EMDR Therapy in Atlanta, Georgia
Medically Reviewed
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Bryon McQuirt
Last Updated on:
April 23, 2025
Begin Mental Health Treatment in Georgia Today
At Peachtree Wellness, our specialized EMDR therapy services in Atlanta provide evidence-based treatment to help you process traumatic experiences and move forward with renewed hope.
Whether you’re struggling with PTSD, anxiety, depression, or other trauma-related conditions, EMDR therapy is a newer advancement in mental health treatment, designed to help you reclaim your life and build a healthier future.
Learn more about our mental health treatment programs in Atlanta or call us now at 770-202-1260.
You are not alone. You deserve to get help.
Peachtree Wellness is an industry leader in mental health treatment. Our team of top medical experts specialize in dual diagnosis treatment and are committed to ensuring that each patient is treated as an individual. Call us today, we’re available 24/7.
What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a powerful psychotherapy approach designed to help people recover from traumatic events and distressing life experiences.
Developed in the late 1980s, EMDR therapy has gained worldwide recognition as an effective treatment for trauma and PTSD. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR helps you process and integrate traumatic memories through bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements) while you briefly focus on the traumatic memory.
This innovative approach allows the brain to resume its natural healing process, reducing the emotional charge of painful memories and developing new, healthier associations and perspectives.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
EMDR therapy works by activating the brain’s natural information processing systems to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories. During EMDR sessions, your therapist will guide you through eight phases of treatment:
- History-taking and Treatment Planning: Your therapist learns about your history and develops a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
- Preparation: You’ll learn coping techniques and establish a foundation of trust with your therapist.
- Assessment: Together, you identify specific memories to target and the negative beliefs associated with them.
- Desensitization: While focusing briefly on the memory, you engage in bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or tones), allowing your brain to process the traumatic memory.
- Installation: Positive beliefs are strengthened to replace negative ones.
- Body Scan: You’ll check for any remaining physical tension related to the memory.
- Closure: Ensures you feel stable at the end of each session.
- Reevaluation: Progress is assessed at the beginning of subsequent sessions.
This structured approach helps your brain reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional impact and integrating them into your life narrative in a healthier way.
Our Atlanta Mental Health Programs That Utilize EMDR Therapy
At Peachtree Wellness, we incorporate EMDR therapy into various levels of care, allowing us to provide the right intensity of treatment for your unique needs.
Our specialized programs offer comprehensive support to address trauma alongside co-occurring mental health conditions.
Residential Treatment Program
Our residential treatment program provides 24/7 support in a nurturing, home-like environment where you can fully focus on healing.
EMDR therapy is a cornerstone of our trauma-informed residential care, complemented by individual therapy, group sessions, psychiatric care, and holistic approaches.
The immersive nature of residential treatment creates an ideal setting for intensive EMDR work, allowing you to process traumatic memories with immediate support available. Our experienced clinicians carefully pace EMDR sessions within your comprehensive treatment plan, ensuring emotional safety throughout your healing journey.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) offers structured, intensive treatment while allowing you to return home in the evenings. EMDR therapy sessions are strategically integrated into your daily treatment schedule, which includes 5-6 hours of programming 5-7 days per week. This level of care is ideal for those who need intensive trauma treatment but don’t require 24-hour supervision.
Our PHP creates a supportive community where you can engage in EMDR therapy and develop essential coping skills within a structured therapeutic environment.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides flexible yet effective trauma treatment that accommodates work, school, or family responsibilities.
Typically meeting 3-4 days per week for 3-4 hours per day, our IOP incorporates regular EMDR sessions alongside group therapy and skill-building activities.
This program is well-suited for those transitioning from higher levels of care or individuals whose trauma symptoms interfere with daily functioning but don’t require full-day treatment. Our skilled therapists carefully coordinate EMDR work within this framework to ensure consistent progress while maintaining stability in your daily life.
How Can EMDR Therapy Help My Mental Health?
EMDR therapy addresses root causes of many psychological difficulties. Beyond its well-established effectiveness for PTSD, EMDR has proven to be effective for:
- Anxiety and Panic Disorders: By targeting early experiences that contribute to anxious responses
- Depression: Processing traumatic events that may underlie depressive symptoms
- Phobias: Reprocessing the origins of specific fears
- Grief and Loss: Helping to resolve complicated grief reactions
- Dual Diagnosis Disorders: Addressing traumatic experiences that may drive substance use and mental health simultaneously.
- Chronic Pain: Reducing pain intensity by processing associated traumatic memories
- Low Self-Esteem: Transforming negative self-beliefs formed during difficult life experiences
EMDR therapy helps your brain heal from psychological trauma much like your body heals from physical wounds.
By reprocessing disturbing memories, EMDR reduces their emotional charge, allowing you to recall the event without reliving the intense feelings. This leads to improved mood, reduced anxiety, better sleep, healthier relationships, and a greater sense of empowerment in your life.
How Effective Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy stands out as one of the most thoroughly researched trauma treatments available today. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated its effectiveness, with some key findings:
- Multiple studies show that 84-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have PTSD after just three 90-minute sessions
- The Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense recognize EMDR as a highly effective treatment for PTSD
- The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends EMDR as a first-line treatment for trauma
- EMDR has been found effective across cultures and with various types of trauma
What makes EMDR incredibly remarkable is the speed and durability of results.
Many clients report significant relief after just a few sessions, and the benefits tend to maintain or even increase over time.
Unlike some therapies that focus solely on symptom management, EMDR addresses the underlying traumatic memories, often leading to more complete and lasting recovery.
How Long Does EMDR Therapy Take To Work?
The timeline for EMDR therapy varies based on a multitude of factors, including the type and complexity of trauma, personal history, and treatment goals. In general:
- For single-incident trauma (such as a car accident or assault), significant improvement may be seen in as few as 3-6 sessions
- For multiple traumas or complex PTSD, treatment typically ranges from 12 to 24+ sessions
- Many clients report feeling some relief after the first few sessions, with continued improvement as treatment progresses
At Peachtree Wellness, we personalize treatment pacing to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Your therapist will work with you to establish a treatment timeline based on your specific needs and response to therapy.
Some clients integrate EMDR into longer-term residential treatment, while others may complete a focused course of EMDR sessions. The goal is always to provide relief as efficiently as possible while ensuring lasting results.
Meet Our Clinicians
Our Peachtree Wellness team members are chosen in their ability to provide you with the most advanced care possible, with dedication to delivering an extraordinary treatment experience.
Makenzie Horton, LCSW
Dan Rockel, MS
Helena Poe, MS
Begin EMDR Therapy in Atlanta, Georgia Today
Trauma doesn’t have to define your future. With EMDR therapy at Peachtree Wellness, you can process painful memories, develop new perspectives, and reclaim your life.
Our compassionate team is ready to support you every step of the way.
Call us now at 770-202-1260 or verify your insurance.
If You are in need of immediate assistance...
Don’t hesitate to contact us immediately. In the case of a medical emergency please contact 911 or visit your local emergency department.
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We Work With Most Insurance
Most major health insurance plans with out-of-network benefits can cover the costs associated with our program. Find out your coverage options right now.
