EMDR therapy in NYC has grown significantly in availability over the past decade, but the quality and focus of practitioners vary widely. Some therapists list EMDR as one of many tools they occasionally use. Others have completed intensive EMDR training, supervised practice hours, and specialize in the modality for specific presentations. If you’re looking for EMDR therapy in New York City, knowing the difference matters.
This guide explains what EMDR actually involves, who benefits most from it, what to expect from the process, and how NYC Psychotherapy Cooperative provides EMDR treatment at its Union Square practice.
What EMDR Therapy Is
EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing- is a structured psychotherapy approach developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It was initially developed for PTSD and has since been validated for a range of trauma-related presentations, anxiety, depression, phobias, and grief.
The core mechanism of EMDR is bilateral stimulation, typically eye movements guided by a therapist, though audio tones and tactile tapping are also used, applied while a client holds a distressing memory or experience in mind. The bilateral stimulation appears to help the brain process traumatic or distressing material in a way that reduces its emotional charge.
What distinguishes EMDR from talk therapy is its direct engagement with how distressing memories are stored. Traumatic experiences are often processed differently than ordinary memories, they retain their original emotional and sensory intensity in a way that can intrude on present experience. EMDR targets that storage directly rather than primarily working through insight and cognitive restructuring.
What EMDR Is Effective For
EMDR has the strongest evidence base for:
- PTSD and trauma. EMDR is one of the few therapeutic approaches with Level A evidence for PTSD from multiple international health bodies, including the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association. For clients whose PTSD connects to discrete traumatic events, EMDR often produces faster results than traditional talk therapy.
- Anxiety with trauma roots. Many anxiety presentations have specific experiences in their history, not necessarily dramatic traumas, but formative moments that established the nervous system’s threat-response patterns. EMDR addresses the root material rather than only managing surface anxiety.
- Depression is connected to adverse experiences. When depression is fueled by negative core beliefs about oneself established through difficult childhood experiences or significant losses, EMDR can target those formative experiences directly.
- Grief and loss. EMDR protocols have been adapted for complicated grief, when loss remains unprocessed and continues to dominate present functioning.
- Phobias and specific fears. Targeted EMDR work can desensitize specific fears that have a clear originating experience.
What EMDR Is Not
EMDR is not hypnosis. You remain conscious, aware, and in control throughout the session. You can stop at any time.
EMDR is not a quick fix. The eight-phase protocol includes preparation work before any trauma processing begins, clients need adequate stabilization and resourcing skills before EMDR targeting sessions. Rushing this preparation phase produces poor outcomes.
EMDR is not appropriate for all situations. For clients in acute crisis, those with dissociative disorders requiring specialized treatment, or those whose current life circumstances require immediate stabilization, other therapeutic approaches are more appropriate first steps. A skilled EMDR therapist will assess readiness before beginning the processing phases.
EMDR at NYC Psychotherapy Cooperative
NYC Psychotherapy Cooperative at 113 University Place, Union Square, provides EMDR therapy as part of an integrated treatment approach. The practice’s licensed therapists, Rita Gazarik (LCSW), Brannan Piper (LCSW), and Mary Hayley (PhD), work with clients for whom EMDR is an appropriate and well-timed intervention.
The first step is always a thorough assessment. Not every client who wants EMDR is immediately ready for trauma processing work. The initial sessions establish whether EMDR is the right approach, what the treatment targets should be, and what stabilization work may be needed first. This preparation is not a detour from EMDR; it’s part of the protocol and a significant predictor of how effectively the processing phases work.
EMDR sessions at NYC Psychotherapy Cooperative are $200–$275 per session, available Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 7 pm. The practice is located at 113 University Place, 10th Floor, a few blocks from Union Square, accessible from the 4/5/6/L/N/Q/R/W trains.
What to Expect in EMDR Sessions
- Phase 1- History and Treatment Planning: Your therapist gathers a thorough history, identifies treatment targets, and assesses whether you have the stabilization resources needed for trauma processing.
- Phase 2- Preparation: Before processing begins, you learn emotional regulation skills — how to manage distress if it becomes intense during sessions, how to use containment strategies between sessions. This phase may take several sessions.
- Phase 3-6- Assessment and Processing: The active EMDR work. A specific memory or target is identified, assessed for its current emotional charge, and processed through sets of bilateral stimulation. Most people find this phase less distressing than they expected — the bilateral stimulation seems to create a kind of dual awareness that allows processing without being overwhelmed.
- Phase 7-8-Closure and Reevaluation: Each session ends with stabilization, and subsequent sessions begin with checking how the previous session’s processing settled.
EMDR is not a passive experience. You’re an active participant throughout, and the pace is always adjustable based on what you can tolerate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is EMDR therapy used for in NYC?
EMDR therapy in NYC is most commonly used for PTSD and trauma, anxiety with traumatic roots, depression connected to adverse experiences, complicated grief, and phobias. It’s one of the most evidence-backed approaches for trauma treatment. NYC Psychotherapy Cooperative at 113 University Place offers EMDR as part of an integrated treatment approach for appropriate candidates. Call 212-675-8497 to discuss whether EMDR is right for your situation.
How long does EMDR therapy take?
EMDR for a specific, discrete trauma may show significant results in 6–12 sessions. More complex presentations, developmental trauma, multiple adverse experiences, or PTSD with significant dissociation typically require longer treatment. The preparation phases before active processing add time that’s essential to outcomes. Your therapist will give you a realistic timeline after the initial assessment.
Is EMDR covered by insurance in NYC?
EMDR sessions are typically billed as standard psychotherapy sessions (CPT code 90837 or 90834) and are subject to your insurance’s standard mental health benefits. NYC Psychotherapy Cooperative is out-of-network but provides superbills for reimbursement. Many PPO plans reimburse 50–80% of out-of-network therapy costs. Call your insurance provider to ask about your out-of-network mental health benefits.
Does EMDR work for anxiety?
Yes, EMDR is effective for anxiety when it connects to specific past experiences or formative memories that established threat-response patterns. For anxiety without a clear trauma component, other approaches (IPT, mindfulness-based therapy, CBT) may be more appropriate first-line treatments. A thorough assessment helps determine whether EMDR or another approach is the better fit for your specific anxiety presentation.
Is EMDR therapy the same as hypnosis?
No. EMDR and hypnosis are distinct approaches. During EMDR, you remain fully conscious, aware, and in control. You can stop the bilateral stimulation at any time. You’re not in a trance or suggestible state; you’re an active participant processing specific memories with the support of bilateral stimulation. The mechanisms are different from hypnosis, and the applications are distinct.
How do I find an EMDR therapist near Union Square in NYC?
Look for licensed clinicians (LCSW, PhD, LMHC, PsyD) who specifically list EMDR training and experience, not just those who mention it as an occasional tool. NYC Psychotherapy Cooperative at 113 University Place, 10th Floor, offers EMDR therapy through licensed therapists. Call 212-675-8497 or email info@nycpsychotherapycoop.com to schedule an initial consultation and discuss whether EMDR is appropriate for your situation.
I am an individual psychotherapist who has been practicing for over 30 years. Because of my extensive training, I am equipped to treat numerous conditions. My areas of specialization focus on depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, self-esteem, and problems originating in childhood. If you are facing any of these challenges, then you have found the right therapist. Highly intuitive, gentle, curious, and a good listener, I value a stance that is open-minded and non-judgmental. I provide a calming and affirming environment in which you are free to share your issues and problems.