EMDR therapy for Northwest Arkansas and Central Arkansas.
If you are looking for EMDR therapy in Northwest or Central Arkansas, our licensed clinicians offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in person at our Fayetteville, Bentonville, and North Little Rock offices, plus telehealth across Arkansas and Missouri. EMDR is an evidence based therapy that helps your brain process traumatic memories so they no longer trigger overwhelming emotional or physical reactions. Sessions typically run 60 to 90 minutes. Most clients see meaningful change within 6 to 12 sessions, though complex trauma may require longer. We use the standard 8 phase EMDR protocol developed by Francine Shapiro.
Arkansas Counseling and Wellness Services offers EMDR therapy at three offices: Fayetteville (4241 Gabel Dr., Suite 2B), Bentonville (2703 SE G St., Suite 1), and North Little Rock (4702 W. Commercial Dr., Suite B3). Our clinical team includes EMDR-trained Licensed Professional Counselors plus owner Dr. Kristy Burton, PhD, LPC-S, AADC, MAC, CS, SAP, NCC, TA, who is also Brainspotting certified. Free 15-minute consultation. Call 501-464-2926 or email scheduling@arcounselingandwellness.com.
What is EMDR therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR, is a structured eight-phase psychotherapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987. It uses bilateral stimulation, typically guided eye movements, to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories that remain "stuck" in the nervous system. Decades of research support EMDR for post-traumatic stress disorder, complex trauma, panic disorder, phobias, grief, and performance anxiety.
Who does EMDR help?
EMDR is well-suited for adults and adolescents whose distress traces to specific events: a car accident, an assault, a medical emergency, the death of a loved one, military deployment, childhood adverse experiences, or chronic emotional or sexual abuse. EMDR also works for clients who have spent years in talk therapy yet still feel emotionally activated by triggers connected to the original event.
How does a course of EMDR work at our practice?
Phase one and two cover history, treatment planning, and stabilization tools that you can use between sessions. Phase three through six are the active reprocessing phases where target memories are addressed with bilateral stimulation. Phase seven and eight handle closure and reevaluation. A typical course runs eight to twelve sessions, though complex trauma cases run longer with the consent of the client.
EMDR plus our other trauma modalities
Some clients benefit from EMDR combined with Brainspotting (developed by David Grand from EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), or Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) for adoption and attachment work. Your clinician will recommend the modality, or combination of modalities, that fits your goals.
EMDR FAQ
Arkansas Counseling and Wellness Services offers EMDR at our Fayetteville (4241 Gabel Dr., Suite 2B) and Bentonville (2703 SE G St., Suite 1) offices, with EMDR-trained clinicians on staff. We also serve Central Arkansas at our North Little Rock office and across the state through HIPAA-compliant telehealth. Call 501-464-2926 for a free 15-minute consultation.
Most major Arkansas insurance plans we accept will cover EMDR when delivered by a licensed counselor for a covered diagnosis. We verify your specific benefits before your first appointment.
Yes, EMDR can be delivered via secure telehealth using bilateral stimulation tools that work over video. Initial intake sessions are typically in-person when possible.
Regular talk therapy focuses on understanding patterns and learning coping skills. EMDR specifically targets the unprocessed memory networks that drive symptoms, using bilateral stimulation to help the brain integrate the experience. Many clients who have plateaued in talk therapy find rapid movement once EMDR begins.
Yes, with careful pacing and a clinician trained in complex trauma. Phase one and two stabilization is essential for complex cases, and we never push past your window of tolerance.
Free 15-minute consultation.
No obligation. Talk through what you need and whether we are the right fit.