What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps your brain reprocess distressing memories so they lose their emotional charge and stop intruding on your present-day life. Rather than asking you to talk through every detail of what happened, EMDR uses brief sets of guided eye movements (or other forms of gentle left-right, or bilateral, stimulation) while you hold a difficult memory in mind. This process helps the memory move from feeling raw and “stuck” to feeling settled and part of your past.
At Bergen Counseling Collective in Ravenswood, Chicago, EMDR is offered by Laura Volpe, LPC, who completed EMDR training through an EMDRIA-approved program. We offer EMDR in person at our Ravenswood office and through telehealth across Illinois.
At a Glance
- Who it helps: Adults working through trauma, PTSD, anxiety, panic, grief, and painful memories that keep resurfacing
- What it is: A structured, eight-phase, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories
- Your EMDR therapist: Laura Volpe, LPC, NCC — trained through an EMDRIA-approved program
- Settings: In person at our Ravenswood office, or telehealth throughout Illinois
- Insurance: BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, UBH/Optum PPO, plus HSA/FSA and out-of-network superbills
- First step: Free 15-minute consultation
You Don’t Have to Relive It to Heal From It
One of the most common reasons people avoid trauma therapy is the fear of having to describe painful experiences in detail, over and over. EMDR works differently. It is built on the understanding that healing does not require reliving what happened. It requires helping your brain finish processing it.
When something overwhelming happens, the brain can store the memory in a fragmented, unprocessed way. Instead of being filed as “something that happened in the past,” it stays vivid and close, ready to be triggered by a sound, a smell, a situation, or a feeling. That is why a memory from years ago can suddenly flood your body with the same fear, shame, or panic you felt at the time. These reactions are not a sign of weakness or of failing to “move on.” They are a sign that your nervous system is still holding something it never had the chance to resolve.
EMDR gives the brain the conditions it needs to reprocess those memories safely. As you briefly recall a difficult experience while following your therapist’s guidance, the memory begins to lose its grip. What remains is the fact of what happened, without the overwhelming emotional and physical charge that came with it. Many people describe the shift as the memory finally feeling “far away” or “smaller.”
How EMDR Works: The Eight Phases
EMDR follows a structured, eight-phase protocol. You never move faster than you are ready to, and much of the early work is about building safety and trust before any reprocessing begins.
- History and treatment planning. Your therapist gets to know your history, your goals, and the experiences you want to work on and identifies which memories to target.
- Preparation. You learn grounding and self-soothing skills so you can stay regulated during and between sessions. This phase alone often brings a sense of relief and control.
- Assessment. Together you identify a specific memory, the negative belief attached to it (for example, “I’m not safe” or “It was my fault”), and the positive belief you’d like to hold instead.
- Desensitization. While you briefly hold the memory in mind, your therapist guides you through sets of bilateral stimulation. The distress connected to the memory gradually decreases.
- Installation. The new, positive belief is strengthened and linked to the memory.
- Body scan. You notice where tension or distress may still live in the body, and reprocess anything that remains because trauma is held in the body, not only the mind.
- Closure. Every session ends with you feeling grounded and stable, whether or not the memory is fully reprocessed.
- Reevaluation. At the next session, you and your therapist check what has shifted and decide where to go next.
What EMDR Can Help With
EMDR was originally developed for post-traumatic stress, and the research base there is strongest, but it is used effectively for a wide range of concerns rooted in distressing life experiences.
- PTSD and trauma. Single-incident trauma, complex trauma, childhood trauma, abuse, and accidents. EMDR is one of the most well-researched trauma treatments available and pairs naturally with our trauma therapy work.
- Anxiety and panic. When anxiety or social anxiety is anchored to specific past experiences, reprocessing those experiences can reduce the fear that keeps getting triggered in the present.
- Grief and loss. EMDR can help when grief becomes complicated or “stuck” around a particular painful memory or image.
- Depression. For depression rooted in past experiences, self-critical beliefs, or unresolved loss, EMDR can help loosen the memories that reinforce those patterns.
- Distressing memories and self-critical beliefs. Experiences that left you feeling not good enough, unsafe, or ashamed, even ones you might not label as “trauma.”
- Performance and confidence blocks. EMDR is also used to reduce anxiety tied to specific situations and to strengthen a sense of steadiness and self-trust.
If you’re not sure whether EMDR is the right fit, that’s exactly what a free consultation is for.
Meet Your EMDR Therapist
EMDR at Bergen Counseling Collective is provided by Laura Volpe, LPC, NCC, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor who completed her EMDR training through an EMDRIA-approved program. Laura holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and brings deep experience in trauma-informed care, including work as a sexual assault therapist and medical advocate supporting survivors of interpersonal violence.
Laura’s approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based, trauma-informed care. Alongside EMDR, she draws from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), attachment-based and relational approaches, and somatic-informed interventions tailoring the work to what each client needs. She has experience supporting adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, identity-related stressors, and life transitions, and she is committed to culturally responsive, affirming care.
