Why Choose EMDR Therapy in NYC for Healing from Childhood Trauma?
Photo by Savannah B.; downloaded from Unsplash on 10/8/24
Moving to NYC for a job, I faced challenges trying to date, find community, and manage my anxiety. I struggled to form the meaningful connections I desired, often getting caught up in difficult relationships with roommates and problematic people. All of this was happening while I tried to make sense of my religious wounding as a queer person. I eventually sought therapy because I realized my life wasn't working well. Through this deep work, I recognized that healing my own childhood trauma and addressing unmet developmental needs was essential. It wasn't just about finding the right people or advancing in my career—it was about integrating all parts of myself into a healthier whole.
I have found that EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) has been a transformative option for many of my clients, helping them heal from childhood trauma. In a city like NYC, where the hustle and challenges of urban life often amplify unhealed wounds, EMDR can be a powerful tool for transformation.
I’m Eric M. Hovis, a licensed mental health counselor specializing in trauma-informed care for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those recovering from religious trauma and childhood wounds. With over 15 years of experience, I provide a safe, affirming space where clients can explore their experiences and heal deeply. I integrate EMDR with Internal Family Systems, somatic therapies, and other approaches to help clients navigate their healing journey and live more fulfilling lives.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR Therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a specialized, evidence-based approach that helps people process and heal from trauma. Developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro, EMDR has since become a recognized and respected form of trauma treatment. Research supports its effectiveness in reducing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other trauma-related challenges.
In an EMDR session, clients focus on traumatic memories while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, taps, or sounds. This dual awareness helps the brain reprocess these memories, allowing them to be stored adaptively rather than as raw, unintegrated emotional experiences. By tapping into the brain's adaptive information processing system, EMDR allows traumatic memories to be desensitized and reprocessed without overwhelming the individual.
I integrate EMDR into a trauma-informed care approach, always working towards enabling clients to show up in their lives fully—whether in relationships, at work, or simply within themselves—rather than being stuck in debilitating memories or emotional reactions.
How Childhood Trauma Impacts Adulthood
Childhood trauma can cast a long shadow over adulthood, affecting everything from relationships and self-esteem to physical well-being. Anxiety, depression, difficulty forming secure attachments, and a sense of being constantly overwhelmed are common signs. Often, these effects show up in the body unexpectedly, triggered by stressors or memories we may not even fully recognize. For more on how EMDR therapy can support LGBTQ+ adults in overcoming these challenges, check out my post on Healing Religious Trauma with EMDR Therapy in NYC.
Traumatic memories, especially from early childhood, tend to be nebulous, stored as embodied sensations and emotions rather than explicit recollections. This can profoundly influence how we treat ourselves, how we navigate stress, and how we show up in relationships. For LGBTQ+ adults—particularly those who have experienced religious trauma—the impact can be even more complex, involving deep wounds around identity, family, and belonging.
Childhood trauma can cast a long shadow over adulthood, affecting everything from relationships and self-esteem to physical well-being. Anxiety, depression, difficulty forming secure attachments, and a sense of being constantly overwhelmed are common signs. Often, these effects show up in the body unexpectedly, triggered by stressors or memories we may not even fully recognize.
Traumatic memories, especially from early childhood, tend to be nebulous, stored as embodied sensations and emotions rather than explicit recollections. This can profoundly influence how we treat ourselves, how we navigate stress, and how we show up in relationships. For LGBTQ+ adults—particularly those who have experienced religious trauma—the impact can be even more complex, involving deep wounds around identity, family, and belonging.
Why EMDR Therapy Works for Childhood Trauma
EMDR uniquely targets those unprocessed memories that continue to trigger emotional responses in the present. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR engages the body's natural healing processes, working directly with how traumatic memories are stored in the brain and body. This process helps desensitize these memories, reprocessing them in a way that allows for healing without having to re-experience the trauma in a debilitating manner. For more insight into how EMDR therapy can help LGBTQ+ adults heal, you can read my post on EMDR Therapy NYC: Healing Trauma for LGBTQ+ Adults.
EMDR therapy doesn’t require clients to relive their trauma in detail; instead, it facilitates processing in a way that shifts how those memories are experienced. Clients often find they move from feeling overwhelmed by a memory to feeling more grounded, self-empowered, and able to recall the memory without emotional reactivity. This shift is transformative—clients report feeling a deeper sense of self-compassion and internal wisdom.
EMDR uniquely targets those unprocessed memories that continue to trigger emotional responses in the present. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR engages the body's natural healing processes, working directly with how traumatic memories are stored in the brain and body. This process helps desensitize these memories, reprocessing them in a way that allows for healing without having to re-experience the trauma in a debilitating manner.
