EMDR THERAPY FOR TEENS, CHILDREN, AND TWEENS
Building resilience, one step at a time.
Your child can heal, grow, and feel strong again after adolescent trauma.
Watching your child struggle with overwhelming emotions or traumatic memories can be heartbreaking. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful, research-backed therapy that helps children and tweens process and heal from traumatic experiences, including adolescent trauma. EMDR treatment is effective in addressing various forms of trauma in young individuals. An EMDR therapist plays a crucial role in the initial assessment and treatment planning, ensuring that the therapy is tailored to the child's specific needs. You want them to feel safe, confident, and free from the fears that seem to hold them back. At Reflect Therapy, we work with your child to help them face their fears and develop the emotional tools they need to thrive. Our goal is to guide them on their brave journey towards emotional resilience and growth. Together, we’ll unlock the strength they didn’t know they had.
You’re tired of seeing them:
stuck in fear and anxiety
reliving painful memories
struggling to trust or connect
holding back from activities they love
feeling overwhelmed by emotions
EMDR therapy equips children with coping skills to manage their emotions and fears effectively. EMDR therapists play a crucial role in understanding a teen's trauma history to tailor effective treatment, ensuring the therapy is personalized to their specific needs.
how WE can help
Helping your child from post traumatic stress disorder from the inside out.
EMDR is a unique approach that helps children and tweens process traumatic or difficult experiences in a safe and supportive environment. Through guided eye movements, we help their brain naturally reprocess distressing memories, reducing the emotional charge and helping them feel more at peace. During EMDR sessions, children focus on difficult emotions and body sensations while processing traumatic memories. Clients also identify a positive belief related to their traumatic memories and focus on it during the therapy sessions. An EMDR session consists of eight phases designed to help clients process traumatic memories, with the duration and frequency tailored to individual needs. This isn’t just about talking—it’s about giving them the tools to handle future challenges with courage and confidence. Our role is to guide them through this process, helping them understand their feelings, build resilience, and gain confidence in their ability to handle life’s ups and downs.
We know how important it is for your child to feel comfortable and supported. At Reflect Therapy, we create a safe, approachable space where they can open up and begin their healing journey. Together, we’ll help your child take brave steps toward emotional wellness.
imagine if youR CHILD…
Felt stronger and more in control of emotions
Could engage in life without fear holding them back
Began to trust themselves and others again
FAQs
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is a specialized form of psychotherapy designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic memories. Developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR therapy has gained widespread recognition for its effectiveness in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related conditions. The therapy involves recalling traumatic experiences while engaging in physical stimulation, such as guided eye movements or tapping. The number and type of traumatic events can influence the duration and intensity of EMDR therapy sessions, with those experiencing multiple traumatic incidents often requiring more extensive treatment. This process helps the brain reprocess and reduce the distressing effects of traumatic memories, allowing individuals to move forward with less emotional burden.
How did EMDR start?
EMDR was first introduced by Francine Shapiro in 1987. Initially met with skepticism, the therapy has since undergone significant development and refinement. Over the years, numerous studies have demonstrated its efficacy in treating PTSD and other trauma-related conditions. Today, EMDR is recognized as a best practice by the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, and other reputable organizations. This recognition underscores the therapy’s credibility and its role in helping individuals, including children and tweens, heal from traumatic experiences.
What’s the science behind EMDR?
EMDR therapy works by reprocessing traumatic memories and reducing their distressing effects. When a child experiences a traumatic event, the memory of that event can become “stuck” in their brain, leading to ongoing distress and negative feelings. EMDR helps to reconsolidate these traumatic memories, making them less overwhelming and distressing. The therapy involves distracting the brain’s focus on the traumatic memory through guided eye movements or tapping, which stimulates the brain’s natural processing mechanisms. This process allows the brain to reprocess the traumatic memory in a less distressing way, helping the child to feel more at peace and better equipped to handle future challenges.
By understanding the science behind EMDR, parents can feel more confident in the therapy’s ability to help their child heal from traumatic stress and build resilience.
What’s EMDR like for adolescents?
EMDR therapy is particularly effective for adolescents as it is tailored to their unique experiences and needs. Adolescence is a critical period of development, marked by significant physical, emotional, and social changes. EMDR therapy acknowledges these changes and adapts to the individual’s needs, making it an ideal approach for this age group. By addressing the specific challenges and concerns of adolescents, EMDR therapy can help them navigate this complex phase of life and develop the skills and resilience needed to overcome traumatic experiences.
Is EMDR developmentally appropriate for teens?
EMDR therapy is developmentally appropriate for adolescents, taking into account their cognitive, emotional, and social development. The therapy is designed to meet the unique needs of this age group, acknowledging their limited ability to verbalize their emotions and experiences. EMDR therapy uses a non-verbal approach, incorporating eye movements, tapping, or other forms of bilateral stimulation, which can be particularly effective for adolescents who may struggle with verbal expression. This approach allows adolescents to process and integrate traumatic memories in a way that is both comfortable and effective.
What conditions are EMDR appropriate for?
EMDR therapy is a versatile approach that can be used to treat a wide range of mental health conditions, including:
Traumatic memories and other mental health conditions
EMDR therapy is commonly used to treat traumatic memories and other mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and complex trauma. By reprocessing traumatic memories and reducing their distressing effects, EMDR therapy can help individuals overcome the negative impact of traumatic experiences and develop a more positive and resilient mindset.
Adolescent depression
EMDR therapy has been shown to be effective in treating adolescent depression, particularly when combined with other forms of therapy. By addressing the underlying traumatic experiences and negative beliefs that contribute to depression, EMDR therapy can help adolescents develop more positive coping skills and improve their overall mental health.
Anxiety and ADHD
EMDR therapy can also be used to treat anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents. By reducing the distressing effects of traumatic memories and promoting more adaptive coping skills, EMDR therapy can help adolescents manage their anxiety and improve their focus and concentration. Additionally, EMDR therapy can help adolescents with ADHD develop more effective strategies for managing their symptoms and improving their overall functioning.
WE want you to know:
Healing is possible with EMDR therapy, even for the toughest wounds.
Together, we’ll help your child take brave steps toward emotional wellness. During EMDR therapy, we focus on transforming harmful thought patterns into positive beliefs, which helps reframe traumatic experiences and reinforces a positive self-view.