53 W Jackson Blvd. #838 Chicago, IL 60604
Mon - Fri: 9AM-8PM
Sat: 9 AM-5 PM
Sun: Closed
53 W Jackson Blvd. #838 Chicago, IL 60604
Mon - Fri: 9AM-8PM
Sat: 9 AM-5 PM
Sun: Closed
EMDR Therapy in Chicago helps you let go of painful memories so you can finally feel present, calm, and in control of your life. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, research-backed therapy that helps your brain heal from overwhelming experiences.
When something traumatic happens, your mind and body sometimes don’t get the chance to finish processing it. Often this means that the memory gets stuck. Then, the memory keeps popping up in the present as anxiety, nightmares, strong reactions, or a sense of shutting down.
EMDR helps your brain go back, finish the task, and file that memory in the right place. This helps it become part of your history instead of part of your everyday life.
Living with unresolved trauma can feel like living in a loop you can’t escape. The past never really feels like it’s gone. Instead, it shows up in the middle of the night as racing thoughts, in everyday conversations as sudden irritability, or in moments of quiet as a deep, saddening ache you can’t explain.
You might find yourself avoiding certain places, people, or your own feelings because they trigger old pain that feels too big to face. On the outside, you may seem to have it together, but inside there’s the constant presence of anxiety, shame, or sadness that makes peace feel like a foreign concept. At times, life can feel like dragging an unseen anchor, leaving you weary and exhausted with no rest in reach.
When healing begins, the grip of the past starts to loosen. Instead of feeling consumed by old pain, you may notice a new lightness. EMDR opens the door to shifts both subtle and profound, making space for calm, confidence, and genuine relief. With EMDR, clients often notice:
During EMDR, your therapist guides you through a structured process that uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, tapping, or sounds. This rhythmic left-right activation helps both hemispheres of the brain communicate more effectively while you revisit a memory in a safe, supported way.
Over time, the brain is able to reprocess the experience, reducing the emotional charge and creating space for more balanced responses. The memory that once felt raw and intense starts to soften. Over time, it becomes just another memory that no longer carries the same weight.
You don’t have to relive every detail to get relief. EMDR is designed to keep you safe, supported, and in control of the pace.
EMDR is best known for treating trauma and PTSD, but its benefits reach far beyond those experiences. Because trauma can take many forms, EMDR can help with a wide range of challenges, including:
When old pain is processed and released, clients often find they have more energy, better focus, and a stronger sense of resilience in every part of life.
Every EMDR session moves at your pace. A typical process looks like this:
Preparation: We start by learning about your goals and concerns, and together we develop a plan that feels right for you. We’ll also introduce grounding tools to help you feel safe and steady.
Targeting: Together, we decide which memories, patterns, or beliefs you’d like to focus on.
Reprocessing: Through bilateral stimulation, your brain naturally reworks the memory so it feels less charged.
We offer EMDR Therapy in Chicago both in our downtown Chicago office and online throughout Illinois. Offering EMDR virtually makes this therapy accessible for individuals experiencing driving or commuting-related trauma, agoraphobia, chronic illness, mobility challenges, or those who prefer virtual sessions for other health or safety reasons. Our team also offers:
Affirming and Intersectional Care
We honor your whole identity: cultural, racial, gender, and sexual identity included.
Client-Centered Pace
You’re always in control of how much you share and when.
Whole-Person Focus
EMDR is part of a bigger commitment to your overall well-being, not just symptom relief
At Gemstone Wellness, EMDR therapy is offered by Alina Trinidad, LPC, CADC (she/her). Alina is currently accepting new clients with BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, or self-pay, and offers both telehealth appointments and in-office visits.
Alina specializes in trauma, substance use disorders, anxiety, and co-occurring issues like depression and grief. She integrates EMDR with other evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing to help clients heal from trauma and build healthier coping strategies. Alina is deeply committed to providing a safe, non-judgmental, and affirming space where healing can unfold at your pace.
Whether you’re in downtown Chicago or anywhere else in Illinois, EMDR with Alina can help you step out of survival mode and move toward a calmer, steadier life.
The number of EMDR sessions varies depending on your goals, the type of trauma, and how your brain responds to reprocessing. Some clients notice relief in just a few sessions, while others may take several months. Your therapist will work with you to create a pace that feels safe and sustainable.
EMDR is designed to keep you safe and supported. While it can bring up emotions or memories, you are always in control, and your therapist will use grounding techniques to ensure you feel stable throughout the process.
No. EMDR doesn’t erase your memories. Instead, it helps your brain store them differently, so they lose their emotional intensity and no longer control your daily life.
Yes. EMDR can be integrated with other therapeutic approaches, like CBT, DBT, or talk therapy, and it works well alongside medications prescribed by your healthcare provider. Your therapist will coordinate with you to support a comprehensive approach to healing.
While EMDR is most commonly used for trauma and PTSD, it can also help with anxiety, phobias, grief, negative self-beliefs, and other challenges where past experiences are affecting your present.
Your therapist will guide you through grounding and stabilization techniques. EMDR sessions are structured so you are supported at every step, and you remain in control of the pace and what you address.
Yes. EMDR can be adapted for children and adolescents, using age-appropriate methods. A trained therapist will ensure the approach is safe and developmentally appropriate.
No. You don’t have to share every detail of your experience. EMDR is designed to help your brain reprocess the memory without forcing you to re-experience it.
Not at all. You stay present and in control throughout the process. Your therapist will guide you, but you decide the pace an how much you want to share.
Yes. EMDR is backed by decades of research and is recognized by the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association as an effective treatment for trauma. Many clients notice changes within just a few sessions.
Contact us to let us know you’re interested in EMDR and share a little about your goals, history, and whether you prefer in-person EMDR or virtual.
You’ll be connected directly with Alina Trinidad, LPC, CADC, our EMDR-trained therapist. She will reach out to schedule your initial consultation.
During your consultation, you’ll have space to ask questions and learn how EMDR works. This is also your chance to make sure you think working with Alina feels like a good fit.
You’ll schedule your first session and begin safely reprocessing memories, reducing emotional intensity, and building healthier responses with expert guidance every step of the way.
Healing isn’t about erasing the past. It’s about loosening its hold so you can finally feel lighter, calmer, and fully present again. With EMDR at Gemstone Wellness, you’ll have a therapist who moves at your pace, with care and respect every step of the way. You don’t have to do this alone anymore.
Ready for relief that lasts?
Schedule your session for EMDR Therapy in Chicago (Downtown/Loop) or virtually anywhere in Illinois.
We believe that therapy is most powerful when you feel truly seen, safe, and connected.
Mon - Fri: 9AM-8PM
Sat: 9AM-5PM , Sun: Closed
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Sessions available in English & Spanish | Online & In-Person