EMDR for Complex PTSD: What Chicago Survivors Need to Know

A trauma-informed guide to healing complex trauma with evidence-based therapy

If you’ve experienced years of emotional trauma, neglect, or abuse—and you’re still feeling the aftershocks—you may be living with Complex PTSD (C-PTSD). Unlike single-event PTSD, complex trauma often stems from repeated exposure to stress over time, especially in childhood.

And while the wounds may be invisible, their effects are very real: chronic anxiety, emotional flashbacks, relationship struggles, hypervigilance, and a deep sense that the world isn’t safe.

At Full Circle Counseling and Wellness Center, we specialize in trauma-informed care—and one of the most effective tools we use with survivors of complex trauma is EMDR therapy.

Whether you’ve just heard of EMDR or are considering it as your next step, this guide will walk you through:

• What EMDR is

• How it helps with C-PTSD

• What to expect from a session

• Chicago-area EMDR resources and therapists

• Why healing is absolutely possible—even after years of trauma

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a structured, 8-phase therapy developed in the late 1980s that’s now widely used to treat trauma, anxiety, and PTSD.

EMDR doesn’t rely on talk therapy alone. Instead, it helps your brain reprocess traumatic memories so they lose their emotional charge. You’ll recall the memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation (like guided eye movements, tapping, or sounds), which supports the brain’s natural healing processes.

Think of EMDR as a way of "unsticking" trauma that’s trapped in your nervous system. It helps your brain realize, This happened, but it’s over. I’m safe now.

Complex PTSD vs. PTSD: Why EMDR Is a Good Fit

While PTSD often results from a single incident (like an accident or assault), C-PTSD usually comes from repeated trauma—emotional neglect, abuse, systemic oppression, or growing up in a chronically unsafe environment.

C-PTSD symptoms can include:

• Emotional flashbacks without a clear memory

• Chronic shame, guilt, or self-blame

• Relationship difficulties or fear of abandonment

• Dissociation or feeling disconnected from your body

• Difficulty trusting others or setting boundaries

EMDR is especially powerful for complex trauma because:

• It works beyond words—ideal when clients struggle to explain what happened

• It targets both early memories and present-day triggers

• It allows processing at your own pace

• It reduces physiological reactivity (racing heart, shutdowns, etc.)

Many clients with complex trauma find that EMDR helps them feel relief, stability, and integration after years of feeling stuck in survival mode.

What Happens During an EMDR Session?

A trained EMDR therapist will first help you build emotional safety and coping strategies. This is especially important for C-PTSD, where triggers can feel overwhelming. Once you’re ready, the therapist will guide you through:

1. Identifying a target memory or issue

2. Noticing thoughts, feelings, and body sensations tied to it

3. Using bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movements, tapping, or sound tones)

4. Processing the memory until the distress level drops

5. Reinforcing positive beliefs (e.g., “I am safe now” instead of “It was my fault”)

Sessions are collaborative and paced to avoid retraumatization. You stay in control. And your therapist ensures you have grounding tools to manage any emotional activation.

Is EMDR Safe for Everyone with C-PTSD?

For most people with complex trauma, EMDR can be transformative. But it’s important to work with a trauma-informed EMDR therapist who understands how to:

• Establish safety before reprocessing

• Recognize dissociation and help you stay grounded

• Integrate body-based or somatic techniques if needed

• Go slowly and avoid emotional overwhelm

At Full Circle, we never push you to “get over it.” Instead, we walk with you as you unlearn fear, reclaim your body, and rewrite the story your trauma once told.

EMDR Resources in Chicago

Chicago is home to many skilled, trauma-informed EMDR providers. Here are several ways to access them:

Full Circle Counseling and Wellness Center (Serving Chicago & Suburbs)

We offer EMDR therapy for adults and teens healing from complex trauma, with a focus on safety, trust, and long-term transformation. In-person and virtual sessions available.

The Awakened Center (Lakeview & Evanston)

Specializes in integrative trauma therapy, including EMDR. Focuses on complex trauma, anxiety, and dissociation.

Urban Wellness (Chicago - Jefferson Park)

Provides EMDR therapy as part of their trauma-informed services. Known for accessible care and inclusive staff.

Clarity Clinic (Multiple Chicago Locations)

Offers a wide range of mental health services, including EMDR. Good option for those seeking integrated psychiatry and therapy.

TherapyDen.com or PsychologyToday.com (Filter by “EMDR” and ZIP code)

Search directories to find licensed EMDR practitioners near you. Look for those with trauma experience and C-PTSD familiarity.

What Healing Can Look Like

EMDR doesn’t erase trauma—it helps you reclaim power from it. Many clients report:

• Feeling safer in their bodies

• Reduced emotional reactivity

• Greater confidence and self-compassion

• Better sleep, less anxiety

• Healthier boundaries and relationships

Complex PTSD may take longer to treat than single-incident trauma, but healing is possible—and EMDR is one of the most research-backed methods to support it.

You Are Not Your Past. You Are Your Healing.

If trauma has shaped your life in ways you’re still trying to understand, EMDR may be the tool that helps you finally move forward.

At Full Circle Counseling and Wellness Center, we offer compassionate, expert EMDR therapy in a setting that honors your story and empowers your next chapter. Whether you live in downtown Chicago, the surrounding neighborhoods, or prefer virtual sessions from the comfort of home, we’re here to support your healing journey.