EMDR Therapy in Washington, D.C. and Virginia

Frustrated with talk therapy?

A different kind of therapy might be just what you need…

It's been awhile since you felt like yourself.

The cycle repeats of overwhelming anxiety, depression, or flashbacks. You’re either on the hamster wheel of racing intrusive thoughts, or you feel numb and disconnected from the world around you. Sleep is disrupted by nightmares, and daily tasks feel like an uphill battle. 

You snap at the people you love the most, and keep ignoring calls from your best friend. It’s impossible to shake the emotional weight of past experiences, leaving you exhausted, irritable, or isolated. 

You know something has to change, but therapy before this didn’t feel like it made a big enough difference. Maybe you just didn’t click with your therapist. Or there was a lot of talking about your feelings but nothing really changed. You continued to feel a disconnect between what you logically know to be true and how you’re feeling. 

Find faster healing with EMDR.

What is EMDR?

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapeutic approach that helps you process and heal from trauma by using bilateral stimulation, like guided eye movements. This taps into your brain and body’s natural ability to heal, helping distressing memories shift from emotional overload to a more balanced, calm state. As the brain reprocesses these memories, you can experience lasting relief from anxiety, trauma, depression, and other unresolved issues. It’s a gentle yet effective way to allow your mind and body to work together, helping you heal and feel more at peace.

    You can read more about EMDR on the international associations’ homepage here.

  • Yes, EMDR is highly effective for treating PTSD. It helps by reprocessing traumatic memories, reducing their emotional charge, and allowing the brain to store them in a healthier way. EMDR also promotes quicker symptom relief compared to traditional talk therapy, as it directly targets the root cause of trauma. Additionally, it enhances emotional regulation and reduces negative beliefs, leading to long-lasting healing. Many clients experience significant relief from PTSD symptoms after just a few sessions.

  • Yes, EMDR is a safe and evidence-based treatment for trauma. It’s carefully structured to ensure client safety throughout the process, with a strong focus on stabilization and resourcing before addressing traumatic memories.

    As a certified EMDR therapist, I’ve had extensive training and will guide you through each step, ensuring you feel supported and in control.

  • Yes, EMDR is not just for acute trauma; it can also help with anxiety and depression. Acute trauma refers to a single, intense event, like an accident or assault, that causes immediate emotional distress.

    While EMDR is effective for treating such events, it also addresses deeper emotional patterns or past experiences that contribute to anxiety and depression, leading to lasting healing and relief.


  • EMDR therapy differs from traditional talk therapy in that it doesn’t just focus on discussing issues—it helps your brain reprocess and heal traumatic memories. While talk therapy can help you understand and cope with emotions, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movements or tapping) to directly target and shift the emotional charge of distressing memories.

    This often leads to MUCH faster relief and healing and change that LASTS, especially for trauma, anxiety, and depression. This is why I love using EMDR in my practice.

  • Absolutely! EMDR works really well alongside other types of therapy, especially for processing trauma—an area not all therapists specialize in. It can help you address those deeper experiences while you continue working on day-to-day challenges in regular therapy. And if you're looking for faster progress, I offer EMDR intensives (extended sessions) to help you make big shifts in less time. Whether as a standalone focus or part of your broader therapy journey, we’ll tailor it to your needs.

With EMDR, you can find faster relief.

If you’ve tried talk therapy before and felt like you weren’t getting anywhere, you’re not alone. Sometimes, talking about what happened just isn’t enough. That’s where EMDR comes in—a completely different approach that helps you process and heal from the root of the problem, not just talk about it.

EMDR doesn’t require you to rehash every detail of your past. Instead, it’s designed to help your brain naturally work through stuck memories or patterns. Think of it as hitting "reset" on the emotional weight you’ve been carrying. While traditional therapy can feel slow or overwhelming, EMDR often provides relief more quickly by targeting the core of the issue in a way that feels manageable.

Imagine this…

You come into a session, carrying the weight of a memory or feeling that has haunted you for years. We settle in, grounding you first with somatic techniques to make sure you feel safe and present. Then, as we move through the EMDR process, you feel surprising moments of clarity and release.

