EMDR therapy for veterans and military personnel

Understanding veterans & military

Military service members and veterans face unique mental health challenges. Combat exposure, military sexual trauma, moral injury, and the cumulative stress of deployment can lead to PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. The National Center for PTSD estimates that 11–20% of veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom experience PTSD in a given year. Many veterans also struggle with the transition to civilian life, compounding trauma-related symptoms.

How EMDR helps

EMDR helps veterans by reprocessing combat memories and other military-related traumas without requiring them to narrate every detail of what happened. This is particularly important for veterans who find it difficult to talk about their experiences. Bilateral stimulation engages the brain’s natural processing system, allowing traumatic memories — firefights, IED blasts, losing fellow service members — to be filed as past events rather than ongoing threats. EMDR also addresses moral injury and guilt, which are common among combat veterans and often resistant to traditional talk therapy.

What the research shows

• 76–78% of combat veterans no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria after approximately 12 EMDR sessions. (Carlson et al., Journal of Traumatic Stress, 1998)
• The VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline lists EMDR as a “best practice” and first-line treatment for PTSD. (VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD, 2023)
• EMDR delivered via telehealth was as effective as in-person EMDR for veterans with PTSD, supporting remote access for rural veterans. (Mavranezouli et al., Psychological Medicine, 2020)

What to expect

EMDR for veterans typically involves 8–12 sessions, each lasting 60–90 minutes. Your therapist will work with you to identify key traumatic memories from your military service, then guide you through reprocessing using bilateral stimulation. You do not need to describe combat events in detail. Many veterans notice a reduction in nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbing within the first few sessions. Research shows EMDR is just as effective over telehealth as in person.

Typical course: 8–12 sessions.

Frequently asked questions

Does the VA or TRICARE cover EMDR therapy?

Yes. The VA recognizes EMDR as an evidence-based treatment for PTSD and covers it through VA healthcare. TRICARE also covers EMDR therapy provided by licensed mental health professionals. Loma is not yet in-network with TRICARE, but military families with commercial coverage (such as a spouse's employer plan) can be matched right away, and we can point you toward TRICARE-certified EMDR providers.

Can I do EMDR through telehealth?

Yes. Research shows EMDR is equally effective when delivered via telehealth compared to in-person sessions. This is especially beneficial for veterans in rural areas or those who prefer the privacy of receiving treatment from home.

Does EMDR work specifically for combat-related PTSD?

Yes. Multiple studies demonstrate EMDR’s effectiveness for combat trauma specifically. Research by Carlson et al. found 76–78% of combat veterans no longer met PTSD criteria after EMDR. The VA/DoD lists EMDR as a first-line treatment for military-related PTSD.