EMDR

1. What is EMDR?

When something upsetting happens, the brain sometimes stores it in a way that keeps your nervous system on high alert — as if the event could happen again at any moment. When a similar situation arises, or even just a smell, sound, or feeling that reminds your brain of the original event, it reacts as though it's happening all over again right now.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps shift how these memories are stored, moving them to a more functional part of the brain where the event can finally be experienced as truly in the past. The result is a real, physical change — situations that once triggered an overwhelming response no longer do. You're able to respond to the present moment without the past getting in the way.

2. What Does EMDR Treat?

EMDR is most well-known for treating trauma and PTSD, but it's a remarkably versatile therapy. It can help with:

• Anxiety and panic attacks

• Depression

• Low self-esteem

• Phobias

• Relationship difficulties

• Insomnia and nightmares

• Grief and loss

• Childhood wounds

• Performance anxiety

By helping reframe the negative beliefs and emotions tied to painful experiences, EMDR supports healing and emotional growth across a wide range of challenges — not just past trauma.

3. What to Expect in a Session

EMDR sessions typically run 60–90 minutes, although we often treat patients in as few as 15 minutes during a medication management appointment. 

Your provider will guide you through gently recalling a distressing memory or feeling while following a moving stimulus — such as eye movements, tapping, or sounds — that activates both sides of the brain. This bilateral stimulation helps the brain reprocess the memory in a new way.

Many patients are surprised to find that by the end of a session, a memory that felt raw and overwhelming now feels more distant — like something that happened, rather than something still happening.

4. How Many Sessions Does It Take?

Every person's healing journey is different. Some patients notice meaningful relief in as few as 6–12 sessions. Others working through complex or long-standing trauma may benefit from a longer course of treatment. At your first appointment, your provider will discuss what a personalized plan might look like for you.

5. Can EMDR Be Done Virtually?

Yes. EMDR can be delivered through secure video calls, sometimes called "virtual EMDR" or "telehealth EMDR." During a virtual session, your therapist will guide you through the same steps as an in-person session, but from the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Research shows that virtual EMDR is effective at reducing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Studies comparing virtual and in-person EMDR have found that both approaches lead to meaningful improvements. While some research suggests that in-person sessions may offer a slight edge for certain symptoms, virtual EMDR remains a strong and effective option — especially when traveling to a therapist's office is difficult.

6. Why Choose Bigger Skies for EMDR?

Bigger Skies Mental Health has two certified EMDR providers — which is uncommon for a practice of our size. Amber Whitlatch holds SAFE-EMDR certification, the highest standard available in EMDR practice, along with additional trauma certifications including CCTP (Certified Clinical Trauma Professional). Combined, both Amber and Courtney have over 25 years of experience providing EMDR for our patients.

We offer EMDR in person at our Maineville, Ohio and Newport, Kentucky locations, as well as via telehealth for patients across Ohio, Kentucky, California, Montana, and Washington.