EMDR Group Therapy

Private Trauma Support, In a Shared Space

EMDR group therapy offers trauma-focused support without requiring you to share personal details. The structure keeps your work private, steady, and accessible—so you can focus on healing at your own pace.

What Is EMDR Group Therapy?

Group EMDR uses the same core approach as individual EMDR, adapted for a structured group setting.
The work still happens internally and step by step, without sharing personal stories or details.

In sessions, you focus on your own experience while moving through the process alongside others doing their own work. The group provides a steady, supportive rhythm, while your personal history remains private.

The structure stays consistent from session to session, allowing trauma work to happen in a way that feels contained, choice-based, and accessible.

What You Do (and Don’t) Share in Group EMDR

The group is structured to protect privacy and emotional safety, so you can focus on your own internal process without sharing personal details.
You’re not asked to tell your story, disclose trauma, or discuss personal history — even with the therapist. The work happens internally, guided step by step, and any speaking is optional, brief, and not content-based.

You can fully participate without speaking at all, if that feels most supportive.

Group EMDR may be a good fit if…

  • You’re interested in trauma-focused support but prefer not to share personal details in a group or with a therapist

  • You want a structured, guided approach to trauma processing with clear boundaries and expectations

  • You value the steadiness and regulation that can come from being in a shared therapeutic space, even while doing your own internal work

  • You’re looking for trauma support that feels more accessible, while still being clinically grounded

  • You appreciate predictability and benefit from a consistent session structure

Looking for a flexible option?

Group EMDR can be offered in different formats depending on your needs. If you’re looking for a more flexible, lower-commitment option, Drop-In Group EMDR may be a good place to start.

Group EMDR Therapy
Vs
Individual EMDR Therapy

Both group EMDR and individual EMDR use the same trauma-processing framework. Some people choose group EMDR as a complement to individual therapy, while others find it to be a supportive entry point into trauma work. The difference is not about effectiveness, but about structure, access, and how support is experienced.

    • One-on-one attention and individualized pacing

    • More flexibility in session structure and focus

    • Space to work with complex or highly specific material over time

    • Ongoing relational support within a consistent therapeutic relationship

    • A structured, predictable format with clear boundaries

    • Trauma processing that happens internally, without sharing personal details

    • The grounding and regulation that can come from being in a shared therapeutic space

    • Greater accessibility while still remaining trauma-focused and clinically guided

Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR Group Therapy

  • Group EMDR was originally developed for situations where large numbers of people were impacted by trauma at the same time, such as humanitarian crises and disaster settings. In those contexts, it was essential that trauma care be ethical, contained, and safe, even when offered in groups.

    Because of these origins, group EMDR is intentionally structured to protect nervous system regulation. Sessions follow a predictable format, are carefully facilitated by a trained EMDR therapist, and emphasize pacing, grounding, and internal processing rather than emotional exposure or disclosure. Personal trauma details are not shared, and the structure is designed to support integration without overwhelming the system.

    In this practice, those same principles guide the group process, with additional attention to readiness, containment, and individual choice.

  • No. Sharing trauma details or personal history is explicitly prohibited in group EMDR. The work happens internally, and any verbal participation is limited, structured, and content-free. You can participate fully without speaking at all.

  • Group size is kept intentionally manageable to support safety, structure, and effective facilitation. Exact numbers may vary, but the focus is always on maintaining a contained and supportive group environment.

  • Group EMDR is not meant to replace individual therapy for everyone. Some people use it alongside individual work, while others find it to be a helpful entry point or supplement to other supports. The right combination depends on your needs and circumstances.

Next Steps

If you have questions about fit or structure, you’re welcome to reach out.
We can talk through whether group EMDR feels like a supportive option for you.

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