EMDR Therapy in Austin, TX
Transform Trauma into Healing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured, evidence-based way to address traumatic memories and deeply rooted distress — engaging the brain’s natural healing mechanisms so painful memories lose their charge without you having to talk them to death.
4.9★
Average rating in our most recent client survey
15 years
Serving Austin since 2011
4,000+
Clients served
30 therapists
With varied licensure and levels of experience
Meet our EMDR therapists
Brittany Tyrrell, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
A Massachusetts transplant who loves family, reading, baking, traveling, and the outdoors.
Laurie Stevens-Beck, LPC-S, EMDR-C, CCTP II, C-DBT
Senior Therapist
I can't start my day without grounding, a little yoga, and morning meditation.
Marla Sanderson, LMFT-S
Clinical Director
I love reading, science fiction/horror, cooking, crafting, video games, and my two rescue dogs.
Craig Lesley, LPC-A
Supervised by
Laurie Stevens‑Beck, LPC‑SI'm happiest with my dogs, open-water swimming, grilling, and yoga.
Looking for a therapist? We’ll help you find a perfect match.
Matcha is our matching tool. It’s free, there’s nothing to sign up for, and it takes about a minute.
- Narrow by insurance, availability, and how a therapist works
- Save the ones you want to come back to
- Or just describe what you’re going through, and let it find the fit
Uncover Hidden Wounds
Trauma doesn’t always announce itself — it steers thoughts and behaviors from underneath. EMDR starts by identifying the memories still doing the steering. Signs an old experience may still have its hooks in you:
- Overreactions you can’t explain — the response outsizes the moment
- Certain places, sounds, or dates you quietly organize life around
- Nightmares, flashbacks, or intrusive images
- A core belief like “I’m not safe” or “it was my fault” that logic can’t budge
- Numbing out with work, scrolling, or substances
- Feeling on-guard in situations everyone else finds normal
Some of this ring true? Reach out — a short conversation with our team can tell you a lot, with no commitment.
Gently Revisit the Past
Using bilateral stimulation — guided eye movements, taps, or tones — EMDR lets your brain reprocess painful experiences safely. The memory stays; its grip doesn’t. Many people describe it as the event finally filing itself in the past, where it belongs.
Do I have to relive it?
You generally do not need to describe every detail aloud. EMDR does involve bringing a distressing memory to mind, and difficult feelings can arise. Your therapist will explain the process and help you prepare before reprocessing begins.
You stay in control the entire time. Sessions are paced carefully, you can stop at any moment, and we build grounding skills before touching anything painful. Nothing happens without your consent.
Nervous about it? That’s normal. Ask for a call — we’ll walk you through exactly how it works.
Reshape Emotional Responses
Before and during reprocessing, you learn grounding techniques that anchor you firmly in the present — so triggers stop hijacking your nervous system and start becoming information you can work with.
These skills are yours for life, useful far beyond the trauma work itself: in traffic, in conflict, at 3 a.m.
Go deeper on the AMC blog
COMING SOONGrounding Techniques That Work Outside the Therapy Room
Why Trauma Lives in the BodyStrengthen Inner Resilience
As traumatic memories lose their hold, something steadier takes their place: confidence in your own coping. Triggers that used to run your day become manageable — noticed, named, and let go.
How is EMDR different from talk therapy?
EMDR combines attention to a distressing memory with guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation. It usually involves less detailed narration than some other trauma-focused therapies. The pace and length of treatment depend on your needs; EMDR is not automatically faster or the best fit for everyone.
They’re partners, not rivals: many clients do EMDR for the stuck memories inside a broader course of therapy, and your AMC therapist will recommend the mix honestly.
Wondering which fits you? Ask for a call.
Embrace a Brighter Future
The final phase of EMDR installs what trauma stole: positive, true beliefs about yourself. Not affirmations pasted over pain — convictions that hold, because the memories underneath no longer argue back. That’s where a sense of worth and possibility gets reclaimed.
We work with several insurance plans and offer clear self-pay rates — see Rates & Insurance, or get in touch and we’ll check your coverage before you begin.
The EMDR Journey
From first call to memories that stay in the past — here’s the whole arc.
1Reach out
A short, low-pressure conversation about what’s been going on. A few minutes, no commitment — and no details required yet.
2Get matched
Matcha, our custom matching platform, pairs you with an EMDR-trained AMC therapist suited to your history and your pace.
3Build your ground first
Before any memory work, you learn grounding and calming skills — a safety system you can trust, in session and out.
4Reprocess, gently
Bilateral stimulation helps stuck memories finally file themselves as past. You stay in control the whole time.
5A future with room in it
Triggers quiet down, true beliefs about yourself take root, and we say so when the work is done — worth and possibility, reclaimed.
What EMDR at AMC Looks Like
EMDR is a structured eight-phase protocol — here’s what your therapist brings to it.
History & preparation first
We map what needs processing and build your grounding toolkit before going anywhere near it — safety is the protocol, not a preamble.
Bilateral stimulation
Eye movements, taps, or tones — engaging both sides of the brain so stuck memories can finally finish processing.
Mindfulness woven through
Present-moment awareness anchors every phase — and every AMC therapist is also a trained mindfulness teacher.
Beyond single-event trauma
EMDR also helps with anxiety, grief, phobias, and the small-but-corrosive experiences that shaped old beliefs.
Paced by you
Consent at every step, brakes you can pull at any moment, and a therapist watching your window of tolerance the whole way.
Integrated with talk therapy
EMDR can stand alone or slot into broader work — individual counseling and EMDR often make the strongest pair.
Questions about EMDR at AMC
A few practical things to know before reaching out.
What happens before EMDR memory processing begins?
Your therapist starts by learning about your history and goals, explaining EMDR, and helping you develop ways to manage distress. Preparation is part of treatment; you do not need to arrive ready to work on your most difficult memory.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
The timeline depends on your goals, history, and preparation needs. Ask your therapist how you will review progress together and decide whether to continue or adjust the approach.
Can I request a particular EMDR therapist?
Yes. Start with the EMDR therapists on this page, or explore EMDR therapists in Matcha. Availability and fit still need to be confirmed for your appointment.
Which office or appointment format can I choose?
AMC has offices in Northwest Hills and Sunset Valley, plus online therapy in Texas. EMDR options depend on the clinician and your care needs. Tell us your preferred office or format so we can confirm a suitable option.
What does EMDR cost, and can I use insurance?
Visit our rates and insurance page for current practice information. Your fee and coverage depend on the therapist and your plan. Confirm the details for your proposed appointment before starting care.
Learn more about preparation and the treatment process from the National Center for PTSD’s EMDR overview.
Find the right EMDR therapist
Choose whichever way feels easier. Meet our EMDR therapists above and request someone by name.
Or answer a few questions in Matcha, our custom AI-assisted matching tool, and we’ll suggest therapists whose experience and availability may fit your needs.
What our clients are saying about us
The breathing technique, being gentle to myself, and learning to recognize when I am not living in the present moment, among other coping skills my therapist has been teaching me have helped me tremendously with anxiety. She is easy to talk to, gentle, and listens without judgement. I am so thankful I found her and recommend her to everyone.