Medical trauma can leave invisible scars—anxiety, fear, and distrust lingering long after the physical healing. In this practice, we provide a safe space to process and reclaim your power after experiences that have shaken your sense of safety, control, and well-being.

Whether your trauma stems from a past medical procedure, ongoing health challenges, chronic illness, or a difficult diagnosis, EMDR therapy for medical trauma in Manhattan and New York City offers a compassionate, integrative approach to healing both body and mind. Together, we navigate the emotional terrain of medical trauma, restore your sense of agency, and help you move forward with renewed strength, safety, and confidence.

This practice provides specialized medical trauma therapy in Manhattan, NYC, and through secure online therapy across New York State.

Find the Best New York Therapist for Healing Medical Trauma

Finding the right therapist for medical trauma in New York City means working with someone who understands the psychological and emotional impact of medical procedures, hospitalizations, chronic illness, misdiagnosis, invasive treatments, and caregiving experiences.

The ideal medical trauma therapist will:

• Understand medical PTSD and healthcare-related trauma

• Help process traumatic memories and body-based fear responses

• Reduce symptoms such as anxiety, panic, and hypervigilance

• Offer evidence-based modalities including EMDR therapy, somatic approaches, and mindfulness

• Provide a safe, structured, and nonjudgmental space

In a fast-paced city like NYC, working with a therapist who combines trauma expertise with compassionate care is essential. With the right support, therapy becomes a place to heal medical trauma, restore emotional balance, and rebuild trust in your body and mind.

Understanding Medical Trauma

Medical trauma can have a profound and lasting impact on emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. It may develop after:

• Painful or invasive medical procedures

• Emergency medical events

• Difficult or frightening diagnoses

• Long hospitalizations

• Medical mistakes or near-miss experiences

• Chronic illness or disability

• Childhood medical trauma

Even when treatment was life-saving, the experience itself can overwhelm the nervous system and become stored as trauma.

Unresolved medical trauma often surfaces as:

• Anxiety or panic around health

• Flashbacks or intrusive memories

• Fear of doctors or hospitals

• Emotional numbness

• Loss of trust in one’s body

• Persistent sense of vulnerability

Medical trauma is real. Your reactions make sense. And healing is possible.

How EMDR Therapy Helps Heal Medical Trauma

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a research-supported trauma therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer feel overwhelming or dangerous.

EMDR works by using bilateral stimulation (eye movements or other alternating stimulation) while gently activating traumatic memories, allowing the nervous system to integrate the experience in a healthier way.

For medical trauma, EMDR can help:

• Reduce emotional intensity of traumatic memories

• Decrease fear and avoidance of medical settings

• Resolve body-based trauma responses

• Reduce anxiety, panic, and hypervigilance

• Restore a sense of control and agency

• Increase emotional and physical safety

EMDR is not about reliving trauma. It is structured, paced, and designed to prevent flooding.

Benefits of EMDR Therapy for Medical Trauma

• Less distress when thinking about medical experiences

• Fewer intrusive memories and nightmares

• Improved sleep

• Reduced health-related anxiety

• Greater sense of safety in your body

• Increased emotional regulation

• Renewed confidence and resilience

Many clients report feeling relief even when other therapies have not fully resolved their symptoms.

PTSD Symptoms Related to Medical Trauma

Medical trauma can lead to post-traumatic stress symptoms that persist long after the event has passed.

Intrusive Symptoms

• Flashbacks or unwanted memories

• Nightmares

• Distress when reminded of medical experiences

Avoidance

• Avoiding doctors, hospitals, or medical discussions

• Delaying or refusing necessary care

• Emotional avoidance or numbing

Hyperarousal

• Feeling on edge or easily startled

• Difficulty sleeping

• Irritability or anger

• Heightened sensitivity to sounds, touch, or physical sensations

Emotional Numbness

• Feeling detached or disconnected

• Difficulty feeling pleasure

• Sense of hopelessness

Negative Beliefs

• “My body is broken”

• “I am not safe”

• “Doctors cannot be trusted”

• Guilt or shame

Physical and Somatic Symptoms

• Chronic tension or pain

• Headaches

• Gastrointestinal issues

• Shortness of breath

• Dizziness

Dissociation

• Feeling disconnected from your body

• Feeling unreal or spaced out

Relationship Difficulties

• Withdrawal from loved ones

• Difficulty trusting

• Fear of vulnerability

Panic Attacks

• Sudden surges of fear in medical settings

• Heart racing, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath

These symptoms are adaptive survival responses — not personal weaknesses.

Integrative Therapy for Medical Trauma in NYC

EMDR therapy is often integrated with other trauma-informed approaches such as:

• Somatic psychotherapy

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Internal Family Systems–informed work

• Psychodynamic psychotherapy

• Mindfulness and nervous system regulation

Treatment is individualized based on your symptoms, history, and goals.

