Providing Research-Proven Therapies
At Youth Eastside Services (YES), we believe every family deserves access to life-changing mental health support, no matter their financial circumstances. Thanks to our community’s generosity, youth and families in East King County have access to research-proven therapies, which are typically out of reach for many due to high costs. One example is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy—a transformative approach for trauma recovery. Recently, YES counselors attended specialized EMDR training, which was made possible through your support, empowering us to bring this impactful therapy to more youth and families in our community.
EMDR CARE FOR TRAUMA RECOVERY
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy that has made a difference in YES’ ability to provide advanced and specialized care for its clients. EMDR is designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences. By using guided eye movements along with recalling distressing memories, EMDR helps reduce the emotional charge of traumatic memories and allows people to reframe them in healthier ways. Since adding it to our list of therapies, EMDR has been a crucial resource for YES’ clients, counselors, and the community.
With community support and funding, YES sent a group of YES counselors to train in EMDR, giving them the tools to offer this effective therapy to more clients. Now, youth who
have experienced trauma are benefiting from therapies like EMDR, which have proven to help them heal. Youth are especially open to trying new techniques, and Christina, a YES Youth & Family Counselor, has seen firsthand how providing these evidence-based therapies and specialized care makes a real difference,
“Last year, I wanted to deepen my skills in EMDR, which has shown promising results in research. It’s amazing how receptive young people are. I’ve had clients who became more engaged in therapy, built self-esteem, and learned to manage unhelpful thoughts using EMDR, all because they had access to this technique.”
PERSONALIZED RESEARCH-PROVEN THERAPIES
Justin, a YES Youth & Family Counselor and BGLAD Group Facilitator is equally grateful for the opportunity to improve his abilities to provide care:
“Every client is unique, and having access to different therapeutic approaches allows me to tailor care to each individual. EMDR is just one of the many tools I now have in my belt.”
YES’ ability to provide personalized therapies extends far beyond EMDR – from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to substance use treatments like 7 Challenges and AWARE. The reality is that many of these treatments are prohibitively expensive, but because of generous support from YES donors, youth and families in our community can receive top-quality care without the financial burden.
MAKING A LASTING DIFFERENCE
By funding ongoing training and evidence-based treatments, we are making a lasting difference in the lives of young people. Every family, regardless of income, has
access to the therapies they need to build resilience, overcome challenges, and thrive. Youth across our community are receiving care that can transform their lives. Together, we are creating a brighter, healthier future for all.
Providing evidence-based therapies like EMDR to all clients, regardless of their ability to pay, is only made possible through the generosity of supporters like you. Please consider making a gift today to continue providing children, youth, and families with the services and programs that support their mental health and recovery.
