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EMDR Therapists in Nova Scotia

Licensed therapists serving Nova Scotia, available online and in person. Watch intro videos, compare EMDR training and credentials, and book a free 15-minute consultation directly.

Find your therapist

Live in Nova Scotia? Connect with a EMDR therapist in-person or online.

Licensed EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapists based and insured in Nova Scotia.

Want help finding the right therapist? Call or text us at 778-486-0068
  • Photo of Melissa Melnychuk

    Melissa Melnychuk

    Registered Psychotherapist

    • Virtual sessions in all provinces and territories.

Online therapy for you in Nova Scotia.

Out-of-province licensed EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapists insured to provide online therapy in Nova Scotia. Timezone availability may vary.

  • Photo of Joyce Musekiwa

    Joyce Musekiwa

    Canadian Certified Counsellor

    • Virtual sessions in all provinces and territories.
  • Photo of Richard Tatomir

    Richard Tatomir

    Canadian Certified Counsellor

    • Offers in-person (Langley, BC)
    • Virtual sessions in all provinces and territories.
  • Photo of Nick Abraham

    Nick Abraham

    Registered Clinical Counsellor

    • Offers in-person (Nanaimo, BC)
    • Virtual sessions in all provinces and territories.
  • Photo of Victoria Gabriele

    Victoria Gabriele

    Registered Social Worker

    • Virtual sessions in AB, ON, NS
  • Photo of Kate MacDonald

    Kate MacDonald

    Psychologist

    • Virtual sessions in AB, NS, NB
  • Photo of Anna Loch

    Anna Loch

    Registered Clinical Counsellor

    • Offers in-person (Vancouver, BC)
    • Virtual sessions in all provinces and territories.
  • Photo of Michèle Dawn

    Michèle Dawn

    Registered Therapeutic Counsellor

    • Virtual sessions in all provinces and territories.
  • Photo of Margarita Iarovaia

    Margarita Iarovaia

    Registered Psychotherapist

    • Offers in-person (Hamilton, ON)
    • Virtual sessions in all provinces and territories.
  • Photo of Courtney Doherty

    Courtney Doherty

    Registered Clinical Counsellor

    • Virtual sessions in all provinces and territories.
  • Photo of Erica Berman

    Erica Berman

    Registered Psychotherapist

    • Virtual sessions in all provinces and territories.
  • Photo of Jasmine Chadha

    Jasmine Chadha

    Canadian Certified Counsellor

    • Offers in-person (Edmonton, AB)
    • Virtual sessions in MB, BC, NL, NT, NS, NU, ON, SK
  • Photo of Kelly Collins

    Kelly Collins

    Registered Psychotherapist

    • Waitlist
    • Offers in-person (Burlington, ON)
    • Virtual sessions in BC, NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK
Browse all therapists

What is EMDR therapy?

EMDR is a structured therapy used for trauma and PTSD. It stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.

According to EMDRIA, the field's international association, Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., founded it after noticing a link between eye movement and upsetting memories. The client focuses on a distressing image, belief, emotion and body sensation tied to an event, then moves toward a positive belief.

The World Health Organization's 2013 guidance on trauma-related stress names EMDR among the techniques that can help people reduce vivid, unwanted, repeated memories of traumatic events.

A bio shows a therapist's training, but an intro video shows how they explain the work. Each First Session listing above has one.

What to know about EMDR in Nova Scotia

Online and in-person

A systematic review of online EMDR covered 16 studies and 1,231 participants. Its authors call delivering EMDR online feasible and potentially effective, and ask for more comparative trials. They found no studies with children.

Therapists must be registered in Nova Scotia, or insured to provide online care here if they live in another province. Extended health plans reimburse online sessions on the same terms as in-person sessions.

Credentials in Nova Scotia

Registered Counselling Therapist (RCT) has been a protected title since October 11, 2011, according to the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. The Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists regulates it.

The Nova Scotia Regulator of Psychology protects the title Psychologist, and the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers regulates Registered Social Workers. The Regulator of Psychology says psychotherapist, counsellor and therapist are not protected titles here.

Cost and insurance

First Session's Halifax guide, updated in June 2026, lists an average of $170 per session for counsellors and about $225 for psychologists. Sample profiles show $140 for an RCT and $175 for a Registered Psychotherapist.

Veterans Affairs Canada lists RCTs among its covered professionals in Nova Scotia. Some workplace and student plans restrict which designations qualify, so match your plan to the designation on the profile.

EMDR training and certification

Basic training is the entry point. EMDRIA describes certification as advanced competency beyond it.