Who Medical Trauma EMDR Therapy Helps

• Adults with medical PTSD

• Individuals with chronic illness or pain

• Cancer survivors

• People with childhood medical trauma

• Individuals with health anxiety linked to past procedures

• Caregivers experiencing secondary trauma

• Healthcare workers impacted by patient trauma

What to Expect in Medical Trauma Therapy

• Initial consultation to understand your history and goals

• Stabilization and resourcing

• Gentle EMDR processing

• Skills for grounding and regulation

• Ongoing support and pacing

Many people feel some relief even early in treatment.

Medical Trauma EMDR Therapy in Manhattan, NYC and Online Across New York State

This practice provides trauma-informed psychotherapy in Manhattan, New York City, and secure online therapy throughout New York State.

Care is confidential, individualized, and compassionate.

About This Practice

I provide integrative psychotherapy using:

• EMDR Therapy

• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

• Solution-Focused Therapy

• Internal Family Systems

• Holistic Mind-Body Medicine

Traumatic Medical Experiences & EMDR Therapy – Frequently Asked Questions

What is medical trauma?

Medical trauma refers to psychological distress that develops in response to medical experiences that felt overwhelming, frightening, invasive, or out of control. This can include surgeries, medical emergencies, chronic illness, childbirth complications, misdiagnosis, or experiences where consent, safety, or trust felt compromised.

Can a medical experience be traumatic even if it was medically “successful”?

Yes. Trauma is defined by how the nervous system experiences an event, not by the medical outcome. Even when treatment is effective, a lack of control, fear, pain, or feeling unheard can leave lasting psychological effects.

What symptoms can result from traumatic medical experiences?

Symptoms may include anxiety around medical settings, panic or dread before appointments, intrusive memories, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, sleep disturbances, avoidance of care, or feeling disconnected from one’s body. These responses are common and understandable following medical trauma.

Is medical trauma the same as PTSD?

Not always. Some individuals meet criteria for PTSD, while others experience trauma-related symptoms that do not fit a formal diagnosis. Therapy can be helpful regardless of diagnosis, focusing on restoring safety, regulation, and trust in the body and healthcare process.

How does EMDR help with medical trauma?

EMDR helps the brain reprocess distressing memories that remain “stuck” in the nervous system. For medical trauma, EMDR can reduce emotional intensity, fear responses, and bodily reactivity associated with past medical experiences, allowing memories to feel more resolved and less triggering.

Is EMDR safe for medical trauma?

When provided by a trained clinician, EMDR is considered a safe and effective trauma-informed approach. Treatment is carefully paced, and preparation and stabilization are emphasized to ensure emotional safety throughout the process.

Can EMDR help with fear of doctors, hospitals, or procedures?

Yes. EMDR can be helpful for individuals who experience anxiety, panic, or avoidance related to medical environments. Therapy focuses on addressing the underlying memories and nervous system responses that drive fear rather than forcing exposure.

What if I have ongoing or chronic medical conditions?

EMDR and psychotherapy can still be helpful even when medical issues are ongoing. Therapy does not aim to change medical reality, but rather to support emotional regulation, reduce trauma responses, and improve quality of life and sense of agency.

How does an integrative approach support healing from medical trauma?

An integrative approach addresses both emotional processing and nervous system regulation. Therapy may include trauma-informed psychotherapy, EMDR-informed work, somatic awareness, and strategies to help restore a sense of safety and connection to the body.

Is telehealth effective for EMDR and medical trauma therapy?

Yes. Telehealth EMDR can be effective for medical trauma when appropriately adapted. Many clients feel safer processing experiences from their own environment, which can support regulation and emotional containment.

Do you offer EMDR for medical trauma to New York clients via telehealth?

Yes. EMDR-informed therapy for traumatic medical experiences is offered to individuals located in New York through secure telehealth sessions, in accordance with state licensure requirements.

Who typically seeks therapy for medical trauma?

I often work with adults who are thoughtful and capable yet feel unsettled, anxious, or disconnected following medical experiences. This includes medical professionals, patients with chronic illness, individuals navigating reproductive or surgical trauma, and those recovering from emergency care.

How long does EMDR therapy for medical trauma take?

The length of therapy varies. Some clients experience relief after targeted EMDR work, while others benefit from a longer integrative process that addresses cumulative experiences and nervous system patterns. Therapy is paced collaboratively.

When might additional or different support be recommended?

If symptoms are severe or involve safety concerns, additional support or coordination with medical providers may be recommended. Ethical practice includes recognizing when referrals or collaborative care are appropriate.

How do I get started with therapy for traumatic medical experiences?

You can begin by requesting an initial consultation. This allows us to discuss your experiences, determine whether EMDR or another trauma-informed approach is appropriate, and outline next steps in a supportive, measured way.

Therapy begins with a consultation to clarify concerns and determine the most supportive approach. Many clients experience relief after the first session.