EMDR Therapy in Cary, NC - Heal What Still Hurts
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy for trauma and PTSD - helping you reprocess painful memories so they lose their grip on your present. In-person at our Cary office and telehealth across North Carolina.
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Trauma Therapy That Works With Your Brain, Not Against It
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps your brain finish processing painful memories. During reprocessing, your therapist guides you through bilateral stimulation - gentle eye movements, taps, or tones - while you briefly hold a difficult memory in mind. Over time, the memory loses its emotional charge and gets stored as something that happened, rather than something that keeps happening.
One of EMDR's biggest benefits: you don't have to talk through every detail of your trauma. Unlike traditional talk therapy, there's no need to narrate what happened at length or relive it session after session. Many clients find that makes EMDR far more approachable than they expected.
At Fresh Breath Therapy in Cary, EMDR is offered within a warm, trauma-informed practice. Whether you're carrying a single overwhelming event or wounds from years ago, healing is possible - and you set the pace.
Begin Your Healing Journey →
Common Reasons Cary Residents Seek EMDR Therapy
EMDR was developed for trauma and PTSD, and research supports its use for a wide range of concerns rooted in past disturbing experiences.
PTSD & Single-Incident Trauma
Post-traumatic stress from an assault, disaster, loss, or other overwhelming event - including complex PTSD from prolonged adversity.
Childhood Trauma
Abuse, neglect, or adverse childhood experiences that still shape how you feel, react, and relate as an adult - even decades later.
Anxiety & Panic
Generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and social or health anxiety - especially when the worry traces back to earlier disturbing experiences.
Phobias
Specific fears - driving, flying, medical procedures, and more - that limit your life and often have a root in a past frightening moment.
Grief & Loss
Complicated grief and bereavement, including losses that feel stuck or unresolved long after the event itself.
Disturbing Memories & Flashbacks
Intrusive images, nightmares, and flashbacks that pull you back into the past - EMDR targets these memories directly.
Accident & Medical Trauma
Car accidents, injuries, frightening diagnoses, and difficult medical experiences that leave your nervous system on high alert.
Performance Anxiety & Blocks
Fear and self-doubt that show up at work, in school, on stage, or in sport - often tied to earlier experiences of failure or criticism.
Negative Self-Beliefs
Core beliefs like "I'm not safe" or "I'm not good enough" - EMDR helps replace them with beliefs grounded in your real worth.
A Structured Path from Preparation to Healing
EMDR isn't a single technique - it's a carefully staged process. Here's how the journey unfolds at our Cary office, always at a pace that feels safe for you.
The 8-Phase EMDR Protocol
EMDR follows a structured, eight-phase protocol - from history-taking through reevaluation - so every step of your treatment is intentional and grounded in research.
History & Preparation First
Before any reprocessing begins, your therapist learns your history, identifies target memories, and makes sure you feel informed, stable, and ready.
Resourcing & Grounding Skills
You'll build calming and grounding tools - so you can manage emotional activation during sessions and in everyday life between them.
Reprocessing Sessions
Bilateral stimulation begins while you briefly hold a target memory in mind. Disturbance gradually decreases, and a positive belief takes root in its place.
Integration & Future Focus
Progress is reviewed each session, remaining tension is cleared, and your gains are strengthened - preparing you to face future situations with confidence.
EMDR Combined with Talk Therapy
EMDR can stand alone or weave into ongoing talk therapy - many clients blend both, processing specific memories while continuing broader work.
Your First EMDR Session: What to Expect
Why Cary Trusts Us With Their Trauma Healing
EMDR-Trained Clinician on Staff
Practice owner Kaylee Meyers, LCSW, brings EMDR training to our Cary office - so your trauma work is guided by a clinician trained in this specific approach.
Trauma-Informed Practice
Our whole team works from a trauma-informed foundation - prioritizing safety, choice, and trust in every interaction, from your first call onward.
Licensed Clinicians Only
Every therapist on our Cary team is licensed or associate-licensed and supervised - LCSW, LMFT, and LMHC professionals held to the highest ethical standards.
Insurance & Self-Pay
We accept major insurance plans including BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, and United Health. Call us to verify your specific benefits before your first appointment.
