EMDR Therapy in Chicago and Online Across Illinois
A structured, trauma-informed approach for distressing memories, PTSD, anxiety, triggers, and experiences that still feel present.
What is EMDR therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured psychotherapy approach designed to help people process distressing experiences and reduce the emotional intensity connected to them. EMDR may use guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation while you work with a trained therapist.
EMDR is often associated with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It may also be considered when anxiety, triggers, painful beliefs, or distressing memories continue to affect daily life.
EMDR may help with
- Trauma and PTSD symptoms
- Distressing or intrusive memories
- Anxiety, panic, and nervous-system overwhelm
- Triggers and strong emotional reactions
- Negative beliefs about yourself connected to past experiences
- Grief, loss, medical experiences, or relationship trauma
- Performance pressure or experiences that continue to feel unresolved
What to expect
- History and planning: identify concerns, goals, supports, and whether EMDR fits your needs.
- Preparation: build grounding, regulation, and coping tools before memory processing begins.
- Processing: work with selected memories, images, emotions, beliefs, and body sensations using bilateral stimulation.
- Integration: notice changes, strengthen more adaptive beliefs, and plan for continued care.
EMDR does not require you to describe every detail of a difficult experience. Your therapist will explain each step, check in throughout the process, and adjust the pace with you.
Care that respects your pace
Therapy is not about forcing you to relive the past. Astute clinicians use a trauma-informed, individualized approach. Some clients begin EMDR after preparation; others benefit from a combination of EMDR, relational therapy, CBT, ACT, DBT-informed skills, mindfulness, or somatic support.
In-person EMDR therapy is available in Lakeview, Chicago. Virtual therapy is available to adults located anywhere in Illinois when telehealth is clinically appropriate.
EMDR-trained clinicians at Astute
Allison Schacht, LCPC and Elizabeth “Lizzy” Mengar, LCSW are EMDR Certified.
Margot Torossian, LPC, Jessica Hudson, LPC, and Britten Andrews, LSW have specialized training in EMDR for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and related concerns; EMDR certification completion pending.
Meet our therapists and explore each clinician’s full profile.
In crisis?
Astute does not provide emergency services. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.