EMDR Therapy for PTSD & Psychological Trauma Recovery
EMDR therapy at Willow & Stone Counseling is designed for capable individuals who are ready to resolve what lingers beneath the surface. If your life looks composed from the outside but feels chaotic or perpetually on edge within, this is a place to heal the nervous system—and do the work that allows the past to finally settle.
Tailored Therapy For You
Recognizing the Signs of Unresolved Trauma
Some people come to this work in the immediate aftermath of a specific event, a car accident, a devastating loss, or a moment that has overwhelmed the nervous system and won’t let go. More often, clients arrive with symptoms that don’t point neatly to a single experience: intense anxiety, difficulty sustaining relationships, trouble keeping a job, or a private inner life that feels chaotic, self-critical, and painfully lonely. From the outside, they may look like they have it together; inside, they may feel worthless, unlovable, or perpetually on edge. My role is to get curious, connect the dots with care and without assumptions, so we can understand what your body is holding and begin to address the unresolved pain.
A Nervous System Approach to Healing
"Trauma is not what happens to you, it's what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you.” – Dr. Gabor Maté
Trauma is not defined by the event itself but rather by what happens within us in response, the way the nervous system absorbs an experience, adapts to survive it, and carries its imprint forward. That’s why trauma is deeply personal. The same event can affect two people differently, depending on support, timing, and safety. Some trauma is sudden and unmistakable; some accumulates quietly over years of stress, relationship wounds, or seasons that made it hard to fully exhale.
Because the emotional impact is personal, recovery must be personal too. We shape the work around how your body and relationships have been affected, what helps you stay oriented to the present, and what your system can hold, so the process fits you with care and precision.
If you’re coming in after a specific overwhelming event, we focus on regulation and restoring a felt sense of safety. If your story is more layered, years of anxiety, self-worth injuries, relational strain, or early-formed patterns, we move with a longer view, gently tracing how protection became automatic and what it has cost over time.
We begin with stabilization: grounding, internal supports, and the ability to stay connected to now when difficult material arises. I integrate mindfulness practices and an attachment-informed lens to help you notice what’s happening inside without being pulled under by it, and to soften the protective strategies that can limit closeness and ease. From there, we build a plan that matches your needs—whether that means focused work around a single event or a paced, sequential approach for complex trauma.
I’m a strong believer in the healing potential of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an evidence-based structured approach to healing trauma. Rather than reliving the past, EMDR helps the nervous system reprocess what’s unresolved, so it feels less raw, less present, and less controlling. We move at a pace your nervous system can manage, with grounding and moment-by-moment support to keep you anchored in the here and now.
Want to go deeper? If you are curious to hear more about my philosophy on trauma and how EMDR works, I invite you to listen to my guest episode on Therapist Unplugged, produced by The Montfort Group. In this conversation, we take a deep dive into the science behind the method and discuss how we can address the roots of the past without forcing you to relive the pain.
What Does Recovery Feel Like?
Over time, many clients notice that the past begins to take its proper place—it becomes a memory, not a physical weight.
- Quieter Triggers: Reactions that used to feel automatic and intense become softer and manageable.
- Released Self-Blame: Moving from "What is wrong with me?" to a compassionate understanding of how you survived.
- Presence: The ability to be fully in the room with the people you love, rather than bracing for the next shoe to drop.
- Physical Ease: A nervous system that knows how to rest, digest, and actually relax.
- Freedom of Choice: Responding to life with agency rather than reacting out of old protective habits.
Your Past Does Not Have to Define Your Future.
If you’re curious about EMDR or trauma recovery, I offer a free 15-minute consultation—a low-pressure way to ask questions, share what you’re hoping for, and decide on a next step that feels right.
Investment & Logistics
A Safe Environment for Healing
For trauma processing, the environment matters. I offer in-person sessions at my quiet, private offices in Addison and Highland Park, designed to be a consistent space where you can feel secure enough to do this deep work. For clients residing elsewhere in Texas or those who feel safer in their own environment, I also provide secure, HIPAA-compliant virtual EMDR, which research shows is just as effective as in-person treatment.
Session Fees & Investment
Trauma recovery is specialized, focused work that goes beyond standard talk therapy. My rate for individual EMDR and trauma therapy is $225 per 50-minute session. I view this investment as a reclaiming of your future—clearing the invisible hurdles that have held you back so you can live with greater freedom and ease. I do maintain a limited number of sliding scale spots for those facing financial hardship; please feel free to inquire about availability during our consultation.
Insurance & Reimbursement
I operate as an out-of-network provider, which is particularly important for trauma therapy. This allows us to move at your nervous system’s pace—rather than a timeline dictated by insurance companies—and ensures your diagnosis and records remain strictly private. While I do not bill insurance directly, I am happy to provide a monthly Superbill that you can submit to your provider for potential out-of-network reimbursement. I recommend contacting your insurance carrier to verify your specific "outpatient mental health" benefits prior to starting.
My Dallas Office Location:
Will I have to describe my trauma in detail for EMDR to work?
No, you do not have to describe your trauma in detail for EMDR to work. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR focuses on the memory's storage in the brain rather than the story itself. We can process painful experiences without a "blow-by-blow" retelling. This allows you to heal without feeling re-traumatized or forced to share more than feels safe for you in the moment.
What if I am afraid EMDR will overwhelm me?
It is completely normal to be afraid that EMDR will overwhelm you, which is why we never start processing until you are ready. We spend the initial phase of therapy building "resourcing"—specific grounding skills and internal supports—to ensure you can stay connected to the present. You are always in control of the process, and we move only as fast as your nervous system can handle without going into shutdown or panic.
How do we decide if EMDR is the right therapy for me?
We decide if EMDR is right for you through a collaborative assessment of your history, goals, and current stability. EMDR is a powerful tool, but it isn't always the first step. Sometimes, we prioritize stabilization and nervous system regulation before moving into deep processing. I will never push you into EMDR; we will choose the path that feels most supportive for your specific needs.
What will I feel after an EMDR session?
What you feel after an EMDR session varies from person to person. Some clients feel an immediate sense of lightness or relief, while others feel tired, emotional, or "tender" as their brain continues to process the material. This is often called an "emotional hangover." We will always end our sessions with a grounding exercise and create a self-care plan so you leave the office feeling oriented, safe, and supported.
Is EMDR helpful for Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)?
Yes, EMDR is highly effective for Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) when it is paced thoughtfully. Unlike a single-incident trauma, complex trauma often requires a longer "preparation phase" to build trust and safety. I integrate attachment-focused work with EMDR to help you heal the layered wounds of C-PTSD without destabilizing your daily life.
Meet Gergana Markov, MBA, M.S., LPC
An EMDR-trained clinician and former corporate professional, I specialize in helping high-functioning adults and couples move from "surviving" to "thriving." Let’s find your footing again.
Your Next Chapter Begins Here
Meaningful change is possible, and it starts with a single step. Whether you are looking to heal the past or strengthen your future, I would be honored to walk that path with you.