If you’re reading this, you’ve already taken a brave first step toward healing. As an EMDR therapist with over 12 years of experience, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing countless individuals transform their lives through this powerful therapeutic approach.
Whether you’re struggling with past trauma, anxiety, or other emotional challenges, I want to help you understand exactly what to expect when you walk through my door — or log into our virtual session — for the first time.
I remember how many questions my clients typically have before their first EMDR therapy session. Will it be intense? Do I have to share everything right away? What exactly will happen? These are all normal concerns, and I’m here to walk you through the entire process.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
When I explain EMDR therapy to my clients, I like to keep it simple and straightforward. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a therapeutic approach that helps your brain process difficult memories and experiences in a new, less distressing way.
Think of it as helping your brain “unstick” itself from painful memories that may be impacting your daily life.
In my 12+ years of practice, I’ve used three main techniques to facilitate this processing:
- Guided eye movements (following my hand or a light bar from side to side)
- Gentle tactile taps on your hands or shoulders
- Alternating taps in the palm of your hand from handheld tappers that sync up to the movements of the lightbar.
Each person responds differently to these methods, and we’ll work together to find what feels most comfortable for you.
What makes EMDR different from traditional talk therapy is that you don’t need to tell me every detail of your experiences for healing to occur. Many of my clients find this particularly relieving — knowing they can process and heal without having to verbally recount everything.
Getting Started — The Initial Consultation
Before diving into full sessions, I offer a free 20-minute consultation that helps us both determine if we’re a good fit for each other.
This initial conversation is something I’ve found invaluable over my years of practice — it’s your chance to ask questions and get a feel for my approach, and my opportunity to learn a bit about what brings you to therapy.
During this consultation, we’ll talk over the phone at a time that works best for you, free from distractions. Many of my clients tell me they feel a sense of relief just from this first conversation. It’s normal to feel nervous about making this call, but I promise you — all you need is that tiny bit of courage to dial the number. I’m here to make this step as comfortable as possible.
What can you expect during our consultation?
We’ll discuss what’s bringing you to therapy, and I’ll explain how EMDR might help with your specific situation.
You can ask me about my experience, my techniques, or any concerns you have about starting therapy. I’ll also explain my fee structure, including my special package for new clients that includes the first three 60-minute sessions for $460 — a savings of $80 when paid upfront.
By the end of our consultation, you’ll have a clear idea of the next steps. If we both feel it’s a good match, we can schedule your first session and I’ll send you the necessary forms to get started. If for any reason it’s not the right fit, I’m happy to provide referrals to other trusted colleagues.
Before Your First Session
Let me walk you through everything you need to know before coming to your first appointment, whether you’re joining me in person or through teletherapy.
I’m located at 1325 S. Colorado Blvd, Suite B-108 in Denver, right near the southeast corner of the Colorado and Louisiana intersection. You’ll find me in one of the three buildings in Empire Park. Don’t worry about parking — it’s free for two hours. Just enter on Harrison Street, and you’ll see the ticket booth. For in-person sessions:
- Complete forms on my practice’s portal before the session, so I have a chance to look at them.
- Arrive about 5-10 minutes early to settle in
- Feel free to bring a water bottle or anything that helps you feel comfortable
- Remember, there’s no need to “prepare” your story — we’ll take things at your pace
For teletherapy sessions:
- Find a private, quiet space where you won’t be interrupted
- Test your internet connection beforehand
- Have headphones ready if you’d like to use them
- Ensure your device is fully charged
What to Bring Emotionally
Just yourself and wherever you’re at that day. Some clients worry they need to come with their whole story perfectly organized — you don’t.
Others worry they’ll be pushed to talk about difficult memories right away — you won’t. My role is to meet you where you are and help you feel safe and supported as we begin this journey together.
The Intake Session — What to Expect
Your first full session with me will be different from what you might expect from EMDR therapy. This 60-minute intake session is all about getting to know each other and creating a foundation for our work together.