You can read more about Laura on her bio page or meet our full team.
What to Expect
Starting EMDR does not mean diving straight into your hardest memories. Your first sessions focus on getting to know each other, understanding your history and goals, and building the grounding skills that make reprocessing safe and effective. Only when you feel ready, and have the tools to stay steady, do you begin the reprocessing work.
During reprocessing, you’ll briefly bring a target memory to mind while following your therapist’s guidance through sets of bilateral stimulation. Between sets, you simply notice whatever comes up — thoughts, images, feelings, or sensations. There’s no right or wrong response, and you remain in control the entire time. Every session ends with grounding, so you leave feeling settled rather than stirred up.
Progress isn’t always linear, and some memories reprocess more quickly than others. Some people notice meaningful shifts within a handful of sessions; others, particularly those working through complex or developmental trauma, benefit from longer, phased work. Your therapist will regularly check in on what’s changing and adjust the plan with you.
EMDR Alongside Other Approaches
EMDR is powerful, and it’s often even more effective as part of a broader, integrative plan. Depending on your needs, EMDR may be woven together with talk therapy, somatic and attachment-focused work, or the Internal Family Systems approach our practice uses in trauma treatment. Because Laura also works from CBT, ACT, and relational frameworks, your care can flex as you move from stabilization to reprocessing to integration. EMDR complements ongoing individual therapy rather than replacing it.
In-Person and Online EMDR
We offer EMDR both in person at our Ravenswood office and through secure telehealth across Illinois. EMDR can be delivered effectively online using on-screen or self-administered bilateral stimulation, and many clients appreciate being able to reprocess from a private, comfortable space of their own. If you’re weighing the options, our guide to choosing between in-person or online therapy can help. For telehealth EMDR, your therapist will help you set up a private space and grounding plan so sessions feel safe and contained.
Insurance and Cost
We’re in-network with BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, and UBH/Optum PPO, and we accept HSA/FSA payments and self-pay. If you have a different plan, you may be able to use out-of-network benefits — we provide superbills you can submit for potential reimbursement. Our team is happy to help you understand your coverage before you begin. You can find full details on our insurance and fees page. (Please note we do not accept Medicare or Medicaid.)
Serving Ravenswood and Chicago’s North Side
Bergen Counseling Collective provides EMDR therapy from our office in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago, serving clients across the North Side — including Lincoln Square, Andersonville, North Center, Uptown, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, and Edgewater — as well as the wider city and all of Illinois via telehealth. Our office at 4525 N Ravenswood Ave, Suite 202 is between Wilson and Montrose in the 60640 zip code, about a six-minute walk from the Damen Brown Line station, with free street parking on Ravenswood Avenue and surrounding side streets.
Take the First Step
You don’t need to have everything figured out, or be able to describe exactly what’s wrong, before reaching out. If painful memories, anxiety, or trauma are shaping your present in ways you’re ready to change, EMDR may help. To find out whether it’s the right fit, schedule a free 15-minute consultation or call our office at (312) 870-0500. We’ll listen, answer your questions, and help you take the next step at your own pace.
Reviewed by Jeremiah Bergen, MS, LCPC · Illinois LCPC License #180.007358 · Last clinically reviewed: July 2026
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR
What does EMDR stand for? EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer carry the same emotional intensity.
Is EMDR evidence-based? Yes. EMDR is recognized by major health organizations as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress and is supported by a substantial body of research. It’s also used for anxiety, grief, depression, and other concerns connected to distressing experiences.
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail during EMDR? No. One of the things that sets EMDR apart is that it doesn’t require you to describe every detail of what happened. You hold a memory in mind while your therapist guides the reprocessing — but you control what you share and how much you say.
How many EMDR sessions will I need? It varies. A single, recent distressing event might reprocess in a handful of sessions, while complex or long-standing trauma usually calls for longer, phased work. Your therapist will discuss a realistic timeline with you and adjust as you go.
Can EMDR be done online? Yes. We offer EMDR through secure telehealth across Illinois using online bilateral stimulation. With a private space and a grounding plan, online EMDR can be just as effective as in-person sessions for many people.
Is EMDR safe? Will it be overwhelming? EMDR is designed to keep you regulated and in control. The early phases focus entirely on building safety and coping skills before any reprocessing begins, and every session ends with grounding so you leave feeling settled. You never move faster than you’re ready to.
Who provides EMDR at Bergen Counseling Collective? EMDR is provided by Laura Volpe, LPC, NCC, who completed her EMDR training through an EMDRIA-approved program and specializes in trauma-informed care.
Does insurance cover EMDR therapy? EMDR is billed as standard psychotherapy, so it’s typically covered like any other therapy session. We’re in-network with BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, Cigna PPO, and UBH/Optum PPO, and we provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement. See our insurance and fees page for details.