EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured trauma therapy that helps the brain finish processing memories that stayed stuck, so they stop triggering panic, flashbacks and the body's alarm response. At Taproot Therapy Collective, six EMDR-trained psychotherapists offer it at our Hoover office off I-65 at the Riverchase exit and by secure video anywhere in Alabama. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama is accepted for most clinicians.
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in 1987 and follows an eight-phase protocol. While you briefly hold a distressing memory in mind, the therapist guides bilateral stimulation, usually eye movements, taps or alternating tones. That split attention lets the brain reprocess the memory so it is stored as something that happened rather than something still happening. EMDR is recommended for PTSD by the American Psychological Association and the VA National Center for PTSD, and the EMDR International Association sets the training standard our therapists follow.
Who is EMDR for?
EMDR is our first choice for single-incident trauma: a car accident, an assault, a medical event, a sudden death. It works well for panic and anxiety with a clear origin, for PTSD in veterans and first responders, and for phobias. It also treats complex trauma, though for developmental trauma we often begin with Brainspotting or somatic therapy and add EMDR once your nervous system can tolerate it.
What happens in an EMDR session at Taproot?
The first sessions are history and resourcing: building the calm, grounded state you'll return to between sets. Then processing begins. You won't narrate the trauma in detail. You hold the image, the belief and the body sensation while the therapist runs sets of bilateral stimulation and checks in. Sessions run 50 to 80 minutes. Over video we use an on-screen light bar or self-tapping, and the results are comparable to the office.
How long does EMDR take?
Single-incident trauma often resolves in six to twelve sessions. Complex trauma is longer, usually months rather than weeks, and we tell you which you're looking at after the intake.
How it works at Taproot
- 1Free 15-minute intake call
You describe what's going on; our coordinator matches you with an EMDR-trained therapist.
- 2History and resourcing
One to three sessions building the grounded state you'll return to between sets, and choosing targets.
- 3Processing sessions
Sets of bilateral stimulation on each target until the memory loses its charge, 50 to 80 minutes each.
- 4Review and close
Re-check every target, install the new belief, and plan what, if anything, comes next.
How EMDR compares to the other trauma methods at Taproot
| EMDR | Brainspotting | Somatic Experiencing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Single-incident trauma, panic, phobias, PTSD with a clear origin | Complex and developmental trauma, clients EMDR overwhelms | Freeze, shock trauma, chronic anxiety in the body |
| How it works | Eight-phase protocol with moving eyes, taps or tones | Fixed eye position with focused attention | Tracking sensation with titration and pendulation |
| Session feel | Structured, active, therapist-led | Quiet, open, client-led | Slow, body-focused |
| Online? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Typical length | 6 to 12 sessions for one event | Months for complex trauma | 8 to 15 sessions for one event |
Is emdr therapy right for me? A 30-second check
EMDR therapists in Hoover
EMDR with Brainspotting and Emotional Transformation Therapy for complex trauma and religious deconstruction.
EMDR and Lifespan Integration for severe PTSD and traumatic grief, for clients who have already done years of therapy.
EMDR for military sexual trauma, first responders, brain injury and healthcare burnout.
EMDR and Brainspotting for attachment wounds and addiction recovery.
EMDR with dissociative disorders and religious abuse.
EMDR by teletherapy for complex PTSD and chronic illness.
Cost, insurance and teletherapy
We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama for most clinicians. Private-pay and out-of-network sessions are $250, with an income-based sliding scale, and we send a monthly superbill with the codes your insurer needs for out-of-network reimbursement. Secure video sessions are available anywhere in Alabama on the same sliding scale.
A look inside Taproot
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to describe my trauma in detail for EMDR to work?
No. EMDR needs a target image, the belief attached to it and where you feel it in your body. You don't retell the story, and you can process a memory without saying its details out loud.
Does EMDR work over video?
Yes. Over secure video we use an on-screen light bar or self-tapping for the bilateral stimulation. Most of our teletherapy clients across Alabama do EMDR this way, and outcomes match the office.
Should I choose EMDR or Brainspotting?
EMDR is structured and works best when the trauma has a clear starting point. Brainspotting is slower and more open-ended and tends to be better for developmental or complex trauma that the EMDR protocol can overwhelm. Your intake call sorts this out, and several of our therapists do both.
Is EMDR safe if I dissociate?
Yes, with pacing. We spend longer on resourcing and use shorter sets so you stay present. Alice Hawley and Marie Danner specialize in EMDR with dissociative clients.
Start EMDR in Hoover or online
Your first call is a free 15-minute conversation with our intake coordinator, who matches you with the right clinician. Our office is off I-65 at the Riverchase exit in Hoover, about ten minutes from Vestavia Hills, Homewood and Mountain Brook and fifteen from downtown Birmingham, with free parking at the door.
Book onlineCall (205) 598-6471