Three EMDR-Trained Clinicians
EMDR Therapy in Houston
EMDR therapy in Houston for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and the memories that keep intruding on the present. Three EMDR-trained clinicians deliver reprocessing inside a structured outpatient plan at Heights Behavioral Health, so preparation, pacing, and support are never an afterthought.
01Three EMDR-Trained Clinicians
02Trauma-Focused Care
03Inside a Full Treatment Plan
04Private Pay · Superbills
What It Is
What EMDR actually does
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing works on a simple premise: some memories never finished processing. They stay stored with the original images, body sensations, and beliefs attached, which is why an ordinary trigger can produce an overwhelming reaction years later.
In EMDR, you hold a piece of that memory in mind while following a repeated back-and-forth cue, usually eye movements, tapping, or sound. That bilateral stimulation appears to help the brain file the memory properly. The event does not disappear. It stops carrying the same charge.
You are not required to narrate the trauma in detail. For many people that is the difference between starting treatment and avoiding it.
The Evidence
What the research supports
EMDR is recognized as an effective treatment for PTSD by the American Psychological Association, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense clinical practice guidelines, and the World Health Organization. It is among the most studied trauma treatments available.
What the research does not support is a guaranteed timeline. Some people notice change within a handful of sessions. Others, particularly those carrying complex or repeated trauma, need longer and need stabilization work first. Any program that promises you a number before assessing you is guessing.
Who It Helps
Who EMDR tends to help
Single-incident trauma
A crash, an assault, a medical event, or a loss the nervous system has not moved past.
Complex and developmental trauma
Repeated experiences, often beginning in childhood. This usually calls for stabilization before processing.
Trauma underneath addiction
When substance use or compulsive behavior became the coping strategy, the driver has to be addressed.
Panic, phobias, and anxiety
Where a specific event sits underneath the symptom you live with now.
People who have tried talk therapy
Insight without relief often means a memory was discussed but never actually processed.
Grief that will not settle
Particularly sudden or traumatic loss that stays frozen rather than moving.
The Protocol
Inside the EMDR protocol
01
History and Preparation
Mapping target memories and building grounding skills before any processing begins.
02
Bilateral Reprocessing
Eye movements or tapping while holding the memory lightly, so the brain can refile it.
03
Installation
Linking the memory to the belief you want to carry instead of the one trauma wrote.
04
Body Scan and Closure
Checking what the body still holds and ending every session regulated, not raw.
What To Expect
What a session actually looks like
A first EMDR session is not processing. It is history, goals, and building the grounding skills you will use to stay steady. Your clinician will not begin reprocessing until you have somewhere stable to land.
Processing sessions follow a structure: identify the target memory, the belief attached to it, and where you feel it in your body. Then short sets of bilateral stimulation, pausing between each to notice what shifted. Sessions end with grounding so you leave regulated, not raw.
Feeling tired afterward is common. So is material continuing to settle between sessions, which is why EMDR works best inside a program where someone is tracking how your week is actually going.
Take the Next Step
Ready to take trauma off repeat?
One confidential call connects you with admissions and an honest read on whether EMDR fits your situation.
Where It Fits
How this fits into your care
EMDR is available across our levels of care. The right intensity depends on how much support you need between sessions.
In Individualized Intensive Programming, EMDR can be scheduled at higher frequency and paired deliberately with nervous-system work. In PHP and IOP, it runs alongside group and skills work so you are never processing trauma without structure around it.
When the nervous system is too activated to process safely, we often begin with Somatic Experiencing or neurofeedback to build a steadier baseline first. This page sits alongside our trauma and PTSD treatment program.
Who Delivers It
The clinicians behind this work
Three clinicians at Heights Behavioral Health are EMDR trained. All are master’s-level and licensed, and several hold additional trauma credentials including Somatic Experiencing Practitioner status.
Clinical care is led by Joni Ogle, LCSW, CSAT, who has spent 37 years treating trauma and co-occurring conditions.
Common Questions
EMDR, answered
Do you take insurance for EMDR?
Heights Behavioral Health is a private-pay, out-of-network practice. We provide superbills so you can pursue out-of-network reimbursement if your plan offers it, and we can verify your benefits before you commit. See our admissions page.
Will I have to describe my trauma in detail?
No. EMDR does not require detailed narration. You need to be able to bring the memory to mind, but you control how much you say out loud. For many people that is the reason they can begin at all.
How do I know if I am ready for EMDR?
Readiness is a clinical judgment, not a preference. If your nervous system is highly activated, or you are in active withdrawal or crisis, we stabilize first. Beginning processing too early can make things harder, and we will tell you honestly where you are.
How many sessions does EMDR take?
It varies widely. Single-incident trauma can move relatively quickly. Complex trauma takes longer and includes preparation work. We will not quote you a number before an assessment.
Can EMDR be done virtually?
Yes. EMDR can be delivered by telehealth in Texas and many clients do it that way. Whether it suits you depends on your stability and on having a private, uninterrupted space during sessions.
Can I do EMDR while being treated for addiction?
Often yes, and frequently that is the point, because trauma is a common driver of substance use and compulsive behavior. Timing matters, so processing is sequenced against where you are in recovery.
What happens in my first EMDR session?
The first sessions are preparation, not processing. Your clinician takes a full history, explains how EMDR works, and builds grounding and stabilization skills with you. Reprocessing begins only once you have the resources to handle what comes up, which is part of why EMDR at Heights is delivered inside a structured treatment plan.
Contact Admissions
Trauma treatment that does not rush you
One confidential call, an honest assessment, and a plan that says whether EMDR is the right place to start.
Crisis Notice: Heights Behavioral Health is not an emergency service. If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, call 911. If you are in a mental health crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.
