EMDR Therapy · For Children & Teens
EMDR for children and teens.
EMDR can be adapted for children as young as two, using techniques that match how kids process experience. Here is how it works across developmental stages, what it looks like in session, and how caregivers stay part of the work.
EMDR adapted for the developing nervous system
EMDR can be adapted for children as young as two using developmentally appropriate techniques. The eight-phase protocol stays the same, but the form changes to match how kids process experience: more play, more sensory input, more movement, less language. With older children and teens, EMDR becomes more recognizable to anyone familiar with the adult version, but still adapted to where they are developmentally.
Children's brains are still being shaped, and they often respond well to trauma-focused approaches, sometimes more quickly than adults. The same neuroplasticity that makes kids vulnerable to lasting effects from overwhelm also gives them remarkable capacity to heal when they have steady, attuned care.
A 2021 narrative review in the field of child and adolescent psychology supports EMDR adaptation for young children, including the protocols developed specifically for ages 2 through 12.
For a broader picture of how we work with kids and teens across modalities, see our therapy for children & teens page.
How it adapts
EMDR across developmental stages
The eight-phase EMDR protocol stays consistent across ages. What changes is how each phase is delivered, the role of caregivers, and the kinds of materials used.
Ages 2–6
Play-integrated EMDR
For very young children, EMDR weaves into play. Bilateral stimulation might involve tapping a stuffed animal's paws alternately, alternating sounds while the child plays, or following a moving toy with their eyes. The "memory" being processed is held through drawing, storytelling, or symbolic play. Caregivers are typically present.
Ages 7–12
Story and image work
School-age kids can engage more with the protocol's verbal and image-based elements. Drawing, writing, and conversation become more central. Tapping or hand-held buzzers replace some of the play-based bilateral stimulation. Caregivers may be present part of the time, with portions of session dedicated to the child alone as developmentally appropriate.
Ages 13–18
More recognizable EMDR
EMDR with adolescents looks similar to the adult protocol with adaptations for developmental stage. Confidentiality is structured carefully and explained at the first session. Caregivers stay involved in age-appropriate ways but the work is primarily between the teen and their therapist. Many teens find EMDR more accessible than therapies that require extensive talking.
The caregiver's role
Children regulate partly through their relationship with a caregiver. When that relationship is steady, the child borrows their caregiver's calm. EMDR with kids almost always involves caregivers in some way, and the form depends on the child's age and the work being done.
For younger children (ages 2–8 or so), caregivers are often present in session, particularly in early phases. Your therapist may also coach you on how to support your child between sessions. The work between you and your child outside of therapy often matters as much as what happens in the room.
For older children and teens, the balance shifts. Sessions are often the child's space, while caregivers stay involved through collateral conversations and family work where it fits. We will explain how confidentiality works at the first appointment, including what stays between the child and therapist and what gets shared.
For families navigating adoption or foster care, the attachment work between the child and caregiver is often a central part of EMDR treatment, not a side concern.
What EMDR can help with for kids and teens
EMDR for children can help with a range of presentations, particularly when there are identifiable experiences shaping the current symptom. Common reasons families bring kids to EMDR:
- Single-incident events like a car accident, medical procedure, dog bite, or witnessing something frightening
- Ongoing or developmental trauma, often paced more carefully and in tandem with attachment work
- Anxiety with identifiable origins, including school anxiety, social anxiety, and phobias
- Post-loss symptoms when grief has gotten stuck or become traumatic
- Adoption- and foster-care-related material including pre-placement experiences, attachment disruption, and identity work
- Complex behavioral changes following overwhelming experiences, when the child cannot put what happened into words
Some kids do best with EMDR as a primary modality. Others benefit from EMDR integrated with play therapy, attachment-based work, or family therapy. The intake call is the place to talk through what's going on and figure out the right fit.
Frequently asked questions
Can EMDR be used with young children?
Yes. EMDR can be adapted for children as young as two using developmentally appropriate techniques. With younger children this often looks more like play with bilateral elements integrated in. With older children and teens, EMDR can be more recognizable but still adapted to their stage.
What does EMDR look like for a young child?
For young children, EMDR often integrates play, drawing, and storytelling. The bilateral stimulation might involve tapping a stuffed animal's paws alternately, alternating sounds while the child plays, or following a moving toy with their eyes. The therapist adapts the language and pacing to match how the child processes experience. The protocol's structure stays the same, but the form is developmentally appropriate.
Are caregivers involved in EMDR sessions for kids?
Yes, in age-appropriate ways. For younger children, caregivers are often present in session, particularly in early phases. For older children and teens, the balance shifts toward the child's relationship with their therapist while caregivers stay involved in collateral conversations and family work. The therapist will discuss what fits your family at the first appointment.
How long does EMDR for children take?
It depends on what's being worked on and the child's developmental stage. For a single specific event (like a car accident or a medical procedure), focused EMDR work can sometimes resolve symptoms in a small number of sessions. For more complex trauma, attachment-related work, or developmental trauma, treatment unfolds over longer periods and is integrated with other approaches.
If your child is in crisis right now
We are an outpatient practice and not a crisis service. If your child is in immediate danger or thinking about suicide, please call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or take them to your nearest emergency room. Help is available right now.
Looking for EMDR for your child or teen?
A consultation is the most direct way to talk through what's going on and figure out whether EMDR is the right fit. Several of our clinicians specialize in EMDR with children and adolescents.
Learn More
Therapy for Children & Teens
Our broader guide to working with kids and adolescents across modalities, including play therapy and family work.
Therapy for Adoptive Families
EMDR is often a central part of work with adoptive and foster families navigating attachment and pre-placement material.
How EMDR Works
In-depth: the AIP model, dual attention stimulation, and what each of the 8 phases involves.