EMDR Therapy for Adults in Louisville, Kentucky, and Online
You may have heard about EMDR because you are looking for help with trauma, anxiety, a painful experience, or emotional reactions that have been difficult to change.
EMDR—Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing—is a structured form of psychotherapy that helps people process experiences, emotions, beliefs, and physical responses that continue to affect them in the present.
EMDR is widely recognized for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but you do not have to have PTSD—or even describe what you have experienced as trauma—to ask whether EMDR may be appropriate for you.
Some people who consider EMDR are functioning well in most areas of their lives. They may understand their patterns intellectually and still find that certain experiences, beliefs, triggers, or emotional reactions continue to have more influence than they would like.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation as part of a structured therapeutic process. Bilateral stimulation may involve eye movements, alternating taps, or sounds.
Rather than simply talking about an experience repeatedly, EMDR is designed to support the processing of memories and the thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and physical responses associated with them.
You do not have to describe every detail of a difficult experience aloud. EMDR is collaborative, and preparation, pacing, and your ability to remain present during the work are important parts of the process.
What Can EMDR Therapy Help Address?
EMDR has its strongest research support for PTSD. It may also be considered as part of counseling when difficult experiences, deeply rooted beliefs, or unresolved emotional responses continue to affect your life.
Depending on your individual needs, EMDR may be considered for concerns such as:
• Trauma and post-traumatic stress
• Painful or distressing memories
• Difficult childhood experiences
• Anxiety and persistent stress
• Emotional triggers or reactions that feel difficult to control
• Shame, self-criticism, or persistent self-doubt
• Negative beliefs about yourself
• Relationship and attachment injuries
• Marital infidelity and betrayal
• Difficulty with trust or emotional safety
• Experiences that you understand intellectually but continue to feel emotionally or physically
Having one of these concerns does not automatically mean EMDR is the right treatment. We begin by understanding what you are experiencing, your history and circumstances, and what you hope will change.
You Don’t Have to Identify What Happened as “Trauma”
Some people hesitate to consider EMDR because they do not believe their experiences were serious enough to be called trauma.
You may not have experienced one defining traumatic event. Instead, your responses or beliefs may have developed through repeated criticism, rejection, difficult family relationships, betrayal, loss of trust, or experiences in which you did not feel secure, valued, or understood.
You may know intellectually that you are capable and still feel inadequate. You may know that a present situation is safe and still experience a strong emotional or physical response. You may have forgiven someone and still become activated when something reminds you of what happened.
EMDR may be considered when past experiences or deeply held beliefs continue to influence how you experience yourself, your relationships, or your life today.
Why I Incorporate Somatic Approaches With EMDR
Traditional EMDR already recognizes that difficult experiences involve more than thoughts. Memories can also be connected with emotions, beliefs, physical sensations, and physiological responses.
In my practice, I place additional emphasis on nervous-system regulation and body awareness before and during EMDR when appropriate.
This is particularly important when someone becomes easily overwhelmed, highly activated, numb, disconnected, or shut down. Rather than rushing into processing, we may first strengthen your ability to recognize and regulate these responses and remain connected to the present.
This approach reflects more than 30 years of clinical experience and the way I work with clients generally: considering the whole person rather than focusing only on thoughts or symptoms.
I refer to this integration as Somatic EMDR.
Learn more about my approach to Somatic EMDR Therapy.
EMDR for Anxiety and Emotional Triggers
Sometimes anxiety is connected to particular experiences, memories, beliefs, or triggers.
You may understand logically that you are safe while your body continues to react as though something is wrong. Or you may recognize that a fear or belief is not completely rational and still find that knowing this does not change how you feel.
When appropriate, EMDR can be incorporated with other approaches to address both the experiences contributing to these responses and the ways they continue to affect you emotionally and physically.
Learn more about Anxiety Therapy.
EMDR for Infidelity and Betrayal
Discovering infidelity can produce intense emotional and physical responses. Intrusive thoughts or images, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, hyper-vigilance, and strong reactions to reminders of the betrayal are common concerns that may bring someone to counseling.
EMDR may be used in individual counseling to address particular memories, discoveries, images, beliefs, or triggers associated with betrayal.
EMDR does not erase what happened, determine whether a spouse is trustworthy, or replace the relational work required to repair a marriage. It may be one part of a broader approach to infidelity and betrayal recovery.
Learn more about Infidelity and Betrayal Recovery.
What If I Tried EMDR Before and It Didn’t Help?
A previous experience with EMDR does not automatically tell us whether trying it again would or would not be helpful.
If you have tried EMDR before, I will want to understand what the treatment involved, what happened during the sessions, how prepared you felt, and what you experienced afterward.
For some clients, additional attention to nervous-system regulation, preparation, pacing, and the ability to remain present during processing may be important.
We will still carefully consider whether EMDR is appropriate for you rather than assuming that it should be tried again.
Christian Counseling and EMDR — When Requested
For clients who want Christian faith to be part of counseling, faith can be thoughtfully integrated with EMDR and the broader counseling process.
Sometimes there is a painful difference between what you know or believe spiritually and what you experience emotionally. You may believe that you are loved by God while continuing to feel unworthy, understand grace while struggling with shame, or trust God while still experiencing fear or a strong need for control.
When desired, we can consider both the experiences contributing to these patterns and the beliefs and values that are important to your faith.
I spent 17 years serving in the Counseling Ministry at Southeast Christian Church and have extensive experience working with clients who want professional counseling that meaningfully incorporates their Christian faith.
Christian integration is always optional. Clients who prefer counseling without explicit faith integration are equally welcome.
EMDR Therapy in Louisville, Kentucky
I provide in-person EMDR therapy for adults in Louisville, Kentucky. I am a Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) in Kentucky with more than 30 years of counseling experience.
EMDR may be used as one component of an individualized counseling approach that can also incorporate Somatic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), attachment-informed therapy, and other approaches based on your needs.
Online EMDR Therapy in Kentucky, Indiana, and Florida
EMDR therapy is also available through secure Telehealth for clients located in Kentucky, Indiana, and Florida.
Whether EMDR is provided in person or through Telehealth, we first consider your concerns, history, current circumstances, readiness, and ability to remain sufficiently regulated and present during the work.
Limited In-Person EMDR Therapy in Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Limited in-person EMDR therapy is also available at my Lakewood Ranch office near University Town Center (UTC), convenient to Bradenton and Sarasota.
Because Lakewood Ranch appointments are available on select dates, ongoing weekly or biweekly in-person counseling is not offered at this location. Monthly in-person appointments may be available during some months.
Getting Started
If you are interested in EMDR therapy, I offer in-person counseling in Louisville, secure Telehealth throughout Kentucky, Indiana, and Florida, and limited in-person counseling in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
Private-pay Telehealth appointments and in-person appointments in Louisville may be scheduled through my online appointment calendar. For in-person appointments in Lakewood Ranch, please use the Contact form to ask about availability.
For clients who are residents of Indiana or Florida and using eligible insurance benefits through Headway, insurance eligibility and scheduling are handled through the Headway platform. See Rates & Insurance for more information.
If you would like to determine whether EMDR therapy with me may be a good fit, you may also request a complimentary 15-minute video consultation.