EMDR Therapy    New York

EMDR Therapy
in New York

Support that helps you process what's been holding on — online across NY or in-person in Clinton, NY.

15+
Years Experience
Working with teens and adults ready to move beyond just understanding their struggles.
Licensed clinical social worker with over 15 years in individual and EMDR therapy.
2
Ways to Meet
In-person in Clinton, NY — or online, anywhere in New York State.
Sessions available in Clinton, NY and virtually across New York — whatever fits your routine.
Flexible Scheduling
Daytime availability designed to fit into your life without adding more stress.
Scheduling that works with real life — not a months-long waitlist or a single rigid time slot.
Beyond Talk
EMDR Approach
Helping the brain reprocess, not just discuss, what's stuck.
EMDR is not traditional talk therapy — it helps shift how experiences live in the body and mind, not just how you think about them.

About the work

Therapy That Helps
You Move Through
Trauma

At Valerie Lighthall LCSW Counseling Services, EMDR therapy is designed to help you process experiences that feel stuck, overwhelming, or unresolved. With over 15 years of experience, Valerie works with teens and adults who are ready to move beyond just understanding their struggles and start actually shifting how those experiences live in their body and mind.

Sessions are available virtually across New York State, with daytime availability that can fit into your routine without adding more stress to your schedule.

The goal is to help you move forward in a way that feels real, and grounded in your everyday life.

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15+
Years of Experience

Recognizing the signs

When the Past
Still Feels Present

You might know exactly what you have been through, or you might just feel the impact without fully understanding why. Maybe you have talked about it before, but something still feels stuck. You may notice:

  • Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or thoughts that feel hard to control
  • Emotional reactions that feel bigger than the moment
  • Anxiety that feels tied to specific experiences or triggers
  • Difficulty moving on from past experiences, even when you want to

You do not need to wait until things get worse or have everything figured out before reaching out. Therapy can help you make sense of what you are feeling and start creating change.

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You can talk about something for years and still feel stuck. EMDR works differently.

Valerie Lighthall, LCSW

The approach

A Different
Approach to Processing
and Healing

EMDR is not traditional talk therapy. Instead of only discussing what happened, it helps your brain reprocess experiences so they no longer feel as intense or present in day-to-day life. You are not reliving everything alone, or being pushed faster than you're ready for.

01
Honest, direct conversations that do not sugarcoat things
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What this means

Sessions won't dance around what needs to be said. Expect direct feedback and honest observations, even when they're hard to hear, because that's often where the real movement happens.

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02
A supportive space that still holds you accountable
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What this means

This isn't a space to just vent without follow-through. Support and accountability work together here, so insight actually turns into change.

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03
A therapist who shows up as a real person, not just a title
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What this means

You won't get a rehearsed script. Valerie brings genuine presence and reacts honestly in sessions — the same way she'd want support to feel if she were in your seat.

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You do not need all the answers.
You just need a place to start.

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Private Pay Practice

Logistics

Flexible Support,
Without the Extra Hassle

Starting therapy should not feel complicated. From online scheduling to a simple client portal, everything is designed to be straightforward so you can focus on your well-being.

Virtual & In Person Teens & Adults in NY Private Pay
  • Available virtually across all of New York State
  • Daytime appointments available
  • Simple, secure video platform — no downloads required
  • Consistent weekly scheduling so it becomes part of your routine
  • In-person sessions held in Clinton, NY
  • Daytime availability — adding to your schedule, not disrupting it
  • A warm, private office space designed for comfort
  • Easy to add to your schedule without adding stress to your day
  • In-person (Clinton, NY) & Virtual (NY State) — $175/session
  • Sliding scale available — reach out to discuss
  • Payment due at time of session — credit card, HSA/FSA accepted

Choosing not to work with insurance companies is a deliberate decision — one that protects you as much as it protects the quality of our work together.

  • You don't have to receive a mental health diagnosis to begin therapy.
  • Session notes stay between us — they won't be shared with your insurance company.
  • No outside party gets to decide how often we meet, how long we work together, or whether your reasons for coming are valid enough.
  • A smaller caseload means more attention, more flexibility, and more personalized care — not a number in a system.
  • Insurance reimbursement rates for private practice therapists are low and don't reflect experience or training — private pay keeps this work sustainable and focused on you.
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The first step

Getting Started Is Simple

1

Reach Out

Fill out the contact form or send a message — no pressure, just a starting point.

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You'll hear back within a couple of business days to set up a free 15-minute consultation call.
2

Quick Consultation

A short call to talk about what's going on and see if it feels like a good fit.

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This is a low-pressure conversation — there's no obligation to continue if it's not the right fit for either of you.
3

Begin Sessions

Schedule your first appointment — virtual or in-person in Clinton, NY.

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From here, sessions are scheduled weekly or biweekly, at a consistent day and time that works with your routine.
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Prefer to skip the form? Book a session directly.

Common questions

Getting Started
Is Simple

Send a message describing what brings you in. Valerie will follow up to schedule a free consultation call.

This is a private pay practice. A receipt can be provided for you to submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement, depending on your plan.

Both. Virtual sessions are available anywhere in New York State, and in-person sessions are held in Clinton, NY.

Teens and adults who are ready to move beyond just understanding their struggles and start shifting how those experiences live in the body and mind.