October 13, 2026
How to Choose an EMDR Therapist in Brooklyn
Written by Maria Boncyk, LCSW | Reviewed October 13, 2026
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
To choose an EMDR therapist in Brooklyn, check four things before you book: that they have completed formal EMDR training, that they hold a current New York license, that they spend real time preparing you before any trauma processing starts, and that the format, in an office or online, fits your actual week. A short consultation call is the easiest way to check all four. Brooklyn has no shortage of therapists who list EMDR. The harder part is telling which of them use it as a core method and which mention it in passing. Here is what I would want a friend to look for.
1. Check the EMDR Training, Not Just the Word "EMDR"
EMDR is a structured therapy with eight phases, from history-taking and preparation through processing and re-evaluation. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) is clear that it "should only be offered by properly trained and licensed mental health clinicians" (EMDRIA).
In practice, that means asking:
- Have you completed EMDR basic training? This is the foundation. A weekend workshop or reading about EMDR is not the same thing.
- Have you trained further since? Many clinicians go on to intermediate or specialty training. Some also become EMDRIA Certified, which involves additional consultation hours and experience.
- How much of your caseload is EMDR? Someone who uses it every week will be more fluent than someone who uses it twice a year.
For transparency: I completed EMDR Basic Training in 2021, Intermediate Training in 2022, and Relational EMDR training in 2026.
2. Confirm Their New York License
A therapist can only treat you in a state where they are licensed, and that depends on where you are sitting during the session, not where the therapist lives. If you live in Brooklyn, your therapist needs a New York license. You can look any license up on the New York State Office of the Professions website in under a minute.
That matters most if you spend time in two states. I hold licenses in New York (#087032) and Massachusetts (#1140891), so clients who split time between the two can keep working with me from either.
3. Ask How They Prepare You Before Processing
The part of EMDR people picture, holding a memory in mind while following eye movements or tapping, is only one phase. Good EMDR starts earlier. A careful therapist will:
- take a full history before deciding what to work on first
- teach you grounding and resourcing skills so you have somewhere to land if a session stirs up more than expected
- explain how they will pace sessions and what happens if you need to stop
If a therapist offers to start processing a traumatic memory in your first session, that is a reason to slow down. For complex or childhood trauma in particular, the preparation phase is where much of the safety comes from. My complex trauma therapy page explains how that pacing works.
4. Decide Between an Office and Online EMDR
Brooklyn commutes are long. An office in Park Slope or Williamsburg can mean an hour of travel for a 50-minute session, and EMDR sessions can leave you tired afterwards. Online EMDR removes the trip: you do the work from a private room at home, using on-screen eye movements, audio tones or self-tapping.
The research on remote EMDR has been growing. I go through what it does and does not show in Does EMDR Work Over Video?. The practical question is whether you have a private, quiet space and a reliable connection. If you do, online EMDR is a real option, not a compromise.
What EMDR Therapy Costs in Brooklyn
Fees vary widely, and many EMDR therapists in New York work out of network. My fees are $275 for the intake session and $250 for each 50-minute session after that. I am an out-of-network provider and send monthly superbills you can submit to your insurer. Many plans reimburse part of the fee for out-of-network therapy, and one call to your insurer will tell you your rate. A limited number of sliding scale spots are available. The fees page has the details.
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
- What EMDR training have you completed, and when?
- How many sessions do you usually spend on preparation before processing?
- What happens if I feel overwhelmed during or after a session?
- Do you combine EMDR with other approaches?
- How do you handle notes and privacy? (I do not use AI note-takers or transcription; see AI-free therapy.)
Working Together
I offer online EMDR therapy for teens and adults across New York, including Brooklyn, and in Massachusetts. Sessions run Monday to Thursday, 9 AM to 7 PM Eastern. A free 15-minute consultation is a good time to ask every question above and see whether we are a fit.
If You Need Support Now
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are having thoughts of suicide or feel unsafe, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, at any hour.
About the Author
Maria Boncyk is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (NY LCSW #087032, MA LICSW #1140891) with fifteen-plus years of clinical experience. She provides virtual EMDR therapy and psychotherapy to teens and adults across New York and Massachusetts, specializing in anxiety, complex trauma, and relationship patterns.
Meet Maria
