Who are the Best EMDR Therapists in Cleveland, OH?
Are you tired of feeling stuck in patterns that no longer serve you? Maybe you intellectually know you're safe, but your body still holds onto past trauma, leaving you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or disconnected. Perhaps you're struggling with vulnerability in relationships, battling perfectionism and people-pleasing, or feeling burnt out from carrying everyone else's burdens while neglecting your own needs.
As a licensed therapist specializing in EMDR, I understand how exhausting it can be when traditional talk therapy hasn't fully addressed the ways trauma lives in your body. I work with young adult women, adult children of immigrants, activists, and creative professionals who are ready to move beyond just coping and truly heal from past experiences, family dynamics, and the impact of systemic oppression on their mental health.
If you're ready to begin your healing journey and think we might be a good fit, I'd love to connect with you for a free clarity call to explore how EMDR therapy may be able to help.
While I’d love to support you, there may be some situations when I recommend working with another therapist. That’s why I’ve curated this resource: so you can connect with the local provider who’s right for you.
5 highly recommended Cleveland EMDR therapists
All of these provider listings have been sourced from the official directory on the EMDRIA website.
1. Victoria Byler, LPCC
Victoria offers dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) in addition to EMDR. This might be especially helpful for people struggling with emotional regulation, as it’s a therapy method specifically designed to give you more control over your emotions and improve your relationships. EMDR can bring up some intense emotions, so using this approach alongside EMDR may feel extra supportive.
2. Amber Smith, LISW-S, LCSW
Amber specializes in working with combat veterans. Having this expertise about the lived experience of veterans may feel especially helpful if you are seeking EMDR therapy to process service-related trauma.
3. Benjamin Zimmer, MA, LIMFT
Depending on your background, it may feel helpful to work with a male therapist. Ben is a male-identifying EMDRIA-Certified Therapist™ and EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ who works with adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and LGBTQ+ issues. I recommend considering his practice if you’re looking for a highly qualified male EMDR therapist.
4. Ellie Martin Elston, LISW
Similarly, some people may specifically want to work with a queer therapist. Enter Ellie, a queer-identifying EMDR-trained therapist. She supports adults with various life experiences, like trauma, stigma, and difficult relationships. If that resonates with you, her practice may be a good fit.
5. Sarah Lacy, LPCC
Trauma can often co-exist with other challenges, including substance abuse. If you’re looking to examine your relationship with substance while using EMDR to heal from past trauma, Sarah’s practice may be a good fit. She is an EMDRIA-Certified Therapist™ who specializes in dual diagnosis.
FAQs about EMDR therapy
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps your brain process traumatic memories differently. We process emotional material in a different part of the brain than intellectual material, which is why you might "know" you're safe but still feel anxious or overwhelmed. EMDR aims to connect what we know to what we feel, allowing your brain to process past experiences so they no longer produce the same intense reactions in your current life.
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EMDR was initially created as a treatment for trauma. It’s still widely used as a highly effective treatment for both single-incident traumatic events, like accidents or assaults, and complex trauma from ongoing experiences like childhood abuse or neglect.
According to the EMDR International Association, it can also be helpful for anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, and more. In my practice, I also use EMDR to address issues like disordered eating, self-esteem challenges, grief, and the impacts of systemic oppression on mental health.
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Like any other kind of therapy, EMDR isn’t the right fit for all situations. For example, it may not be the best option for people experiencing active psychosis or severe dissociative disorders. It’s also not recommended during intense crisis situations where immediate safety planning is needed.
If you’re not sure whether EMDR is right for you, I invite you to reach out for a free clarity call. We can discuss your situation directly, and I’ll offer my professional recommendation on whether I think EMDR makes sense.
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EMDR therapy typically involves different phases: preparation and stabilization, processing traumatic memories, and integration. We'll start by building coping skills and making you feel safe enough to delve into deeper work. Then, we’ll gradually work through difficult memories using bilateral stimulation. Sessions are collaborative, and you remain in control throughout the process. Many clients notice improvements in symptoms within a few sessions.
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My practice is ideal if you're a young adult woman dealing with trauma, cultural identity conflicts, activist burnout, or disordered eating patterns. I specialize in working with adult children of immigrants, creative professionals, and those examining how systemic oppression affects their mental health. If you value a multicultural, feminist approach that honors your intersecting identities, we're likely a good match.
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We’ll kick things off with a free, no-obligation clarity call where we'll discuss your goals and determine if EMDR therapy aligns with your needs. If we're a good fit, we'll schedule your first session to complete a comprehensive assessment, discuss your history, and create a personalized treatment plan that may include EMDR alongside other therapeutic approaches, like IFS and somatic experiencing.
