Altoona, Iowa
EMDR Therapy
Imagine feeling free from what used to hold you back.
At Healing Rock Counseling, EMDR therapy helps your brain do what it was always designed to do — process, release, and heal.
EMDR is one of the most researched and celebrated breakthroughs in modern therapy.
Picture waking up and not being ambushed by a memory. Moving through your day without being pulled back into something that happened years ago. Feeling present, grounded, and genuinely like yourself again. That's what EMDR therapy at Healing Rock Counseling makes possible.
It doesn't just help you talk about what happened. It helps your brain actually process and release it — so the past stops showing up uninvited in your present. And at Healing Rock, every licensed provider on our team is EMDR-trained, giving you more options to find the right fit than almost anywhere else in the Altoona, Iowa area.
How EMDR Therapy Can HelpHeal from trauma and PTSD from any source
Reduce anxiety, panic attacks, and chronic stress
Process grief and complicated loss
Work through childhood trauma and adverse experiences
Feel present, grounded, and genuinely free
Shift deeply held negative beliefs about yourself
What to Expect
Sessions typically last 45–55 minutes, and your therapist will always move at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you.
EMDR is different from traditional talk therapy — and knowing what to expect makes starting feel a lot less daunting. Your therapist will begin by getting to know you, your history, and what you're hoping to work through. EMDR happens in structured phases — starting with building safety and trust, then moving into processing specific memories using bilateral stimulation, most commonly guided eye movements.
Many clients describe feeling a noticeable shift in how a memory feels — lighter, less charged, less present — often within just a few sessions.
Our Approach
Every licensed provider at Healing Rock is EMDR-trained — making us one of the most uniquely equipped trauma therapy practices in the Altoona, Iowa area and across the Des Moines metro.
✔ Every licensed therapist trained in EMDR
✔ Structured, phased approach that always prioritizes your safety
✔ Specialized experience with trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and grief
✔ In-person sessions in Altoona and telehealth across Iowa
Frequently Asked Questions
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EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps people process and heal from traumatic or distressing experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — most commonly guided eye movements — to help the brain process memories that have become stuck, reducing their emotional intensity and allowing healing to move forward.
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EMDR is highly effective for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, grief, and deeply held negative beliefs about yourself. You don't need a formal diagnosis to benefit — if something from your past is still affecting how you feel or function today, EMDR may be exactly what you've been looking for. Our team is happy to talk through whether it's the right fit during your free consultation.
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Every licensed provider at Healing Rock is trained in EMDR — which is rare for a practice our size. That means you're not waiting for one specific therapist to have availability. You have an entire team to choose from, so finding the right fit happens faster and healing can begin sooner.
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How can I contact you? Phone: (515) 418-3837 | Email: info@healingrockia.com | 700 1st Ave S, Suite C, Altoona, IA 50009. Email is typically the fastest way to hear back from us.
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If you're using insurance, your cost will depend on your individual plan. We accept Wellmark BCBS, United Healthcare and connected UHC plans, Midlands Choice (Cigna/Health Partners), and limited Aetna plans. For private pay clients, individual therapy sessions are priced between $140–$200 depending on session length and type.
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Safe, grounded, and completely at your pace. EMDR can feel unfamiliar at first — and our therapists are skilled at making the process feel manageable from day one. You'll never be pushed faster than you're ready to go. Many clients tell us EMDR at Healing Rock was the first time they felt like real, lasting relief was actually possible.