VirtualEMDR

General information

What Is EMDR Therapy?Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer feel overwhelming or emotionally charged. Originally developed to treat PTSD, EMDR is now widely used for anxiety, grief, chronic stress, performance blocks, and attachment wounds.
What makes EMDR different from traditional talk therapy is how it taps into your brain’s adaptive information processing system—the same system that helps us naturally heal from upsetting experiences over time. When a disturbing or traumatic event overwhelms our nervous system, that natural process can get stuck. EMDR helps "unstick" those memories by using bilateral stimulation—typically eye movements, tapping, or tones—to support the brain in reprocessing the event and restoring emotional balance.
The Neuroscience Behind EMDREMDR is based on the understanding that trauma can disrupt how the brain encodes and stores information. When we experience a highly stressful event, the amygdala (our brain’s threat detection center) becomes overactivated, while areas responsible for logic and language—like the prefrontal cortex—become less active. As a result, the memory may remain "frozen" in the brain in its original emotional intensity, rather than being filed away as something in the past.
Bilateral stimulation appears to help the brain integrate these fragmented, emotionally charged memories into more coherent and less distressing narratives. Research using neuroimaging has shown that EMDR can reduce activation in the amygdala and increase activity in brain regions associated with emotional regulation and cognitive control—like the anterior cingulate cortex and hippocampus.In other words, EMDR helps the brain do what it couldn’t do at the time of the trauma: make sense of the experience, reduce emotional intensity, and move forward.
Is Virtual EMDR Effective?Yes. Studies show that telehealth EMDR is just as effective as in-person treatment when delivered by a trained clinician using appropriate tools. During virtual sessions, we use audio tones, visual cues, or guided tapping to engage bilateral stimulation. These methods activate the same neural pathways involved in memory reprocessing, regardless of the setting.
Clients often appreciate the flexibility and comfort of engaging in EMDR from their own space, especially when working with trauma that may feel vulnerable or activating. EMDR can deepen insight, increase emotional flexibility, and help remove blocks that sometimes limit the impact of other therapeutic modalities.
Fostering Deeper, Lasting HealingEMDR is not about reliving trauma—it’s about reprocessing it so it no longer holds power over your present. Many clients find that even long-standing issues begin to shift as EMDR helps the brain and body release what’s been held onto for too long. You may notice more ease in relationships, more self-compassion, or a renewed sense of agency and clarity.
Because EMDR works with the nervous system as well as the mind, healing can happen not just intellectually—but physiologically and emotionally as well.
At Skylight Counseling, we believe in supporting healing from the inside out—and EMDR is one of the tools we use to help clients move through what’s keeping them stuck.
We currently have two trained EMDR clinicians on our team: Kara Londergan and Karla Lund. Both Kara and Karla are passionate about integrating EMDR with other therapy approaches to support meaningful, lasting change. Whether you're working through trauma, anxiety, relationship struggles, or self-worth, EMDR can be a powerful part of your healing process.
We also offer adjunctive EMDR for clients who are already working with another primary therapist. EMDR can be used as a short-term, focused intervention to address trauma, anxiety, or emotional blocks that may be limiting progress in ongoing therapy. We collaborate closely with outside providers to ensure your care remains integrated and well-supported.
How to StartVirtual EMDR sessions are available, and we’d be honored to talk with you about whether it’s a good fit for your needs. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO or Aetna PPO plans if you wish to use insurance or Out of Pocket Payment. You can contact us at moc.retnecgnilesnuocthgilyks%40ofni to learn more and book a first session.

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Facilitator

April Nisan Ilkmen, Ph. D., LMFT is a Clinical Training Director and Assistant Professor at Northern Illinois University. She is currently affiliated with the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute and in ongoing psychoanalytic supervision. 

Location

How to Register

For more information, please Contact Us.

Cost

$130 per sessionBCBS PPO and Aetna PPO Insurance Accepted