Therapy types
EMDR therapy: what sessions are like and how to find an EMDR therapist
In EMDR therapy, you focus on a memory while following a back-and-forth movement, light or sound, for about 30 seconds at a time. The VA describes about three months of weekly 50- to 90-minute sessions, with no homework. Basic EMDR training is one level; EMDRIA certification adds experience and consultation. EMDRIA’s directory lets you filter for certified therapists.
EMDR, short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, has a very particular format, and therapists offer it with very different amounts of training. To find an EMDR therapist with the training you want, learn what sessions are like and what the training levels mean, search the directories and LunahUP, decide on telehealth, ask a few questions, then plan for cost.
1. Know what an EMDR session is like
The VA describes EMDR this way:
- You meet one-on-one with your therapist.
- While you think about a memory, you pay attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound, such as your therapist’s moving finger, a flashing light, or a tone that beeps in one ear at a time.
- Each round lasts about 30 seconds.
- There’s no homework.
How long it takes: the VA says about three months of weekly sessions lasting 50 to 90 minutes. Ask each therapist what they expect for you.
EMDRIA, the EMDR International Association, describes eight phases of EMDR therapy, starting with history and treatment planning and preparation, before any memory processing begins. So the first sessions may be about getting to know you and preparing, rather than working on memories right away.
2. Learn what the EMDR training levels mean
| Level | What it means |
|---|---|
| EMDR-trained | completed an EMDRIA-approved basic training, which combines teaching, supervised practice and consultation |
| EMDRIA member | belongs to EMDRIA. EMDRIA says membership doesn’t certify anyone in EMDR |
| EMDRIA Certified Therapist | fully licensed, with more EMDR experience with clients after basic training, plus consultation, EMDRIA continuing education and regular renewal. EMDRIA’s certification page lists the exact requirements |
| EMDRIA Approved Consultant | a certified therapist with much more EMDR experience, approved by EMDRIA to give consultation to other therapists |
Certification isn’t required to practice EMDR. A basic-trained therapist who’s still getting consultation can be a fine choice; ask about it.
3. Search the EMDR directories
EMDRIA’s Find an EMDR Therapist directory lists EMDRIA’s full members. You can filter by:
- location and distance
- “Only Show EMDRIA Certified Therapists”
- online appointments
- specialty areas, populations served and languages
- insurance accepted
EMDRIA says it doesn’t examine or warrant the competence of therapists in its directory, and non-members don’t appear at all. Check the therapist’s license on your state board’s website as well; our fit guide explains how.
4. Look for EMDR on LunahUP
No LunahUP profiles list EMDR as an approach yet. Search your city for therapists, then use EMDRIA’s directory to check their EMDR training. Our trauma and PTSD guide covers EMDR alongside CPT and PE.
5. Decide whether EMDR by telehealth suits you
EMDRIA’s guidelines for virtual EMDR therapy, from 2020, say:
- EMDR online must be done by a clinician trained through an EMDRIA-approved program, over secure telecommunications.
- Doing EMDR on yourself is strictly forbidden by EMDRIA policy.
- You and your therapist should agree on a backup plan for when technology fails or a crisis comes up.
- You should be told if there are options other than online therapy.
EMDRIA’s guidelines also noted that, at the time, there was no research to support or refute virtual EMDR. The VA notes that smaller VA facilities may use telehealth. Ask any therapist how they deliver EMDR online. The therapist has to be licensed in the state where you are during sessions.
6. Ask an EMDR therapist these questions
EMDRIA publishes a list of questions to ask. They include:
- “How much does it cost? Does insurance pay for it?”
- “What does an actual session look like?”
- “Will I get worse before I get better?”
- “How long does it take? Is it in person or by telehealth?”
Also ask:
- “Are you EMDRIA certified? If you’re basic trained, are you getting consultation?”
- “How will we prepare before working on memories?”
7. Plan for what EMDR costs
EMDR is covered like other therapy by most health plans when it’s part of treatment for a diagnosed condition. EMDRIA’s directory has an insurance filter. Our insurance guide covers the rest.
The short version
- EMDR pairs focusing on a memory with a back-and-forth movement, light or sound, about 30 seconds at a time.
- The VA describes about three months of weekly 50- to 90-minute sessions, with no homework.
- Basic training, EMDRIA certification and Approved Consultant are different levels. Membership isn’t certification.
- EMDRIA’s directory can filter for certified therapists and online appointments.
- EMDRIA forbids doing EMDR on yourself; online EMDR needs a trained clinician and a backup plan.
Questions before your next step
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a therapy in which you focus on a memory while paying attention to a back-and-forth movement, light or sound, about 30 seconds at a time, as the VA describes it. The VA describes about three months of weekly sessions.
Link to this answerWhat happens in an EMDR session?
The VA says you think about a memory while paying attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound, such as a moving finger, a flashing light or alternating tones, for about 30 seconds at a time.
Link to this answerHow long does EMDR therapy take?
The VA describes about three months of weekly sessions lasting 50 to 90 minutes. The first sessions focus on history and preparation.
Link to this answerWhat’s the difference between EMDR-trained and EMDRIA certified?
EMDR-trained means a therapist completed basic training. EMDRIA certification adds a full license, more EMDR experience with clients, consultation and continuing education. EMDRIA’s certification page lists the exact requirements.
Link to this answerCan EMDR be done online?
EMDRIA’s guidelines allow online EMDR by a trained clinician, with a backup plan for technology problems or crises. EMDRIA strictly forbids doing EMDR on yourself.
Link to this answerHow do I find an EMDR therapist?
Search EMDRIA’s Find an EMDR Therapist directory and use the filter for EMDRIA Certified Therapists if you want that level.
Link to this answerSources & approach
LunahUP Directory wrote this guide to explain practical search and appointment choices. Public health and professional references support the general information; the directory’s own workflows describe how LunahUP works. Provider-specific facts are supplied on the linked profiles. This guide has not been clinically reviewed and does not offer individual medical advice.
- VA National Center for PTSD, EMDR
- EMDRIA, Guidelines for Virtual EMDR Therapy, January 18, 2020
- EMDRIA, Questions to ask your EMDR therapist
- EMDRIA web pages
- EMDRIA web pages, basic training hours
- EMDRIA web pages, membership isn’t certification
- EMDRIA web pages, certification requirements
- EMDRIA web pages, Approved Consultant
- EMDRIA web pages, directory filters and disclaimer
To suggest a correction, use directory support.
