Trauma doesn’t have to define you — EMDR therapy can help you move forward.
Rachael Dawn Wacker, MA LPC is an EMDR-certified and TF-CBT-certified trauma therapist at MindLift Alliance, serving adults, teens, and children (ages 5+) across Texas and Minnesota via telehealth and in-person sessions. We provide EMDR therapist Texas across Texas for individuals, couples, and families seeking compassionate, evidence-based care.
EMDR-certified trauma therapist — Texas & Minnesota.
we are looking for a Licensed Professional Counselor certified in both EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She specializes in working with individuals who have experienced complex or single-incident trauma, childhood adversity, attachment wounds, anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges.
Rachael sees adults, teens, and children ages 5 and up — as individuals and in couples therapy. She is licensed in Texas and Minnesota and is available for in-person and telehealth sessions.
- Insurance: Aetna, Carelon Behavioral Health, Cigna, BCBS, Ascension SmartHealth
- Private pay: $125/session
- Telehealth & in-person · Adults, teens, children, couples
Conditions EMDR therapy is proven to help.
EMDR is endorsed by the EMDR International Association and the American Psychological Association as an evidence-based treatment. It is one of the few therapies shown to produce lasting results for trauma in a relatively short course of treatment.
PTSD & Complex Trauma
EMDR is a first-line recommended treatment for PTSD. It is effective for both single-incident trauma (accidents, assault) and complex developmental trauma across childhood.
Anxiety & Phobias
EMDR reprocesses the early experiences and memories that keep anxiety patterns stuck — producing relief that talk therapy alone sometimes can’t achieve.
Depression Linked to Trauma
When depression is rooted in unresolved past experiences or grief, EMDR addresses the source rather than just the symptoms — reducing negative core beliefs about the self.
Childhood Adversity (ACEs)
Adverse childhood experiences — abuse, neglect, household dysfunction — leave lasting imprints. TF-CBT and EMDR both target these imprints in children and adults carrying them into adulthood.
Grief & Loss
Traumatic or complicated grief — when loss is sudden, violent, or layered with other trauma — responds well to EMDR’s processing approach.
Attachment & Relationship Wounds
Early relational trauma — parental rejection, abandonment, or inconsistency — shapes adult attachment patterns. EMDR targets the memories that drive these patterns.
How EMDR therapy works — step by step.
EMDR is an 8-phase protocol. The early phases focus on history, preparation, and identifying target memories. The core processing phases use bilateral stimulation — typically eye movements, taps, or tones — while you hold a traumatic memory in mind. This bilateral stimulation appears to help the brain process and integrate stuck memories, similar to what happens naturally during REM sleep.
Clients often describe the experience as “watching the memory from a distance” — the emotional charge decreases as the memory is processed. Sessions are 50–90 minutes depending on the phase. Most clients need 6–12 processing sessions for a single-incident trauma; complex trauma requires more. EMDR does not require you to talk through the traumatic event in detail — many clients find this a significant relief. Rachael prepares every client thoroughly before beginning processing to ensure you have the stabilization skills needed. Learn more about trauma therapy at MindLift →
EMDR therapy FAQs
Is EMDR safe?
Yes. EMDR has been extensively researched and is endorsed by the WHO, the APA, and the Department of Veterans Affairs as a safe and effective treatment for trauma. It should be delivered by a therapist trained in the protocol — Rachael is EMDR-certified through EMDRIA standards.
How is EMDR different from talk therapy?
In EMDR, you don’t need to describe traumatic events in extensive detail or build insight about them through conversation. Instead, the bilateral stimulation facilitates natural information processing. Many clients are surprised that they can make significant progress without extensive verbal processing of painful memories.
What does EMDR feel like?
Most clients describe the processing as intense but manageable — like watching an old film that gradually loses its emotional charge. Rachael prepares clients with stabilization and grounding skills before beginning any processing, so you always feel in control of the pace.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
Single-incident trauma (one accident, one assault) often resolves in 6–12 sessions. Complex or developmental trauma — especially trauma that occurred over many years — typically requires a longer course of treatment. Rachael will discuss realistic timelines at your intake session.
Ready to start trauma therapy? — EMDR therapist Texas
Rachael is accepting new clients for EMDR and trauma-focused therapy across Texas. Book online or call to schedule your intake session.