EMDR Therapy in Denton County

5 Star Rating Stars

Rated 5/5 Stars

For the memories that will not stay in the past. If you have recurring nightmares, flashbacks, or thoughts and memories that will not go away, EMDR may be the right approach for you.

Happy, diverse individuals - mentally healthy and smiling

Licensed and supervised counselors

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In-network with most major insurances

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Lower-cost options available

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Rated 5/5 Stars

✳︎

Licensed and supervised counselors ✳︎ In-network with most major insurances ✳︎ Lower-cost options available ✳︎ Rated 5/5 Stars ✳︎

Getting Started in Three Easy Steps

1 - Reach out

Fill out the contact form; you do not need to explain everything, just enough for us to reach out and to point you in the right direction.

2 - Get matched

Our office administrator will pair you with the counselor whose specialty and availability fit what you need. If you already know who you want to see, let us know.

3 - Get Started!

Your first session is a conversation, not an interrogation. You will talk about what brought you in and the goals you want to achieve.

What is EMDR?

Happy Adult Female Representing Talk Therapy

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps people process and heal from traumatic or distressing experiences.

Instead of relying mainly on talking, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided back-and-forth eye movements, alternating sounds, or tapping, to help the brain reprocess memories that feel stuck. Over time, those memories lose their emotional intensity, and you are able to respond to what is in front of you with more calm, clarity, and resilience.

There are eight phases: history taking and treatment planning, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation.

We go slowly. Our EMDR counselors move carefully through the process, so you are not asked to relive a traumatic memory until you feel ready. You are awake, in control, and talking throughout. You are not hypnotized, and you are not required to narrate the event in detail. We keep EMDR sessions within the regular one hour session so you are not overwhelmed with too much at once.

The early phases are preparation: history, planning, and building the coping tools you will use between sessions. Reprocessing starts only after that. EMDR generally takes six to twelve active sessions to reach significant, lasting relief from trauma-related symptoms, on top of the preparation phases at the start.

Is EMDR For You?

  • A specific memory still makes your body react, even years later

  • You have nightmares or flashbacks

  • You avoid places, people, or conversations without fully knowing why

  • You have done talk therapy, gained real insight, and still feel stuck

  • You are jumpy, on edge, or exhausted from staying alert

  • You carry a belief about yourself that you know is not fair and cannot shake

About Us and What Others are Saying

Ashley Smith - Owner, LPC, RPT
Ashley has helped equip me with tools for parenting my son who went through a major change in his life. She listened, took time to give me materials, and helped me feel supported as the parent. I would recommend her for parents who have a child needing emotional support!
— H.G.

Hi, I’m Ashley! I am the owner of Grateful Heart Counseling and we are here to help your family navigate through life's many challenges.

Whether it's anxiety creeping in, low self-esteem holding you back, or difficult changes happening around you, we can help you gain the skills and self confidence to overcome these obstacles.

Our counselors are trained in multiple evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and for younger kids- the transformative power of Play Therapy. Together, we can start your journey towards healing and growth.

Grateful heart counseling is an excellent resource in the Justin area! Ashley and her team have taken a special interest in the play therapy population and know their stuff! This team does a great job equipping their clients with the tools that they need to succeed!
— K.D.
Ms. Smith has supported both myself and my kiddos through so many situations. She is enthusiastic to share ideas for solving everyday challenges as well as an expert in grief counseling, self-help, and executive functioning skills. I would give her 100/100 if that amount of stars was an option!
— L.H.

Our Locations That Offer EMDR

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24 hours a day.

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