emdr therapy in allen, tx

a different approach to healing from trauma

Traditional talk therapy can be incredibly helpful, but sometimes trauma feels too big, too stuck, or too overwhelming to just talk through. Maybe you've been in therapy before and felt like you kept rehashing the same painful memories without actually feeling better. Or maybe the idea of talking in detail about what happened feels impossible.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) offers a different path. It's a structured, evidence-based therapy specifically designed to help your brain process traumatic memories so they lose their emotional charge. You can heal from trauma without having to talk through every detail of what happened.

As an EMDR-trained therapist, I use this approach with clients who are ready to move beyond just coping with their trauma and toward actually processing and integrating it.

what is emdr therapy?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It's a type of therapy that helps your brain reprocess traumatic memories that have gotten "stuck."

When you experience trauma, your brain's normal memory processing can get disrupted. The traumatic memory gets stored with all the intense emotions, physical sensations, and negative beliefs you had at the time. That's why traumatic memories can feel so vivid and overwhelming, even years later, and why certain triggers can make you feel like you're right back in that moment.

EMDR helps your brain finish processing these memories. Through bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements, but sometimes tapping or sounds), EMDR activates the same natural healing process your brain uses during REM sleep. This allows the memory to get properly stored as something that happened in the past, rather than something that still feels present and threatening.

what emdr is not

  • It's not hypnosis. You're fully awake and in control the entire time.

  • It's not about forgetting. You'll still remember what happened, but the memory won't carry the same emotional intensity.

  • It's not magic. It's a structured, evidence-based treatment with decades of research supporting its effectiveness.

  • It's not just for "severe" trauma. EMDR can help single-incident traumas (assault, accidents, combat) and more complex, long-term trauma (childhood emotional neglect, bullying, painful breakups).

what emdr can help with

EMDR was originally developed to treat PTSD, but research has shown it's effective for a wide range of concerns:

trauma & ptsd

  • Single-incident trauma (assault, accidents, medical trauma)

  • Complex trauma (ongoing childhood abuse or neglect)

  • Developmental trauma

  • Witnessing violence or death

  • Natural disasters or catastrophic events

childhood experiences

  • Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse

  • Neglect or abandonment

  • Growing up with addiction, mental illness, or instability in the home

  • Bullying or peer rejection

  • Painful experiences with caregivers

anxiety & phobias

  • Panic attacks tied to past experiences

  • Specific phobias (driving, flying, medical procedures)

  • Social anxiety rooted in past rejection or humiliation

  • Performance anxiety

grief & loss

  • Traumatic loss or complicated grief

  • Processing the death of a loved one

  • Relationship endings that feel unresolved

self-worth & identity

  • Negative beliefs about yourself formed in childhood

  • Shame or self-criticism

  • Feeling "not good enough" or fundamentally flawed

  • Difficulty accepting yourself

other concerns

  • Disturbing memories that won't go away

  • Nightmares or intrusive thoughts

  • Feeling stuck in therapy or unable to move forward

  • Overwhelming emotional reactions to certain triggers

what to expect in emdr therapy

EMDR follows a structured eight-phase protocol. We don't just jump straight into processing—there's important groundwork first.

phase 1: history & treatment planning

We'll talk about your history, identify target memories to work on, and create a treatment plan. Not every memory needs to be processed—we focus on the ones that are most impactful.

phase 2: preparation

This is where we build your coping skills and resources. You'll learn grounding techniques, safe place visualization, and other tools to use during and between sessions. We don't move forward until you feel ready and resourced.

phases 3-6: assessment & processing

This is the active trauma processing. You'll bring up a target memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation (typically eye movement using an online program, I don’t wave my fingers in front of your face).

Here's what's different about EMDR: You don't have to describe the trauma in detail. You're not talking through the whole story. You're just noticing what comes up—images, thoughts, emotions, body sensations—while the bilateral stimulation helps your brain reprocess the memory.