EMDRIA certification requires a current license to practise independently and two years of experience. It also requires at least 50 EMDR sessions with 25 clients, 20 hours of consultation with an approved consultant, and 12 EMDRIA credit hours.

How to choose an EMDR therapist in Nova Scotia

1Ask where they are in EMDR training

Ask whether the therapist is EMDRIA-certified or has completed an EMDRIA-approved basic training. Both are valid answers. The question tells you how far along they are against the certification requirements above.

2Match the designation to your plan

Check whether your plan names Registered Counselling Therapists, Registered Social Workers or psychologists. Each profile shows the designation and fee, so you can confirm coverage before you book.

3Watch the intro video

EMDR involves recalling hard memories with another person in the room. A short video lets you hear the therapist's pace and tone before you spend a session on it.

4Use the free consultation for process questions

Ask how the therapist paces sessions and what they do if a memory feels too intense. Book the free 15-minute consultation directly from the profile.

Looking for something more specific?

Filter by specialty in Nova Scotia

Trauma therapists in Nova Scotia

PTSD therapists in Nova Scotia

Anxiety therapists in Nova Scotia

Therapists in Nova Scotia

Nearby cities

Therapists in Halifax

EMDR therapists in Halifax

EMDR in other places

EMDR therapists in New Brunswick

EMDR therapists in Prince Edward Island

EMDR therapists in Ontario

Helpful reading

EMDR therapy in Canada

Online vs. in-person therapy

How to find a therapist covered by insurance in Canada

How to find a therapist or psychologist in Halifax

How we vet our therapists and counsellors

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First Session Client, 2025

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Compatibility is the most important factor when choosing a therapist. But finding the right fit isn’t easy. First Session takes the time, guesswork, and emotional labour out of that process.

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Convenience-first approach to finding a EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)

  • Burnout from endless search results and unhelpful EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) profiles.
  • Disappointment and frustration from generic intake calls and unproductive ‘free’ consultations.
  • Emotional stress from repeatedly revealing private thoughts and feelings to incompatible EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)s
  • Stalled mental health progress because of limited availability, timezone differences, or constantly switching providers
  • Risk of abandoning therapy process altogether because of frustration, exhaustion, or depression

Connection-first approach to finding a EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) with First Session

  • Instantly create a short-list of EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)s qualified to support your journey
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  • Save time and minimize stress by finding the right fit without endless switching
  • Make meaningful progress sooner and commit to lasting, meaningful change
Find your EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is EMDR therapy covered by insurance in Nova Scotia?

It depends on your plan and the therapist's designation. According to First Session's Halifax guide, extended health insurance in Nova Scotia can cover counselling therapists, psychologists and social workers, and many plans restrict which designations qualify.

Look for the designation your plan names. Each First Session profile lists it, and receipts are provided for reimbursement.

Does EMDR work online?

A systematic review of 16 studies found online EMDR feasible and potentially effective for PTSD, depression and anxiety. Most studies were single-arm, without a comparison group, and the authors call for further comparison with in-person care.

EMDRIA's own report on virtual EMDR says the published research is small. Ask a therapist how they run sessions online during your free consultation.

What is the difference between EMDR-trained and EMDR-certified?

Trained means the therapist completed an EMDRIA-approved basic training. Certified means they went further, as EMDRIA's requirements show: 50 EMDR sessions with 25 clients, 20 hours of consultation and 12 credit hours.

Ask which applies. A therapist can describe their training in plain terms during a consultation.

Is EMDR used for conditions other than PTSD?

EMDRIA lists anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addiction, sleep disturbance, grief and performance anxiety among its uses. That list comes from the association that promotes the therapy.

The online review above covered studies on PTSD, depression and anxiety, and could not assess other conditions. Filter by specialty to find therapists who list your concern.

Who regulates therapists who offer EMDR in Nova Scotia?

The protected titles belong to professions: Registered Counselling Therapist, Psychologist and Registered Social Worker. The counselling therapist college lists a public registry and a license status check on its website.

First Session requires therapists to be licensed and in good standing with their provincial college, and it interviews each one on camera before listing them.

Can a therapist outside Nova Scotia offer me EMDR online?

Yes, if they are registered in their home province and insured to provide online care to Nova Scotia clients. Those therapists appear in the online section above.

Match the therapist's designation to your plan before booking.

You deserve more from therapy.

You made the courageous decision to reach your full potential. Find the right therapist to help get you there, and make the most of the time and money you’re investing in yourself.

Find your therapist