There isn’t one objectively best EMDR therapist for everyone. The right choice depends on your treatment goals, the concerns you’d like to address, and the type of support that fits you best. Some therapists focus on trauma or grief, while others provide broader counseling services or concentrated EMDR intensives instead of traditional weekly sessions.
Provider profiles can be difficult to compare because many list similar credentials and approaches. Looking closely at each therapist’s experience, specialties, treatment formats, and setting can make the differences clearer.
This guide compares 5 EMDR therapists and practices in Huntsville, Alabama. Understanding how EMDR therapy works can also help you evaluate your options and ask more informed questions before beginning treatment.
How these Huntsville EMDR providers were evaluated
The therapists and practices in this list were compared using publicly available information from their official websites and professional profiles. The evaluation considered:
- Professional licensure
- EMDR training or certification
- Relevant clinical specialties
- Therapy format and treatment setting
- The needs each provider may be best equipped to address
EMDR training and EMDR certification aren’t interchangeable. Before choosing a provider, ask what training they completed, whether they hold a current certification, and how regularly they use EMDR with concerns similar to yours.
5 EMDR therapists and practices in Huntsville to consider
These Huntsville EMDR providers vary in their specialties, treatment formats, and services. The numbering is for organization and doesn’t represent an overall clinical ranking.
1. Jan Owen, Back Porch Counseling
Jan Owen provides counseling for grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, panic, and major life transitions through Back Porch Counseling. Clients can choose traditional therapy sessions or explore a more concentrated EMDR intensive format based on their needs and readiness.
Credentials
- Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor
- Trained and certified in EMDR
- Trained and certified in bereavement and life-transition counseling through the Center for Loss and Life Transition
Approach
- Provides grief counseling, trauma therapy, EMDR, and standard counseling sessions
- Offers EMDR intensives ranging from shorter sessions to multi-day treatment
- Provides intensive treatment at her Huntsville office and The Sanctuary near Lake Guntersville, depending on the format
Best fit
- Adults seeking grief or trauma therapy with standard and intensive EMDR options
- Huntsville-area adults seeking care at 475 Providence Main Street, Suite 303C, and clients traveling to North Alabama for retreat-style treatment near Lake Guntersville
2. Melissa Vann, LPC
Melissa Vann is a Huntsville-based Licensed Professional Counselor who works with adults experiencing PTSD, complex trauma, dissociation, grief, depression, anxiety, stress, and related concerns.
Credentials
- Licensed Professional Counselor with more than 20 years of counseling experience
- Trained and certified in EMDR and a member of the EMDR International Association
- Trained in Internal Family Systems therapy
Approach
- Integrates EMDR and Internal Family Systems concepts according to each client’s needs
- Provides individual counseling to adults
- Works with trauma, PTSD, dissociation, anxiety, depression, grief, stress, and career concerns
Best fit
- Adults interested in an approach informed by both EMDR and Internal Family Systems
- Huntsville-area adults seeking individual counseling near Providence Main Street
3. Holleigh Woodward Counseling
Holleigh Woodward is a Huntsville-based Licensed Professional Counselor who works with adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and related concerns.
Credentials
- Licensed Professional Counselor with specialized EMDR training
- Certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, or CBT-I
Approach
- Uses EMDR, CBT-I, Brainspotting, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and strengths-based counseling
- Treats trauma-related concerns, anxiety, depression, and sleep difficulties
- Offers in-person and telehealth appointments
Best fit
- Adults seeking trauma therapy with additional support for insomnia or disrupted sleep
- Clients looking for in-person care in Huntsville or telehealth appointments
4. Thriveworks Counseling & Therapy Huntsville
Thriveworks Counseling & Therapy Huntsville is a larger, multi-provider practice offering multiple counseling formats and specialties. EMDR is listed among its Huntsville services, although treatment methods and qualifications vary by clinician.
Credentials
- Multi-provider practice with licensed mental health professionals from different clinical backgrounds
- Lists EMDR among the approaches available through its Huntsville practice
- Features Andy Markham, LPC, whose profile states that he has more than 18 years of experience and uses EMDR, CBT, and family-systems approaches
Approach
- Offers individual, child, teen, couples, and family services
- Provides in-person and online counseling
- Accepts many major insurance plans, with EMDR availability and training varying by clinician
Best fit
- Huntsville clients who want a larger provider network, multiple scheduling options, or online counseling
- Individuals and families looking for a practice that accepts a broad range of insurance plans
5. Garrett Counseling
Garrett Counseling is a multi-location Alabama practice that has served children, adolescents, and adults since 2009. Its services include traditional counseling, EMDR, play therapy, couples counseling, and family counseling.
Credentials
- Multi-provider Alabama counseling practice operating since 2009
- Lists EMDR and play therapy among its services
- Works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families
Approach
- Provides counseling for trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship concerns, and other mental health needs
- Offers in-person services at multiple Alabama locations, including Huntsville, as well as telehealth
- Displays Alabama Medicaid, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, ALL Kids, and Aetna insurance information, with coverage and EMDR availability varying by clinician
Best fit
- Huntsville families seeking counseling services for children and adults through one practice
- Clients who want access to multiple providers, treatment specialties, or telehealth services
Questions to ask before choosing an EMDR therapist
The best questions to ask an EMDR therapist focus on qualifications, relevant experience, readiness assessment, treatment format, and follow-up care. Their answers can give you a clearer picture of what to expect before beginning therapy.
- Are you EMDR-trained or EMDR-certified?
- How often do you use EMDR with concerns like mine?
- How do you determine whether someone is ready for EMDR?
- Do you provide weekly sessions, EMDR intensives, or both?
- What preparation and follow-up support do you provide?
Credentials matter, but the therapeutic relationship matters, too. You should feel respected, informed, and able to ask questions without being rushed into trauma processing before you’re ready.
Talk with Jan Owen about EMDR therapy in Huntsville
Choosing an EMDR therapist takes more than comparing credentials or reading biographies. A direct conversation can help you understand how a therapist approaches EMDR, what treatment may involve, and whether their experience aligns with the concerns you want to address.
If you’re considering an EMDR intensive, Jan can answer your questions about preparation, scheduling, treatment format, and what to expect. You can request a free 20-minute consultation to discuss whether an intensive may fit your needs.
Frequently asked questions
How can you tell if an EMDR therapist is good?
Look for appropriate licensure, recognized EMDR training, relevant clinical experience, and a clear readiness assessment. A good EMDR therapist explains the process, potential discomfort, preparation, and follow-up; answers questions directly; and doesn’t rush trauma processing.
What kind of trauma is EMDR best for?
EMDR has its strongest evidence for PTSD and trauma-related symptoms. It may be used after single-event or repeated trauma, including accidents, abuse, violence, medical trauma, and traumatic loss, but a clinical assessment should determine whether it’s appropriate for your needs.
When is EMDR not a good idea?
EMDR may not be appropriate to start during an active crisis, an immediate safety concern, or severe instability. A clinician may recommend stabilization, grounding skills, medical care, crisis support, or another treatment before beginning trauma processing.
How long does EMDR take to heal trauma?
There’s no fixed timeline. The National Center for PTSD describes EMDR for PTSD as commonly involving weekly 50- to 90-minute sessions over approximately three months, but treatment may be shorter or longer depending on your history, symptoms, goals, and response.
How can you tell if EMDR is working?
EMDR may be working when traumatic memories cause less distress and symptoms interfere less with daily life. Signs can include fewer emotional reactions, less avoidance, better sleep, healthier beliefs, and a greater ability to recall an experience without feeling as though it’s happening again.