Virtual care in Toronto and across Ontario

EMDR therapy
for teens.

Help with the experiences that still feel hard to leave behind.

Support for teens ages 13–18, at a pace shaped around the young person.

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20 minutes · Confidential · No pressure

✓ Registered Clinicians

✓ Virtual Across Ontario

✓ No-pressure Consultation

Understanding the approach

What is EMDR therapy?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a psychotherapy approach used to treat trauma-related distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

When a painful experience keeps showing up in everyday life, telling a teenager to move on rarely helps. EMDR offers a structured way to work with distressing memories, at a pace shaped around the young person.

At The Wayfinder Clinic, we support teens ages 13–18 and their families through virtual therapy across Ontario. A free consultation is a place to ask whether EMDR could be a fit.

During memory processing, a therapist guides brief sets of bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements or alternating taps, while the person notices aspects of a distressing experience. Preparation, coping skills, and checking readiness are part of the treatment, too.

The aim is to reduce the distress linked to a memory. Treatment does not erase what happened, and results vary. Your teen and their clinician decide together whether this approach makes sense for their needs.

Learn more about EMDR therapy at Wayfinder.

When the past affects the present

When might a teen consider EMDR?

A young person may want support after an accident, violence, abuse, or another frightening experience. Sometimes the concern is a specific memory. Sometimes it is the way reminders affect sleep, school, relationships, or their sense of safety.

Signs worth discussing with a clinician can include:

Unwanted memories or nightmares about an experience.
Avoiding people, places, or activities connected to what happened.
Feeling on edge or having strong reactions to reminders.
Persistent shame or self-blame linked to an event.

These experiences do not establish a diagnosis, and EMDR is not automatically the right treatment for every teen. Assessment helps clarify what is happening and whether trauma-focused work is appropriate.

If substance use or other difficulties are part of the picture, we can discuss how they affect treatment planning. Explore our broader therapy for teens services.

Trust before trauma work

What to expect from teen EMDR sessions.

Start with a conversation.

We begin by getting to know your teen, what has brought them to therapy, and what they want help with. Questions, uncertainty, and hesitation belong in that conversation.

Build a foundation.

Before processing difficult memories, the clinician assesses readiness and helps your teen develop ways to manage distress. There is no requirement to begin memory processing in the first appointment.

Work at a manageable pace.

If EMDR is suitable, the clinician explains the process and agrees on how to pause. Your teen stays awake and involved. They can say when something feels too much or when they need a different approach.

Review what is changing.

The work includes checking how sessions affect daily life and adjusting the plan. There is no fixed number of sessions that fits everyone. Preparation and follow-up matter as much as the processing itself.

For parents and caregivers

Support your teen without taking over their therapy.

You may be the person making the first call. You may also be unsure how to help without pushing too hard. A consultation gives you space to explain your concerns and ask about the next step.

We discuss consent, confidentiality, caregiver involvement, and the limits of privacy at the outset. The plan depends on your teen's needs and circumstances, including any safety concerns and applicable professional obligations.

At home, support can mean making room for appointments, helping your teen find privacy, and listening without asking for a detailed account of each session. If the family needs support of its own, we can also discuss family therapy.

Care that fits your situation

Virtual EMDR for teens in Toronto and Ontario.

Wayfinder is based in Toronto and provides virtual care across Ontario. Your clinician will assess whether online EMDR is suitable, including your teen's privacy, internet connection, available support, and ability to manage distress between sessions.

A quiet room and a reliable device are a starting point. If the home environment does not allow for safe, private sessions, raise that early so you can discuss appropriate options.

Find the right clinician.

Our team includes clinicians who use EMDR and work with adolescents. Read about Ted Boyle and Jordan Kritzinger, or meet the team. Ask about experience with your teen's particular concerns and current availability during the consultation.

Meet the Wayfinder team

Sessions, fees & availability

Planning EMDR therapy for your teen.

Start here

Free 20-minute consultation

Start with a conversation about your teen’s needs, whether EMDR may be appropriate, and which clinician could be a fit. There is no fee or commitment to continue.

Request a free consultation

$220 per session

EMDR therapy appointments are 50 minutes. We are a private-pay clinic and provide receipts for insurance reimbursement. Coverage depends on your plan and the clinician’s professional designation.

Explore EMDR therapy

Clinic availability.

The Wayfinder Clinic is accepting new clients for virtual EMDR therapy across Ontario, with appointments available Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Appointment times and clinician availability vary; contact us to find a suitable fit for your teen.

Meet the Team

EMDR for teens

Common questions.

Ask us a question

Will my teen have to describe everything that happened?

EMDR does not usually require a lengthy, detailed retelling. The clinician still needs enough information to understand the concern and plan treatment safely. Your teen can discuss anything they are not ready to share.

Can EMDR feel upsetting?

Working with difficult memories can bring up strong feelings. Preparation, pacing, and a plan for managing distress are important. Tell the clinician about any change that feels difficult to manage so the approach can be adjusted.

How many sessions will they need?

That depends on the concerns, readiness for memory work, and how treatment progresses. Ask for an initial plan and regular reviews rather than a promised timeline.

What if my teen does not want EMDR?

That is important information. A consultation can help clarify what they are uncomfortable with and whether another approach would suit them better. Participation and a workable therapeutic relationship matter.

Does EMDR help every kind of anxiety?

EMDR has an established role in trauma treatment. Anxiety can have different causes, and trauma-related distress is not the same as every anxiety disorder. Assessment helps identify an appropriate treatment.

What does it cost, and is it covered?

EMDR therapy is $220 per 50-minute appointment. We provide receipts; reimbursement depends on your insurance plan and the clinician's professional designation. Check those details with your insurer.

How to start

Make the call.
Request a free 20-minute consultation.
Make the connection.
Match with the therapist that fits best.
Make the change.
Build practical skills and work toward lasting change.

Take the first step

You do not have to have it all figured out.

If you are looking for EMDR therapy for a teenager in Toronto or elsewhere in Ontario, start with a free 20-minute consultation. Tell us what is happening, ask your questions, and explore whether our care fits your teen's needs.