EMDR Therapy for Mental Health Treatment in Atlanta, GA

How Healing Unfolds with EMDR

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a therapy designed to help people struggling with trauma, loss, and other tough experiences.

Clients work with an EMDR practitioner—often someone trained in person-centered or solution-focused methods—to revisit distressing memories. The unique aspect of EMDR is bilateral stimulation, usually through guided eye movements, gentle tapping, or certain sounds.

While focusing on painful memories, guests also receive this stimulation. This process helps the brain process those memories in a healthier way.

Research shows this method can lessen the emotional charge tied to trauma, anxiety, or grief. The healing process unfolds at a steady pace, so people can face difficult emotions without feeling overwhelmed.

Over time, memories once linked to fear or shame lose their grip. EMDR helps people understand and manage reactions to abuse, phobias, depression, and PTSD—especially when other strategies haven’t worked.

Steps in the EMDR Therapeutic Journey

The EMDR treatment model follows eight main phases. Each phase has its own focus and purpose.

1. Information Gathering and Planning: The therapist learns about the person’s background, main challenges, and memories that might need attention. This helps tailor the therapy to the individual’s needs.
   
2. Preparation for EMDR: Education is key here. The practitioner explains how EMDR works and helps the guest build coping skills, like breathing exercises or grounding techniques.
   
3. Target Identification and Assessment: Together, the guest and therapist pick a specific memory to focus on. They examine the image, negative thoughts, emotions, and body sensations linked to it. They also choose a positive belief they’d rather hold.
   
4. Desensitizing the Memory: The guest focuses on the upsetting memory while following bilateral stimulation—eye movements, tapping, or tones. The goal is to lower the emotional intensity of that memory over several rounds.
   
5. Building a Positive Connection: Once the emotional reaction fades, attention shifts to the positive belief. The practitioner uses bilateral stimulation again to help connect this new thought to the memory.
   
6. Body Check: The therapist asks the guest to notice any leftover tension or discomfort in their body. Any sensations that come up are worked through with more bilateral stimulation.
   
7. Wrapping Up Each Session: To close, the practitioner makes sure the guest feels calm and safe. If needed, they review extra coping strategies to support stability between sessions.
   
8. Checking Progress: At the start of the next session, the therapist and guest revisit the target memory or explore new concerns. They work together to make sure healing lasts.

EMDR’s Part in Supporting Mental Wellness

EMDR therapy can help with a wide range of mental health issues—from PTSD and trauma to panic or depression related to loss. It works in individual, family, and group settings, often alongside other approaches like psychodynamic psychotherapy.

People who’ve lived through abuse, sudden loss, or big life transitions sometimes find relief from disturbing thoughts and feelings by reprocessing old experiences with EMDR. This therapy is often chosen when traditional methods just don’t cut it, especially for PTSD or ongoing trauma.

Along with lowering anxiety, panic, or depression, EMDR helps guests build stronger coping skills and self-confidence. People develop more helpful beliefs about themselves by changing how memories are stored.

Some reasons people seek EMDR:

• Struggling with negative self-esteem or self-criticism  
• Overcoming effects of childhood trauma or abuse  
• Adapting to major life changes, like divorce or bereavement  
• Managing phobias and intense fears  
• Looking for new ways to handle grief or loss  

EMDR therapy is flexible and evidence-based, and guests can benefit when they need help with trauma or stressful events. 

Focusing on memory and emotion makes EMDR a different kind of therapy. Many find it brings hope for a better quality of life by addressing the root causes of distress.

Conditions We Treat Using EMDR Therapy

EMDR therapy addresses a variety of mental health challenges. Some of the main conditions include:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Helps people affected by trauma, like accidents, abuse, or combat.  
• Anxiety Disorders: Useful for those with social anxiety, constant worry, or panic attacks.  
• Depression: Supports individuals dealing with lasting sadness or loss of interest.  
• Phobias: Assists in managing strong fears that can limit daily life.  
• Grief and Loss: Provides relief to those coping with emotional pain after losing a loved one.  
• Performance Anxiety: Beneficial for sports, work, or public speaking, and stress.  
• Chronic Pain and Medical Issues: Can lessen emotional distress tied to ongoing health problems.

Our Treatment Programs

We offer a variety of treatment programs for EMDR therapy, designed to fit different needs and lifestyles.

• Detox Program: Supports people as they manage withdrawal symptoms under medical supervision.
  
• Inpatient Program: 24-hour support in a residential setting, focusing on stabilization and intensive therapy.
  
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): Structured therapy during the day, with guests returning home at night.
  
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Several weekly therapy sessions, but with a lighter time commitment than PHP.
  
• Evening IOP: Flexible scheduling, often after work hours.
  
• Outpatient Program: For those needing less intensive care, with therapy visits a few times per week.
  
• Dual Diagnosis Program: For those dealing with both mental health and substance use challenges at the same time.

These options may include EMDR as a core therapy for trauma recovery. We focus on using EMDR in various programs to address PTSD, anxiety, and other challenges.

Each level of care can be adjusted to meet a person’s unique needs and support recovery step by step.

Why Select Thoroughbred Wellness and Recovery for EMDR Therapy?

Helping Families Through the Healing Journey

Families face unique challenges when a loved one struggles with trauma, addiction, or mental health issues. Thoroughbred Wellness and Recovery values family involvement in the recovery process.

We offer educational sessions, support groups, and therapy designed for families. Through these services, families learn to set healthy boundaries, improve communication, and support positive changes.

Therapy helps families repair trust and strengthen relationships strained by addiction or trauma. Open dialogue and guided sessions foster better communication skills, giving families new tools for connection and support.

Involvement in family-focused care is linked to stronger, longer-lasting outcomes for everyone.

Our Commitment to Quality and Whole-Person Care

Thoroughbred Wellness and Recovery’s philosophy centers on outstanding care guided by high professional standards. Our team includes medical directors certified in addiction medicine, licensed clinical social workers, experienced counselors, and trauma therapy experts.

Every team member is licensed in Georgia and participates in regular training to stay current in mental health and addiction treatment.

Treatment at Thoroughbred takes a well-rounded approach. Clients are offered:

• EMDR therapy with experienced clinicians  
• One-on-one sessions for personal growth  
• Group therapy to build community and reduce isolation  
• Tools for navigating sensitive issues, like sex therapy and parenting challenges  

Each care plan reflects the guest’s unique needs and goals. Attention to therapeutic relationships ensures everyone receives respectful, individualized care.

Look to Your Future

Taking steps toward better mental health can open doors to personal growth and stronger emotional well-being. Exploring new therapies like EMDR may help people find ways to heal from past experiences.