Is EMDR safe for kids?

Yes. EMDR is recognized by the World Health Organization and backed by decades of research, including with children. Sessions move at your child's pace, nothing happens before they're ready for it.

What age can a child start EMDR?

I work with kids and teens ages 8 through college.

How long does EMDR take to work for a child?

It depends on the session format. Most families in weekly sessions start seeing real shifts within the first few months. Extended sessions and EMDR Intensives can move faster, since more processing happens in less calendar time.

What's the difference between EMDR and talk therapy for kids?

Talk therapy works through a problem by talking about it. EMDR works more directly with the memory itself, using bilateral stimulation to help the brain finally process something that got stuck. Many kids benefit from both together.

EMDR Therapy for Kids & Teens in Ridgefield, NJ

In-person in Ridgefield, Bergen County,
or virtual anywhere in New Jersey.
Ages 8+, Tweens and Teens

When a child or teen is struggling, it rarely shows up as words. More often it's trouble sleeping, pulling away from friends, grades slipping, or a kid who's suddenly hard to reach, shut in their room, and just not like themselves anymore. It's a heavy feeling for both the child and for you.

As an EMDR trained therapist with more than 20 years of experience working with children and families, I bring EMDR together with play therapy and sand tray to help kids heal and reach their goals.

BOOK A THERAPY CONSULTATION

What is EMDR?

EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing - is built for the memories that get stuck:

The car accident your child won't talk about
The medical scare that still shows up at bedtime
The loss of someone they loved
Something they witnessed
A fear that doesn't quite make sense anymore, but is still present

When something overwhelming happens, the brain sometimes files that memory away unprocessed, as though it never got filed correctly to begin with. This keeps the brain firing off the same fear and body response, long after the actual danger has passed.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (a fancy way to say side to side movements, tapping, or sounds) to help the brain file the memory where it belongs. More and more, it's the approach I reach for with kids who are stuck on anxiety, a specific fear, or a moment that regular conversation hasn't been able to move.

What EMDR Looks Like for Kids

Kids process differently than adults, so EMDR adjusts to meet them there. It can look like:

A drawing instead of talking a memory through out loud
Bilateral buzzers instead of eye movements, which can be tiring for kids
Dance moves doing the job of bilateral stimulation
Regular check-ins with you, so you know what your child is working through and how to support it at home

Session Formats

Weekly 50-Minute Sessions

Your typical standard pace for most kids.

Extended 90-Minute Sessions

When a single session needs more room to get through deeper processing. Can be ongoing or scheduled as needed.

EMDR Intensives

A more concentrated path for those who want to move faster, are working through one specific event, or have weekly schedule constraints.

How Does It Work?

Feeling overwhelmed is normal, but getting support doesn't have to be.

1

Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation Call

We’ll talk through what’s been happening - your child’s struggles, your stress points, and what you've already tried. No judgment or pressure, just a conversation to see if we're the right fit.

2

We Make Sure it's

the Right Fit

I want to make sure I'm the right match for your child and your family. If I'm not, I'll be honest and point you toward someone who is. Your child's progress matters more than filling my schedule.

3

Your Child Starts Getting the Support They Deserve

We build a plan together based on your child's specific needs and your family's goals. Sessions are weekly to start, and you'll see progress, not just in my office, but at home and at school.