Instead of just talking about the problem, you notice your mind connecting the dots in ways you hadn’t expected—memories and emotions shifting, like puzzle pieces falling into place. By the end of the session, that once-overwhelming event doesn’t feel so heavy anymore.

You leave feeling lighter, clearer, like the noise in your mind has finally quieted. Over the next few days, you catch yourself reacting differently—less triggered, more at ease. The thing that once consumed your thoughts now feels like just a distant memory.

The EMDR Difference

If you’ve ever thought, “I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but I can’t stop it,” EMDR can bridge that frustrating gap between what you logically know and how you actually feel. It rewires the way your brain responds to painful memories or beliefs, helping you break free from the patterns that have kept you stuck.

With EMDR, you don’t just talk—you heal. Whether it’s anxiety, past trauma, or feeling trapped in old habits, EMDR offers a way forward that’s dynamic, effective, and transformative. You’ll notice shifts that feel real and lasting—like the ability to think about something that once triggered you without the emotional sting or naturally responding in ways that reflect the person you want to be.

You don’t have to stay on the hamster wheel of feeling disconnected and overwhelmed. EMDR gives you the space to heal faster and more deeply than you might have thought possible.

Ready to experience the difference?

Let’s get started by scheduling a free consultation call with me.

How EMDR works

Watch this 2-minute video to learn more.

For lasting change, let’s try something new.

FAQs about EMDR

  • To prepare for an EMDR session, just come with an open mind and a willingness to dive into the process. You don’t need to have everything figured out, but it’s helpful to have a specific issue or memory in mind. Try to get a good night’s rest and stay hydrated.

    I’ll be with you every step of the way, making sure you feel safe and supported throughout.

  • In an EMDR session, you can expect a safe, supportive space where we process traumatic memories using bilateral stimulation (i.e. eye movements, light buzzing stimulation, or tapping). Sessions are typically 90 minutes or longer to allow for deeper processing. I will meet you where you are, whether that’s addressing specific challenges or providing additional resourcing or grounding techniques to ensure you feel safe and supported throughout the process.

    After the session, it’s common for processing to continue for a day or two, with occasional insights or sensitivities. It’s recommended to take it easy the day following the session, though these effects are generally mild.

  • It’s possible that EMDR may bring up memories or associations that have been buried, but this is a normal part of the healing process. You won’t be re-living those memories—you’ll be able to observe them from a safe distance. As we process these memories, they lose their emotional charge, making them no longer as distressing.

    You’ll always be supported and grounded throughout, and the process is paced to ensure it feels manageable for you.

  • Yes, EMDR can absolutely be done virtually, and many clients find it just as effective as in-person sessions. In fact, virtual EMDR offers the convenience and comfort of being in your own space while still receiving the full benefits of the therapy. Using secure video platforms, I can guide you through the process with the same level of support and safety, including bilateral stimulation techniques like visual cues or tapping.

    This makes it a flexible, accessible option for those who prefer to work from home or need the convenience of remote sessions.

  • Results from EMDR can vary, but many clients begin to notice significant improvements after just a few sessions, and sometimes as little as one or two. For some clients, relief from trauma-related symptoms can occur quickly, while for others, it may take longer depending on the complexity of the issues being addressed. Progress is typically steady and measurable.

  • My rate is $250 for a 45-minute session. I also offer intensives for faster progress. Check out my intensives page for details and pricing!

In-person therapy in Washington, D.C.

 

Virtual Therapy: Healing from the Comfort of Home

Life is busy, and carving out time for therapy can feel like just another stressor. That’s why I offer virtual therapy—a flexible, accessible option designed to fit seamlessly into your routine.

Imagine settling into your favorite chair, a warm drink in hand, your pet by your side, and starting our session from the privacy of your own space. Many clients find it easier to open up when they’re in a familiar environment, free from the pressures of commuting or worrying about being seen at a therapy office.

Virtual therapy offers all the same benefits of in-person sessions, with added convenience and confidentiality. You can save time, avoid transportation hassles, and focus entirely on your healing. Our sessions will be held over a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform, ensuring your privacy and safety every step of the way.