Your Healing Journey Begins with Asking the Right Questions

Following that last post, I realized there isn’t much online discussion about what it's like to start therapy, especially when it’s intensive therapy like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). You’ll want to ensure that you’re working with a therapist who is an EMDR specialist and is appropriately trained, experienced, and in sync with your healing goals. But with EMDR therapy, how do you know what to ask before taking the plunge and allowing yourself to experience this potentially life-changing technique? In this guide, we’ll take you through what to ask when looking for an EMDR therapy provider, so you can feel empowered, informed, and prepared as you try EMDR and take those first steps towards healing.

What, Exactly, Is EMDR Therapy — and Why Does It Require Such Specialized Training?

EMDR therapy is an eight-phase, reparation-oriented treatment approach that was developed to help individuals process traumatic experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (like eye movements or taps) to allow for deep emotional healing to take place without the requirement to verbalize details of traumatic events. Because EMDR is such a specialized treatment, it’s essential to work with a professionally accredited and EMDR-trained therapist who knows how to guide you safely through the process.

What to Ask About Training and Credentials

Before beginning EMDR therapy, confirming that the practitioner has the proper training and background is essential. Start by asking:

Has an EMDRIA-approved program trained you?

EMDRIA (the EMDR International Association) establishes the gold standard for training. A certified EMDR practitioner should have completed an EMDRIA-approved training, typically a class that includes readings, supervised practice, and consultation hours.

Are You Licensed to Practice Therapy in My State?

EMDR therapy should be conducted only by licensed mental health professionals, such as psychologists, licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), licensed professional counselors (LPCs), marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), or psychiatrists.

Are You EMDRIA-Certified?

EMDRIA certification is not necessary, but it indicates a specialization level. This means that the therapist completed more consultation hours and case evaluations and met competencies beyond those required in basic training.

How many years have you been practicing EMDR?

Experience matters. A person who’s fresh out of training can still be very good, but inquiring about years of practice (or how EMDR figures into their work) can help you assess their level of experience.

The EMDR Therapy Process (Potential) FAQs

Learning how such EMDR sessions work can help set realistic expectations.

Questions You Should Ask Potential Therapists:

What Does an EMDR Session Look Like?

An EMDR specialist therapist will establish the eight phases of treatment, which involve history taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation of positive beliefs, body scan, closure, and re-evaluation.

How Do You Decide Which Memories to Go After?

Inquire about how the therapist chooses the specific memories or events to process with you. And a good provider will tell you that you can explore whatever you'd like (and when).

How do you help clients stay emotionally stable during sessions?

Because EMDR can elicit intense emotions, it’s also important to know that the therapist will teach you grounding techniques, such as visualization or deep breathing, and have a solid plan for emotional stabilization.

What if I get lost or feel overwhelmed during the process?

An EMDR provider who flexibly uses EMDR will outline contingency plans for stuck points or dissociation, such as slowing the pace down, changing the technique, or returning to an earlier preparation stage.

Questions Related to Experience with Different Types of Trauma

Different traumas require different techniques. Consider asking:

Have You Worked with My Kind of Injury?

Whether the support you need is for childhood abuse, combat trauma, sexual assault, or complex PTSD, it’s critical to have someone knowledgeable about the idiosyncrasies of your experiences.

What Kinds of Results Have Clients gotten from EMDR?

In a way that doesn’t violate the privacy of past clients, an experienced therapist can offer specific examples of how EMDR has helped others on their healing journey, reassuring them that what the client is experiencing is normal and accurate.

Logistical and Treatment Fit of Therapy

Credentials are only as necessary as the realities and dynamics of a relationship. Make sure to ask:

How Many Sessions of EMDR Will I Need, And How Often Would I See You?

Sessions can be time-limited, usually lasting 50 minutes to 90 minutes. Some therapists offer longer sessions to facilitate more in-depth processing. Knowing the logistics will allow you to create a plan.

How Many EMDR Sessions are There Usually?

Every person is different. You were right in looking for an EMDR specialist, and they should have informed you that “simple” traumas may go away after 6-12 visits, but c-PTSD may take a while longer.

Do You Take Insurance, or What Are Your Fees?

Cost transparency matters. Find out about “payment policies, out-of-pocket costs, and, if relevant, any opportunity to seek insurance reimbursement,” the commission recommends.

What are the first few sessions like?

The first few meetings might include taking a history, building rapport, and preparing for memory work. A good therapist will clarify pacing and how progress will be tracked over time.

Questions to Consider: Questions For Review

Few things help to form a person's character more than their close friendships.... And, should you want to delve even deeper, try:

How Do You Process New Traumas That Arise in Treatment?

Occasionally, a memory or emotion you weren’t consciously thinking of will float to the surface. Ask how the therapist supports you in safely processing unexpected material.

EMDR Progress: What Are the Measurements or ‘Indicators’ of it?

Some EMDR therapists use Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD) and Validity of Cognition (VOC) scales as symptom reduction and progress information for belief strengthening.

Can you tailor EMDR to my specific needs?

Good therapists understand that every client is different. They can adjust the pacing and techniques (e.g., using taps instead of eye movements) and add other therapies when necessary.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

Not all therapists advertising EMDR are qualified. Watch for these red flags:

• People who say they “do EMDR” who you realize didn’t receive any formal training
• Therapists who don’t respect the complexity of recovery from traumatic experiences, or who promise fast fixes
• Absence of organised treatment schedules
• Nothing about handling safely, not even in preps, Sundays. You deserve a healer for whom the process and your safety are sacred.

Final Takeaway: Ask the Right Questions to Empower Yourself

Opting to begin EMDR therapy is a brave and strong choice. With the right questions, you will be guided by an EMDR therapist who meets your needs with competence, compassion, and care. You regain control in the healing process by comprehensively pre-interviewing your therapist before you start. Trust your gut, be direct with your queries, and remember this: you deserve a guide who handles your story with the dignity and expertise it deserves.

Would you be ready to start?

Refer to credible directories such as Counselor. Fit network or Psychology Today to locate a licensed, EMDR-trained provider near you.