Meet Gerard

Gerard Ilaria, LCSW-R, EMDR-C is a seasoned trauma therapist with over 35 years of clinical experience. As President of Bilateral Health, LLC in New York City, he leads innovative approaches in trauma therapy—most notably as the inventor of BLS Remote, a telehealth device enabling EMDR therapy via remote alternating bilateral stimulation.

​

A licensed clinical social worker, Gerard earned both his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Social Work from Columbia University. He previously served as Clinical Director of the Center for Trauma and Addiction within the Division of Public Health Programs at The Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Over the past decade, he has supervised hundreds of EMDR therapists across the United States, providing both individual clinical supervision and group consultation.

​

Gerard is an international speaker who has presented at numerous EMDR and trauma conferences, where he shares insights on treating combat PTSD in veterans, addressing addictions and compulsions, and supporting trauma recovery within the LGBTQIA+ community. His career includes establishing and running programs for individuals living with HIV and AIDS, as well as spearheading a national program of 250 EMDR therapists serving more than 2,000 veterans.

​

Throughout his extensive career, Gerard has focused on delivering effective mental health and healthcare services to stigmatized and underserved populations. His current work emphasizes the application of standard EMDR protocols to treat addiction and unwanted behaviors, including an emerging intervention known as Buzzkill™.