EMDR Therapy
Online EMDR Therapy in North Carolina
You have memories that don't behave like memories. A sound, a smell, a physical sensation, and suddenly you're back there. Not thinking about it. There. EMDR was built for exactly this.
Tracey Stracener, LCMHCS, provides EMDR therapy via telehealth throughout North Carolina. If you're in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Asheville, or anywhere in between. This is available to you.
Schedule a Free ConsultationFree 15-minute call · No commitment · Telehealth throughout North Carolina
What EMDR Therapy Is
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional charge without requiring you to describe the trauma in detail. It has the strongest research base of any therapy for PTSD and is widely used for trauma, anxiety, grief, and intrusive thoughts.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. The name is a mouthful, but the idea is straightforward: trauma memories get stuck. They don't process the way normal memories do. They stay raw, reactive, and close to the surface, no matter how much time passes.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (typically following a moving visual cue with your eyes, or listening to alternating tones) to activate both sides of the brain while you hold a distressing memory in mind. This combination allows the brain to do what it was already trying to do: process the experience and file it in the past, where it belongs.
The memory doesn't disappear. But it stops feeling like an emergency. That's the difference EMDR clients consistently describe: not that the past changes, but that it finally feels like the past.
How Virtual EMDR Therapy Works
Research supports online EMDR as equally effective as in-person. The bilateral stimulation is delivered through your screen. You follow a moving visual cue, or use audio tones through headphones. Tracey uses a secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform for all sessions.
Many clients actually prefer doing this work from home. You're in a space that already feels safe. You don't have to drive anywhere or sit in a waiting room before walking into something hard. You can stay on your couch after the session if you need a few minutes.
What you need: a private room, a stable internet connection, and earbuds or headphones. That's it.
The 8-Phase Protocol
EMDR follows a structured protocol rather than being open-ended conversation. The phases move through:
- → History and treatment planning: Understanding what you're carrying and what you want to address
- → Preparation: Building your internal resources before touching difficult material
- → Assessment: Identifying a specific memory to target
- → Desensitization: Processing with bilateral stimulation
- → Installation: Strengthening a more accurate belief about yourself
- → Body scan: Addressing any residual physical tension
- → Closure: Ensuring you're stable at the end of each session
- → Reevaluation: Checking progress and adjusting as needed
"You don't have to describe what happened to heal from it."
One of the most important things to understand about EMDR
Many people avoid trauma therapy because they can't face retelling the story, especially if they've tried before and found it re-traumatizing. EMDR doesn't require you to narrate. You hold the memory in mind. Tracey doesn't need to hear the details. The brain does the work.
This makes EMDR especially useful for people who have things they've never spoken aloud, experiences that feel too shameful or too raw to put into words, or memories that come in fragments rather than narrative.
Who EMDR Therapy Helps
EMDR has the strongest evidence base for PTSD, but it's used effectively for a wider range of experiences. Clients Tracey works with using EMDR include:
Single-incident trauma (accident, assault, medical emergency)
Complex and developmental trauma
Childhood abuse or neglect
Domestic violence survivors
Traumatic grief and loss
Anxiety that doesn't respond to talk therapy
Intrusive memories and flashbacks
Negative beliefs that feel stuck ("I'm not safe," "I'm worthless")
Performance anxiety
Phobias
Veterans and first responders
Religious or spiritual trauma
EMDR and ART Together
Tracey is trained in both EMDR and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), a combination that's genuinely uncommon. Both are trauma-focused, both use bilateral stimulation, but they approach the work differently. ART tends to move faster and is more directive; EMDR is more client-led. In a free consultation, you can talk through which might fit better, or leave that determination to the first session.
Fees and Insurance
EMDR sessions are covered by most insurance plans Tracey accepts. She is paneled with Aetna, NC State Health Plan, and BlueCross BlueShield of NC. Your actual out-of-pocket cost depends on your plan's deductible and copay.
The self-pay rate is $180 per session; $215 for the initial intake. If your plan isn't listed, you may still have out-of-network benefits. Many PPO plans reimburse 50–80% of session costs after your deductible. Tracey provides a superbill after each session for you to submit directly to your insurer. Learn how out-of-network coverage works →
Availability
Sessions are available Monday through Thursday, 11AM–6PM, with some Saturday availability. All sessions are online, available anywhere in North Carolina.
Ready to Try EMDR Therapy?
Start with a free 15-minute call. You can ask questions, hear how it works in practice, and see if talking with Tracey feels like the right fit. No paperwork, no pressure.
Schedule a Free ConsultationAetna · NC State Health Plan · BCBS · Telehealth · North Carolina