No Long Waitlists
Trauma healing can't wait. We work hard to offer rapid access - often same-week or within a few days of your first inquiry.
Telehealth Statewide
Not near our Edinburgh South Dr office? Connect from anywhere in North Carolina via our secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform.
Serving Cary, Apex, Morrisville & Holly Springs
Our Cary therapy office is located at 125 Edinburgh South Dr, Suite 210 - easily accessible from Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, and surrounding communities. Telehealth available statewide.
EMDR at our Cary office is provided by practice owner Kaylee Meyers, LCSW, who brings EMDR training alongside CBT and family therapy expertise. She's supported by our full Cary team of licensed clinicians offering trauma-informed care for anxiety, depression, family dynamics, and life transitions.
Each therapist is licensed, supervised, and committed to the highest standards of ethical, compassionate care. Sessions are available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 7 PM.
Book Your Appointment →Meet the Cary Team
Our licensed Cary clinicians bring clinical expertise, warmth, and genuine investment in your healing journey.
Kaylee Meyers
Practice owner and our EMDR-trained clinician, specializing in children, teens, and young adults. Brings CBT, EMDR, and family therapy expertise to help clients build lasting resilience.
Naja Cotton
Focuses on resilience building with children, teens, and adults - supporting clients through anxiety, ADHD, and academic stress with warmth and skill.
Jaimy Summerlin
Works with individuals, families, and children - offering a warm, person-centered approach that meets each client exactly where they are.
Katina Redmond
Specializes in couples and family therapy, helping partners and families strengthen communication and rebuild connection.
Lauren Fisher
Supports clients navigating anxiety, depression, and life transitions with a compassionate, strengths-based approach to meaningful growth.
Linda McAteer
Creates safe, supportive environments where clients feel truly heard - with particular expertise in stress management and everyday overwhelm.
Yeshira Benson
Passionate about strengthening family bonds - specializing in family dynamics, marriage counseling, and helping households communicate with care.
Ashley West
Works with children, adolescents, and adults on anxiety, depression, trauma, and attachment - drawing on CBT, DBT, and mindfulness techniques.
Serving These Needs Across Cary & Nearby Communities
Frequently Asked Questions
What is EMDR and how does it work?+
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) is a structured therapy that helps your brain reprocess traumatic memories. Your therapist guides you through bilateral stimulation - eye movements, taps, or tones - while you briefly hold a difficult memory in mind. Over time, the memory loses its emotional charge and no longer triggers the same intense reactions.
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?+
No - and this is one of EMDR's most important benefits. Unlike traditional talk therapy, you don't need to narrate your trauma at length or relive it session after session. You hold the memory briefly in mind while the reprocessing does the work. Many clients find EMDR far more tolerable than they expected for this reason.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?+
Honestly, it varies. The course of treatment depends on your history and the complexity of what you're working through - single-incident trauma often resolves faster, while complex or childhood trauma typically takes longer. Your therapist will discuss realistic timelines with you after your assessment, and you'll always move at your own pace.
Is EMDR safe and evidence-based?+
Yes. EMDR is one of the most extensively researched trauma treatments available and is recommended by the American Psychological Association (APA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Department of Veterans Affairs as a treatment for PTSD. It follows a structured protocol that always begins with preparation and stabilization, so you're never pushed into processing before you're ready.
Does insurance cover EMDR therapy?+
Coverage varies by plan. We accept major insurance plans including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, and United Health, and self-pay rates are also available. Call us at (919) 300-6717 and we'll help you verify your specific mental health benefits before your first appointment.
Can EMDR be done online via telehealth?+
Yes. Online EMDR uses adapted bilateral stimulation techniques - such as tapping, auditory tones, or therapist-guided visual tracking on screen. We offer EMDR via secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth for clients throughout North Carolina who prefer remote sessions or can't easily come to our Cary office.
What Happened to You Doesn't Have to Keep Happening
Healing from trauma is possible - and you don't have to carry it alone. Our Cary team is ready to walk with you, one reprocessed memory at a time. Start with a free 15-minute consultation, no commitment required.