EMDR Therapy in Seattle
Start to feel lighter.
Some experiences stay with you in ways that feel heavy, confusing, or hard to shake. You may have tried talking through them, and it helped some, but something still feels stuck in your body or your reactions.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy that helps your brain and nervous system process past experiences so they stop running the show.
We usually have immediate availability.
FLEXIBLE ACCESS
In-office in Seattle, or telehealth in WA
WHO WE HELP
Individuals, couples, families, and teens.
AVAILABILITY
Immediate openings
M-F, 7am-8pm
INSURANCE
Premera, Lifewise,
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Does this sound familiar?
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Certain memories still feel as intense as when they happened
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You avoid places, people, or situations that remind you of something painful
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Anxiety or emotional reactions seem out of proportion to what's actually happening
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You feel on edge, heavy, or shut down without always knowing why
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Patterns in your thinking or relationships keep repeating, even when you can see them
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You've talked about it in therapy before, and it helped, but something still feels unresolved
You’re not broken. Your brain is doing what it evolved to do with difficult experiences. EMDR helps you move through these experiences.
In-person therapy in Seattle
Our Green Lake office provides a calm, private environment for EMDR sessions. Having a safe physical space can make it easier to settle into the deeper processing work.
Online therapy in Washington
EMDR works well over telehealth. You can attend from a quiet space at home, which can make it easier to decompress after a session. No commute or added stress before or after.
Meet your EMDR therapist
Allison Hannigan (MS, LMFTA) is a warm, curiosity-driven therapist trained in EMDR, Lifespan Integration, Gottman Method, and Internal Family Systems. Allison's work is rooted in attachment theory and guided by an LGBTQ+ affirming, multicultural lens. Her approach to EMDR is collaborative and grounded in trust: she offers guidance while honoring your mind and body's ability to lead the healing process.
What EMDR therapy looks like here
Your therapist will get to know you, your history, and what brought you in. Together you will talk about what you are experiencing now and what you are hoping to change. From there, you will decide if EMDR makes sense for your goals.
Before any processing begins, your therapist will help you build skills to manage difficult emotions and feel grounded. Preparation and safety are essential parts of the work.
When you are ready, your therapist will guide you through the EMDR process. This may involve focusing on a specific memory or experience while your therapist uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or tapping. Throughout the session, your therapist checks in to see how the emotional experience of the memory is shifting.
You stay in control the entire time. You set the pace, and you can pause or slow down whenever you need to. Most clients meet weekly, and your therapist will talk with you about a rhythm that fits.
Reasons people come to us for EMDR
People seek EMDR therapy for a range of experiences, including:
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Trauma from a specific event, such as an accident, assault, or loss
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A collection of smaller, painful experiences that built up over time
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Anxiety, hypervigilance, or a nervous system that feels stuck on high alert
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Negative beliefs about yourself that started in childhood or difficult relationships
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Emotional reactions that feel bigger than the moment calls for
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Grief or loss that still feels unresolved
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Feeling disconnected from yourself or others after difficult experiences
You do not need a PTSD diagnosis to benefit from EMDR. If past experiences are still shaping how you feel, think, or relate to yourself and others, EMDR may help.
Our space
For those interested in in-person sessions, our nine therapy offices offer a comfortable and safe space, conveniently located at the north end of Greenlake. Parking is available in our building's garage.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps your brain and nervous system process past experiences that may still be affecting you. Whether it is a specific difficult memory or a collection of experiences over time, EMDR can help those events feel less overwhelming, shift negative self-beliefs, and help you make sense of your past in a way that feels empowering. It is widely recognized and supported by extensive research as an effective treatment for trauma.
EMDR gives you another way to work with experiences that may not shift through conversation alone. Sometimes your nervous system needs something different. During EMDR, you spend less time talking about the details of what happened and more time allowing your brain and body to process the experience directly. This can feel relieving if you are nervous about talking through the event itself.
Sessions vary depending on where you are in the process. You will typically start with a normal check-in, and together you and your therapist will decide if you are ready for EMDR that day or would rather go another direction. When you are ready, your therapist will guide you through the process, which may involve bilateral stimulation like eye movements or tapping while you focus on a memory or experience. You remain in control and can pause at any time.
No. EMDR can be helpful for anyone whose past experiences continue to affect how they feel, think, behave, or relate to themselves and others. You do not need a specific diagnosis. Your therapist will talk with you about your history and goals and help you decide if EMDR is a good fit.
EMDR sessions at Greenlake Wellness Group are billed as individual therapy. We are in-network with Premera and Lifewise. Individual sessions are $185 for self-pay clients. See our Insurance & Fees page for full details.
Yes. We see clients in person at our Green Lake office in Seattle and offer telehealth sessions across Washington State. EMDR works well in both settings.