When you arrive (or log in), I’ll start by asking what brings you to therapy right now. While I’m interested in learning about your past experiences, I’m equally focused on understanding what you’re hoping to achieve through our work together. You’re in the driver’s seat here — you decide what you want to share and at what pace.
During this session, we’ll cover:
- Your current challenges and what you’d like to change
- Any symptoms or patterns you’ve noticed
- Your support system and coping strategies
- Your goals for therapy
I won’t be diving into EMDR processing during this first session. Instead, I’ll explain more about how my approach using guided eye movements, tactile taps, or auditory sounds might help with your specific situation. We’ll discuss which of these techniques might feel most comfortable for you.
One question I often get is, “Do I have to tell you everything today?” The answer is no. This first session is about starting to build trust and understanding. Think of it as laying the groundwork for the healing journey ahead. Some clients find they want to share their whole story right away, while others need more time — both approaches are completely fine.
By the end of our first session, you’ll have:
- A clearer understanding of how EMDR therapy works
- A sense of our therapeutic relationship
- Initial thoughts about your treatment plan
- An idea of how we’ll move forward together
Assessment and Treatment Planning — The Next Steps
In our next few sessions together, I’ll guide us through a thoughtful assessment process that helps create a roadmap for your healing journey.
What I’ve learned in my years of practice is that each person’s experience is unique, so I’ll take time to understand your specific needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Together, we’ll identify which memories or experiences are causing you the most distress in your current life. I’ll help you recognize patterns that might be holding you back and areas where EMDR therapy could be most beneficial. Don’t worry — we’ll move at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
How Long Does EMDR Take?
While everyone’s journey is different, I can give you a clearer timeline once we’ve completed our initial assessment. What I can tell you is that we’ll work in phases, starting with building your emotional resources and coping skills before moving into any deeper processing work.
I believe in collaborative treatment planning. This means we’ll regularly check in about your progress and adjust our approach as needed. You’ll always have a say in the direction of your therapy, and I’ll be transparent about my recommendations based on what I’m observing in our work together.
What a Typical EMDR Session Looks Like
Once we’ve completed our initial groundwork and you’re feeling ready, we’ll begin our EMDR processing sessions. I want to give you a clear picture of what these 60-minute sessions actually look like, as they’re quite different from traditional talk therapy.
We’ll start each session with a brief check-in about how you’re doing and any experiences or observations since our last meeting. This helps us determine our focus for the day. You’ll be seated in a comfortable chair (or if we’re doing teletherapy, settled in your chosen space at home).
Depending on what we’ve determined works best for you, we’ll use one of three approaches I’ve found most effective over my years of practice:
- You might follow my hand movements or a light bar from side to side with your eyes
- I might use gentle, alternating taps on your hands or shoulders
- Or you might use handheld tappers that sync up with the movement of the light bar
During the processing phase, I’ll guide you to notice whatever thoughts, feelings, or body sensations arise. But here’s what many clients find relieving: you don’t have to narrate everything you’re experiencing. You can process it quietly if you prefer. I’ll check in periodically with gentle questions to ensure you’re doing okay and to guide the process.
This is what makes EMDR unique — healing can happen without having to tell me every detail of your experience. Your brain knows how to heal. My role is to facilitate that natural process. Some clients experience intense emotions during processing, while others might feel very little. Both responses are completely normal, and I’m here to support you either way.
We’ll always end our sessions with some grounding exercises to help you feel centered and present before you leave. I’ll never end a session with you in a heightened emotional state — we’ll take the time needed to help you feel stable and ready to return to your day.
Remember, you’re always in control. You can take breaks, slow down, or stop at any point. My role is to create a safe space where you can process at your own pace, knowing you have support right there with you.
I hope you now have a good idea of what a first EMDR therapy session looks like. If the journey looks exciting and inviting to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Call me at (720) 798-1400 or email me at debbie@debbiecarterlpc.com. I’ll see you on the other side.
