of session.
EMDR Intensives
For some clients, weekly therapy is the right fit. Others prefer a more focused approach with longer EMDR sessions or intensives, especially when they want concentrated time to work through a specific memory, event, belief, or pattern. Laurie offers EMDR Intensives in 3-hour sessions and multi-day extended formats. These provide more time to focus on trauma healing without the start-and-stop pace of weekly therapy. Sessions may be offered at Laurie’s Lebanon office or, when appropriate, in a retreat-style setting near the Lake of the Ozarks.
This may be a good fit if you:
Want to focus on one specific memory, event, or belief
Have limited availability for weekly therapy
Feel ready for deeper trauma work
Want to make progress in a shorter period of time
These session are typically not covered by insurance.