Ms. Paula P. Merucci, LCSW, CADC

(She/ Her)

EMDRIA Certified Therapist™

EMDRIA Approved Consultant™

EMDRIA Approved Trainer™

About Me

Paula Merucci is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) who is dedicated to the treatment of adults, adolescents, and families suffering from trauma, utilizing the integration of Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) with modification to the Standard EMDR protocol and Ego State/IFS/Polyvagal Informed Therapy. Ms. Merucci is an EMDRIA-approved National EMDR trainer, consultant, certified EMDR therapist focusing on complex PTSD and Dissociation. She is currently an agency and private practice trauma therapist, LCSW Supervisor, community educator, and EMDR training provider for EMDR basic and advanced trainings. Her passion for EMDR is evident in her daily responsibilities, which include working with agency and private practice clients and therapists, EMDR training and consultation with approved-training provider EMDR Consulting, and working with consultees for EMDR certification and consultant-in-training. Ms. Merucci’s personal mission is to endorse and encourage the learning process of EMDR by providing information, education, and advocacy. She is committed to and enthusiastic about EMDR Consulting’s training model and is proud to be sharing it with the world.

Education & Experience

Paula Merucci, MSW, LCSW, CADC, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, for the Family Service Center of Glenview, Kenilworth, Northbrook and Wilmette. Ms. Merucci is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, Certified EMDR therapist and is owner and primary therapist for EMDR Chicago, LLC. She specializes in the treatment of families and adolescents, with a concentration in substance abuse prevention/treatment and trauma resolution.
Ms. Merucci draws from various evidence-based approaches to facilitate effective change.
These include:
Cognitive Behavioral Interventions; EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Motivational Enhancement Therapy; 12-step facilitation; community reinforcement; integrated dual disorder treatment; and systems treatment.
Her EMDR focus utilizes Belief Focused Target Sequence Planning and The Process Continuum concentrating on the integration of Ego Sate Therapy, Structural Dissociation and EMDR Therapy.

Professional & Volunteer Affiliations

Volunteer Adolescent Support Worker
Links - North Shore Youth Health Service empowers young people to make informed, responsible decisions about their health, well-being and sexuality. I have been a volunteer support worker for LINKS promoting LINKS mission "prevention through education" for 20 years.

Specialty Area

  • Abuse/Neglect
  • Addictions
  • Alcohol/Substance Abuse
  • Dissociative Disorders
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Traumatic Incident

Population Served

  • Adolescents (13-17)
  • Adults

Language

  • English

Insurance

  • BlueCross BlueShield
  • Medicare