Sessions can feel intense, but you're always in control. We can pause anytime, and I'll help you stay grounded throughout.

phases 7-8: closure & reevaluation

At the end of each session, we'll bring you back to a calm, grounded state. In follow-up sessions, we check in on how you're feeling and whether the memory still carries the same charge.

how long does emdr take?

It varies. Some people notice significant shifts in 3-6 sessions for a single trauma. Complex trauma or multiple target memories might take longer—months to a year or more.

The important part: EMDR tends to work faster than traditional talk therapy for trauma. You're not spending years talking about the same painful memories—you're actively processing and moving through them.

emdr in-person vs. virtual

I offer EMDR both in-person in Allen, TX and virtually across Texas.

In-person EMDR:

  • Uses traditional eye movements (following a dot on a screen)

  • Some people find it easier to focus in the office setting

  • Direct, hands-on support if you get activated

Virtual EMDR:

  • Uses eye movements on screen or tactile bilateral stimulation (we’ll learn how to butterfly tap)

  • Just as effective as in-person EMDR

  • More accessible if you're not in the DFW area

  • Can do sessions from the comfort of home

Both formats work equally well—it's about what feels right for you.

is emdr right for you?

EMDR can be incredibly powerful, but it's not for everyone or every situation. Here are some things to consider:

EMDR might be a good fit if:

  • You have specific traumatic memories you want to process

  • Talk therapy hasn't been enough

  • You're tired of just coping and want to actually heal

  • You're willing to feel uncomfortable temporarily for long-term relief

  • You have some emotional regulation skills (or are willing to build them)

EMDR might not be the best fit right now if:

  • You're in crisis or your current situation is unstable

  • You're actively using substances to cope

  • You have unmanaged dissociation (we'd work on stabilization first)

  • You're not ready to engage with difficult memories

If you're unsure, we can talk about it in a consultation. Sometimes we do some preparation work first before starting EMDR processing.

my approach to emdr

I'm trained in the full EMDR protocol and follow the evidence-based approach, but I also adapt it to each person's needs.

What that means:

  • We go at your pace—trauma work should never feel re-traumatizing

  • We spend as much time as needed in preparation (Phase 2) building resources

  • I integrate other approaches (parts work, somatic awareness, DBT skills) to support the process

  • Your autonomy matters—you decide what we work on and when

I'm also LGBTQ+ affirming and understand how identity-based trauma (rejection, discrimination, violence) shows up differently and requires culturally competent care.

frequently asked questions

Do I have to relive the trauma?
No. You'll think about the memory, but you're not reliving it. You're observing it while your brain processes it. And you're always in the present moment with me supporting you.

Will I forget what happened?
No. The memory will still be there, but it won't feel as intense or triggering. It becomes more like a regular memory—something that happened, not something that's still happening.

How will I feel after an EMDR session?
It varies. Some people feel relief or lighter. Others feel tired or emotionally raw. We always end sessions with grounding techniques, and I'll help you prepare for what to expect between sessions.

Can I do EMDR if I'm also in talk therapy?
Absolutely. Some people come to me specifically for EMDR while continuing other therapy, or we can integrate both approaches in our work together.

What if I don't remember the trauma clearly?
You don't need detailed memories to do EMDR. We can work with fragments, felt senses, or the impact the trauma had even if you don't remember specifics.

Is EMDR covered by insurance?
Once I'm able to accept insurance (coming this summer), EMDR will be covered the same way regular therapy is. It's not billed differently.

getting started

Fees: $120 for 50-minute sessions. Limited sliding scale spots available. Insurance acceptance coming this summer.

Location: In-person EMDR therapy at 1333 W McDermott Dr, Suite 200, Allen, TX 75013
Easily accessible from Plano, McKinney, and Frisco.

Virtual sessions available for all Texas residents.

Ready to explore EMDR? Reach out through my contact form or email me at hello@therapywithmack.com. We'll start with a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss whether EMDR is a good fit for what you're working through.

Healing from trauma is possible. Let's talk about how EMDR can help.