Will I have to describe the trauma in detail in the first session?

No. Your therapist needs a picture of what's been happening, not a blow-by-blow. You set the pace and the level of detail, and processing specific memories comes later, with preparation first.

Is the first session covered by insurance?

Yes. Insurers bill the first visit as a diagnostic evaluation, and it is covered like any other session. Your copay is the same one we confirm before you book, typically $0 to $35 for in-network plans.

Can I do it from my phone?

Yes. Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. Headphones help, and a spot where you won't be interrupted matters more than the device.

What if I get overwhelmed during the call?

Say so. Your therapist will slow down, help you ground, and if needed stop for the day. Making sure you leave steady is part of every EMDR session, not a sign something went wrong.

How soon does the EMDR part start?

Usually within the first few sessions, once your therapist has your history and you've practised a grounding skill or two. Some people start sooner, some take longer to prepare. There is no prize for rushing it.

What a first EMDR session with Loma is like

Your first session is a conversation, not reprocessing. You meet your therapist by video for about an hour, talk through what brought you here and what you want to change, and your therapist explains how EMDR will work for you. The eye movements or tapping usually start in a later session, once you have a plan and a couple of steadying skills.

Find a therapist

Before the session

You tell us a little: The match form takes a few minutes: what you're dealing with, your insurance, when you can usually meet. Nothing is saved until you finish step two.
We check your cost before you book: We confirm your coverage and tell you what a session will cost. Most clients with insurance pay $0 to $35 a session. Paying out of pocket, sessions start at $80.
You pick a time: Book straight from a therapist's page, or let us suggest therapists who fit. A person replies within one business day either way.
A link and a few short forms: You get the video link and a few short forms to sign before you meet: consent to treatment and a brief history. They take about ten minutes.

The session itself

About an hour, by secure video, from wherever you have privacy. Roughly in this order:

The first few minutes: A quick check that you can see and hear each other, that you're somewhere private, and what you'll both do if the call drops.
Most of the hour: Your story, at your pace. What's been happening, what you've tried, and what you'd like to be different. You decide how much detail to go into; nobody asks you to relive the hardest moments in session one.
The last part: Your therapist explains how EMDR works, shows you what bilateral stimulation looks like in Loma's video platform, and teaches you a first grounding skill you can use any time. Then you agree on what to work on next.

If you cry, lose your words, or need a minute, that is normal and expected. Your therapist's job in session one is to make sure you leave feeling steady, not to push.

What to have ready

A private, quiet spot for an hour, with the door closed
Headphones, so nobody nearby hears your therapist
A charged phone, tablet or laptop and a steady connection
A few words on what you want to work on; a list is fine, a sentence is fine
A quiet half hour afterwards if you can manage it

After the first session, and what comes next

People leave the first session feeling all sorts of ways: lighter, tired, hopeful, or nothing in particular yet. All of those are fine. Reprocessing with bilateral stimulation usually begins once your therapist has your history and you have the grounding skills to use between sessions, often within the first few meetings.

A typical course of EMDR runs six to twelve sessions of 60 to 90 minutes, though it depends on what you're working on. Sessions happen at the same times each week where possible, and you can book or reschedule online.

If your first therapist doesn't feel like the right fit, tell us. We'll suggest someone else, and you won't have to start the paperwork over.

Questions people ask before a first session

Will I have to describe the trauma in detail in the first session?: No. Your therapist needs a picture of what's been happening, not a blow-by-blow. You set the pace and the level of detail, and processing specific memories comes later, with preparation first.
Is the first session covered by insurance?: Yes. Insurers bill the first visit as a diagnostic evaluation, and it is covered like any other session. Your copay is the same one we confirm before you book, typically $0 to $35 for in-network plans.
Can I do it from my phone?: Yes. Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. Headphones help, and a spot where you won't be interrupted matters more than the device.
What if I get overwhelmed during the call?: Say so. Your therapist will slow down, help you ground, and if needed stop for the day. Making sure you leave steady is part of every EMDR session, not a sign something went wrong.
How soon does the EMDR part start?: Usually within the first few sessions, once your therapist has your history and you've practised a grounding skill or two. Some people start sooner, some take longer to prepare. There is no prize for rushing it.

Ready when you are

Tell us your insurance and what you're working through, and we'll suggest EMDR-trained therapists who fit. Get matched