EMDR Therapy in Saint John and Fredericton

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a technique proven to effectively treat troubling symptoms stemming from trauma, such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, phobias, sleep disturbances and panic attacks.

During EMDR therapy sessions, you relive traumatic or triggering experiences in brief doses while the therapist directs your eye movements. EMDR is effective because recalling distressing events is often less emotionally upsetting when your attention is diverted. This allows you to be exposed to memories or thoughts without having a strong psychological response.

Not only has EMDR therapy been proven to be effective in reducing the chronic symptoms which follow trauma, but the therapy benefits appear to be permanent as well.

The beginning of therapy may be triggering to people who are starting to face traumatic events, specifically because of the heightened focus. While therapy will likely be effective in the long run, it may be emotionally stressful to move through the course of treatment. This is why EMDR is a great solution.

We offer EMDR therapy in Saint John and Fredericton.

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How EMDR Therapy Works

Before undertaking EMDR therapy, one of our EMDR trained therapists must take a thorough history to determine if and how EMDR can be used as part of an overall treatment plan.

Once it’s determined that the client is a candidate for EMDR therapy, the client and therapist will work together to collect basic information about the traumatic experience. The most disturbing part of the incident is identified and becomes the processing target.

During an EMDR therapy session, the client is asked to recall the traumatic incident while the therapist guides the client's eyes to move rapidly back and forth. This is done in sets, which may last from a few seconds to a few minutes. During each set, the client is instructed to notice any changes that occur in the mind and body, without controlling the experience. Very often, in the first few sets, there is an increase in disturbance. But after a while, with each new set, the target becomes less and less disturbing. The target is completely processed when a recollection of the image no longer brings up disturbing emotions.

How long does EMDR therapy take?

This depends on several factors including the nature of the problem being treated, the client's history, and the client's ability to tolerate high levels of disturbance. In some cases, one EMDR treatment session is enough. Usually it takes weeks to months, but sometimes years of treatment are required. When EMDR therapy is used appropriately, it can significantly shorten the overall length of time in therapy.

Has EMDR therapy been researched?

EMDR is now the most researched treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Why bring up a painful memory?

When painful memories are avoided, they keep their disturbing power. A flashback or nightmare can feel just as upsetting and overwhelming as the original experience. In therapy, and with EMDR, you can face the memory in a safe setting, so that you do not feel overwhelmed. Then you can get through it and move forward with your life.

Will I be in control?

It is hard to predict the thoughts, feelings or memories that might come up during EMDR Therapy. It depends upon each person’s natural healing process. You are always in charge of whether to continue or stop. You can also decide how much to tell the therapist about the experience.

Are there any precautions?

Yes, there are specific procedures to be followed depending on your presenting problem, emotional stability, medical condition, and other factors. It is very important that the therapist be trained in EMDR.

What happens afterwards?

You may continue to process the material for days or even weeks after the session, perhaps having new insights, vivid dreams, strong feelings or memory recall. This may feel confusing, but it is just a continuation of the healing process and should simply be reported to the therapist at the next session. If you become concerned or depressed, you should call your therapist immediately. As the distressing symptoms fade, you can work with the therapist on developing new skills and ways of coping.

How much does EMDR therapy cost?

Sessions with a registered social worker (RSW) or licensed counselling therapists (LCT) are $140-150 for 50 minutes.

Is EMDR therapy covered by insurance?

Our counselling fees are not covered by Medicare but are covered by many extended health insurance plans. We partner with Veterans Affairs Canada or Canadian Armed Forces and can direct bill them.

Our clinic has therapists who are either registered social workers (RSW) or Licensed Counselling Therapists (LCT).

You must check your specific plan for what you have coverage for, as coverage is different for each policy. Verify that your plan covers counselling/therapy with a MSW, RSW or LCT. Your insurance may state you have coverage for clinical counsellor or psychotherapist, which would cover LCT or social worker.

We also offer direct billing with many different insurance companies, which allows you to keep more money in your pocket. We can direct bill Blue Cross, Veterans Affairs (VAC), Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Canada Life, Claim Secure, Chamber of Commerce, Work Safe, NIHB, Department of Social Development, and more provided your plan is set up for direct billing. Your are still responsible for any co-pay amounts at the time of service.

About Laura Gatien & Associates

At Laura Gatien & Associates, we take a proactive and collaborative approach to mental health treatment, offering clients access a diverse team of professionals with various expertise and specialties who learn from and can refer to one another. We take a holistic approach to treatment and believe everything makes perfect sense in the context of your life experiences.

Quality care is very important to us as a team, and we ensure this is upheld through regular clinical meetings, ongoing professional development and training opportunities, as well as using evidence-based frameworks. This helps us provide you with the best care for your individual needs so you can make progress sooner.

Our clients benefit from shared resources that exist within a team and the peace of mind that they are not just working with an individual, but are part of a broader mental health community learning and growing together.

We prioritize accessibility and availability of services, providing limited wait times and evening appointments to accommodate diverse schedules. We will regularly ask for feedback on your experience here so we can continue to improve.

meet the team

“Laura and her team are very welcoming, highly knowledgeable professionals who offer a variety of proven therapeutic modalities. Their location is private and inviting and I would highly recommend them to anyone seeking emotional support.”
“I feel like I have finally become myself again after the trauma I went through. I feel supported and judgement-free. Every time I’m in I am greeted with a smile.”
“My therapist was very helpful, kind and skilled at helping me work through my trauma and issues.'“