EMDR therapy doesn’t require clients to relive their trauma in detail; instead, it facilitates processing in a way that shifts how those memories are experienced. Clients often find they move from feeling overwhelmed by a memory to feeling more grounded, self-empowered, and able to recall the memory without emotional reactivity. This shift is transformative—clients report feeling a deeper sense of self-compassion and internal wisdom.
EMDR Therapy in NYC: The Practical Benefits
Living in NYC can be exhilarating but also overwhelming, especially when trying to navigate life with unhealed trauma. EMDR therapy fits well into the busy lifestyle of New Yorkers—offering virtual therapy options that make it accessible, even for those with hectic schedules. And yes, EMDR can be effective over telehealth, allowing clients to access support from the comfort of their homes.
I create a therapeutic space that acts as a sanctuary—a safe, affirming place to work through trauma. Healing requires a strong alliance with your therapist, and I work diligently to provide this. Finding a culturally competent EMDR therapist in NYC—particularly one who understands the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ clients or those with complex family histories—can make all the difference.
How EMDR Therapy Supports Healing and Growth
EMDR therapy supports the journey from simply surviving to truly thriving. Many clients start therapy feeling out of control—emotionally overwhelmed or numbed out. EMDR helps them regain control, first by building coping skills and internal resources, and then by working through unhealed traumas.
Emotional resilience and self-compassion are crucial aspects of healing from childhood trauma. EMDR helps build these by facilitating the integration of nurturing and wise parts of the self. Clients often strengthen their internal sense of safety, nurturance, and self-compassion as they progress through EMDR sessions.
To enhance the effects of EMDR, I also integrate practical tools like grounding techniques and guided visualization. You can find more on these tools in my blog posts: Grounding Techniques and Guided Visualizations.
EMDR therapy supports the journey from simply surviving to truly thriving. Many clients start therapy feeling out of control—emotionally overwhelmed or numbed out. EMDR helps them regain control, first by building coping skills and internal resources, and then by working through unhealed traumas.
Emotional resilience and self-compassion are crucial aspects of healing from childhood trauma. EMDR helps build these by facilitating the integration of nurturing and wise parts of the self. Clients often strengthen their internal sense of safety, nurturance, and self-compassion as they progress through EMDR sessions.
To enhance the effects of EMDR, I also integrate practical tools like grounding techniques and guided visualization. (You can find more on these tools in my blog posts: Grounding Techniques and Guided Visualizations).
Why Choose My Practice for EMDR Therapy in NYC?
When we do trauma work, we allow those parts of us, burdened by trauma, to finally be free!
Photo by Allen Taylor; downloaded from Unsplash on 10/9/2024
I bring years of experience working with trauma survivors, including over 13 years working in child welfare. In my private practice, I specialize in working with LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those healing from complex childhood trauma and religious wounding.
My approach is affirming, culturally sensitive, and deeply compassionate. I prioritize creating a safe space where clients feel seen and understood in their full complexity, including their identities, intersectional experiences, and traumas. In addition to EMDR, I use an integrated approach that includes Internal Family Systems (IFS), experiential techniques, and somatic therapies to support clients in their healing journey.
How to Get Started with EMDR Therapy in NYC
If you’re considering EMDR therapy, the first step is to reach out and schedule a consultation. During our initial session, we’ll talk about what’s been happening in your life, what’s brought you to therapy, and how EMDR might help. I want you to feel comfortable and empowered in deciding if this is the right step for you.
Taking that first step can feel intimidating, but it’s also a brave move towards healing. Know that support is available, and that your courage in reaching out is already a significant part of the journey.
Conclusion
Healing from childhood trauma is possible. EMDR therapy can be an empowering tool, helping you move from surviving to thriving. It takes courage to begin this kind of work, but that courage is a sign of the strength you already have within you.
If you’re ready to take the next step, I’d be honored to support you on your journey. Healing may not be easy, but it is absolutely possible—and you deserve to feel whole and at peace. For additional resources and information on how EMDR therapy can help, feel free to explore my related blog posts on Healing Religious Trauma and Healing Trauma for LGBTQ+ Adults.
Healing from childhood trauma is possible. EMDR therapy can be an empowering tool, helping you move from surviving to thriving. It takes courage to begin this kind of work, but that courage is a sign of the strength you already have within you.
If you’re ready to take the next step, I’d be honored to support you on your journey. Healing may not be easy, but it is absolutely possible—and you deserve to feel whole and at peace.
Contact me here for a free 15-minute phone call to discuss how we can work together to build the resilience you need to thrive. Let's embark on a path toward greater self-respect, healthier relationships, and a stronger sense of community together.
My specialties include LGBTQ+ Therapy NYC, EMDR Therapy NYC, Religious Trauma.
