EMDR Therapy NYC
EMDR Therapy NYC: Healing from Trauma
Eric M Hovis is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Specializing in EMDR Therapy in NYC, New York State, and Connecticut
Today has been another rough day.
You’re exhausted from constantly feeling like you're on edge, as if something bad is about to happen. Your heart races for no apparent reason, and you get this tightness in your chest that makes it hard to breathe. Sometimes, you can't even focus at work because your mind keeps drifting back to things you'd rather forget.
Even sleep doesn't bring respite, as your nights are plagued by insomnia and the constant dread of another nightmare. They’re so vivid and real, like you’re reliving those moments all over again. You don't know how much longer you can keep pretending that everything's fine.
Your relationships are suffering too. You’re distant from your friends and family. You don't feel safe opening up to them about what's really going on. Some days you feel completely numb, just going through the motions, while other times, you're overwhelmed by sadness or anger that seem to come out of nowhere.
You know that trust issues and fear of intimacy are all too common for you. You constantly feel like you’re sabotaging any chance of forming healthy relationships. You catch yourself repeating unhealthy patterns, like pushing people away when they get too close or overreacting to small issues because you’re so sensitive to rejection. Your self-esteem is so low that you sometimes wonder if you’re even capable of being loved.
The physical symptoms are taking their toll too. The headaches, the stomachaches, the chronic pain with no clear cause – it all feels like your body is screaming for help. But you don't know how to respond, how to make it all stop. It’s so hard to believe things will ever be different.
Maybe it's time to get some help. You deserve to feel better, don't you?
Understanding Your Struggles with EMDR Therapy
As a licensed mental health counselor in NYC with over 15 years of experience and specialized training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), I understand what you're going through. I will help you look at the deep scars left behind by trauma to understand how it’s influenced the way you look at yourself, other people, and the world. We’ll take the numbness, the anger, the constant feeling of being on edge and use brain-based, cutting technology and techniques to help transform those emotions into states of calm, trust, and deeper wisdom.
Trauma and hurt can also come from toxic religion and the harmful aspects of culture that are authoritarian, high demand and unaffirming. If this resonates with you, please visit my specialty page on Religious Trauma to learn more about how I support you in healing from those specific experiences.
My Approach to Providing EMDR Therapy
I will take you from feeling on edge, unsafe, and out of control to feeling calmer and safer, more solid and integrated, and more connected to your deeper wisdom and knowing. When you’re caught up in your trauma, your brain is being hijacked by fear. I will help you find techniques and resources that ramp that “dysregulation” down so you can find your highest self to heal. My approach in using EMDR is trauma-informed, evidenced-based and integrated, drawing from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Psychodynamic approaches, and Somatic and Experiential Therapies. Here’s what I mean and how I can help you:
Creating Safety and Understanding in Trauma-Informed Therapy
You have not felt safe or seen. But, you need to feel safe, seen and known to begin understanding your unique experiences and struggles. I will create a safe, affirming, and inclusive space where you can express yourself without fear. This is always the first step towards healing. While I serve people from many backgrounds, providing care that is sensitive to the needs of the LGBTQ community is a core part of my practice.
Processing Traumatic Memories using EMDR Therapy
Using EMDR, I will help you build the necessary resources and skills to desensitize and reprocess traumatic memories. By harnessing your mind and body's own adaptive and healing processes, I will help you learn to reduce the power these memories have over your present life. As a result, you’ll start to feel calmer, more integrated, and more connected to your own wisdom. This can alleviate symptoms like anxiety, nightmares, and emotional numbness. If you want to learn more about EMDR therapy and how it works, I wrote a blog post on “Understanding EMDR Therapy”.
Integrated Healing for Holistic Trauma Care
I combine EMDR with other therapeutic approaches to ensure that we address all aspects of your well-being. Whether it’s through harmonizing conflicting parts of your personality and unburdening parts of self from the past (Internal Family Systems - IFS) or understanding how past relationship and attachment experiences shape your present (Psychodynamic), my integrated approach is tailored to your needs.
Somatic and Experiential Therapies for Deeper Healing
I also working somatically (with your body) and experientially (not always in your head) to help you experience shifts in your lived experience from states of fear and tension to states of calm and empowerment. By engaging in body-centered practices and experiential techniques, proven to be effective in resolving interpersonal trauma, we can address the physical symptoms of trauma and foster deeper emotional healing.
Take the First Step Towards Healing
I know that seeking help can feel daunting and that there may be a voice in your head telling you that you should handle this on your own. But seeking help is not a sign of weakness; it’s a courageous step towards healing. You deserve to feel better and to live a life that is not overshadowed by your past.
If you’re ready to take the first step towards healing, I’m here to help. Let’s work together to find the peace and relief you deserve. Contact me today to schedule a free 15-minute consultation and learn more about how EMDR Therapy NYC and my integrated therapeutic approach can support you on your journey to recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions about EMDR Therapy NYC
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy technique designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping on the body, to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories. This process allows you to integrate these memories in a way that reduces their emotional impact and helps you move forward. If you'd like to read more, check out my blogpost on "Understanding EMDR Therapy".
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EMDR is a powerful and effective therapy designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping on the body, to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories. This process allows you to integrate these memories in a way that reduces their emotional impact and helps you move forward. EMDR not only focuses on desensitizing and reprocessing traumatic memories but also builds internal resources to enhance your resilience and coping abilities. Techniques used in EMDR help you develop a sense of safety and grounding, empowering you to face and process traumatic experiences without becoming overwhelmed.
One of the remarkable aspects of EMDR is how quickly it has shown to be effective. Many individuals experience significant relief in just a few sessions, making it a time-efficient option for trauma therapy. EMDR can rapidly reduce the distress associated with traumatic memories, allowing you to move towards a healthier and more balanced emotional state.
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EMDR works by stimulating both sides of the brain through bilateral stimulation, which can include eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones. This process helps to reprocess and integrate traumatic memories, reducing their intensity and emotional impact. Over time, this allows individuals to heal from their trauma and develop healthier emotional responses.
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Absolutely! EMDR has also been shown to be effective for issues beyond trauma. One common problem it addresses is emotional “stuckness," where individuals repeatedly encounter the same emotional knots or problems without resolution, even after traditional talk therapies. This emotional stuckness can manifest as persistent anxiety, depression, or relationship difficulties that seem to never fully resolve. EMDR helps by identifying and reprocessing the underlying traumatic or distressing memories that contribute to these ongoing issues, allowing you to break free from these recurring emotional patterns.
Whether you're dealing with unresolved grief, chronic stress, or a pervasive sense of being stuck, EMDR can provide the tools and techniques to help you move forward. By addressing the root causes of your emotional challenges, EMDR fosters a deeper level of healing and personal growth, making it a versatile and effective approach for a wide range of psychological issues.
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Yes, EMDR can be effectively conducted over telehealth or video sessions. The use of bilateral stimulation techniques, such as eye movements or tapping, can be adapted for virtual sessions, allowing you to receive the benefits of EMDR therapy from the comfort of your own home. This approach has been shown to be effective and convenient, especially for those who may have difficulty attending in-person sessions.
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EMDR can be effective for a wide range of traumas, including but not limited to:
Childhood trauma and abuse
Relationship trauma
Religious trauma
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Anxiety and panic disorders
Depression related to trauma
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EMDR is a whole model of working to resolve the impact of traumatic experience; much of it will be working to build internal resources that will help you better manage the present emotional experience when remembering traumatic memories. During an EMDR session where we are reprocessing a memory, you will be guided to focus on specific traumatic memories while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movements, tapping). This process helps your brain reprocess these memories. Sessions are typically structured, starting with history-taking and preparation before moving into the reprocessing phases.
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The number of EMDR sessions needed varies from person to person and depends on the nature and severity of the trauma. Some individuals may experience significant relief in just a few sessions, while others may require more extended therapy. Your therapist will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan based on your unique needs.
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It depends. The integration of EMDR into a standard therapy session is based on assessment. While many EMDR sessions can fit within a typical 60-minute therapy session, working through a specific memory or particularly challenging issue may require an extended session. These extended sessions can last up to 90 minutes to ensure we have enough time to effectively process and reprocess traumatic memories. I will work with you to determine the appropriate session length based on your individual needs and the nature of the issues being addressed.
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Yes, EMDR can be particularly effective for individuals dealing with religious trauma. By reprocessing traumatic memories associated with religious experiences, EMDR helps reduce their emotional impact and allows for healing. For more information, please visit my specialty page on religious trauma.
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In addition to EMDR, I use a trauma-informed and integrated approach that includes:
Internal Family Systems (IFS): Harmonizing conflicting parts of your personality while helping you center in your truest Self.
Psychodynamic Approaches: Understanding how past relationships and attachment experiences shape your present.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Developing awareness and strategies to manage negative thought patterns.
Somatic Therapies: Addressing the physical symptoms of trauma by working with the natural healing and regulating abilities of the mind-body.
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Absolutely. While I specialize in working with LGBTQ individuals, my practice is inclusive and open to all. I provide a safe, affirming, and non-judgmental space for anyone seeking therapy, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. My integrated therapeutic approach is tailored to meet the unique needs of each client, ensuring comprehensive and compassionate care for everyone.
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If you find yourself experiencing symptoms like constant hypervigilance, anxiety, nightmares, emotional numbness, or if you too use "medicators" like perfectionism, substance use, or compulsive behaviors to cope, it might be beneficial to seek therapy. Trauma can profoundly affect your daily life and relationships, and therapy can provide the support and tools you need to heal.
If you’re ready to take the first step towards healing, I’m here to help. Contact me today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how EMDR Therapy NYC and my integrated therapeutic approach can support you on your journey to recovery.
