EMDR Therapy

Modern, evidence-based treatment for accelerated results

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps reprocess distressing, overwhelming experiences in a healthier way.

EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach designed to help people recover from trauma, distressing experiences, and overwhelming emotions. When something is too intense or frightening, the nervous system can become overwhelmed and memories may get “stuck” in their original, distressing form. These unprocessed memories can continue to trigger anxiety, negative beliefs, emotional reactivity, or physical symptoms long after the event has passed.

EMDR helps restart the brain’s natural processing system. Using bilateral stimulation—such as guided eye movements, tapping, or alternating tones—we activate both sides of the brain so unresolved memories can be reprocessed and integrated in a healthier way.

While EMDR follows a structured protocol, treatment is always tailored to your needs. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require detailed retelling of painful experiences. Many clients find relief in being able to process trauma without having to repeatedly talk through it.

EMDR is widely used to treat trauma and PTSD, as well as anxiety, phobias, grief, and performance blocks. Its goal is simple: to move you from distress toward resolution and emotional well-being.

How is EMDR different than talk therapy?

EMDR is different from traditional talk therapy because works with both your mind and body.

Talk therapy primarily engages the thinking brain—building insight and understanding. EMDR goes a step further by working with both thoughts and body-based responses.

Rather than simply discussing what happened, EMDR helps your brain reprocess the memory itself. As the memory integrates, the emotional charge decreases, negative beliefs shift, and the nervous system settles.

Many clients who have tried talk therapy describe EMDR as deeper and more transformative—creating meaningful change at the root, not just managing symptoms on the surface.

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How does EMDR Therapy work?

During the preparation phase of our EMDR therapy sessions, we’ll discuss what EMDR involves and how it can help you feel better. This is your space to ask questions, express any concerns you may have, and share your goals for therapy. Together, we'll explore coping strategies and relaxation techniques that can prepare you for any emotions that arise during our sessions. My priority is to create a safe and trusting environment where you feel informed, empowered, and ready to embark on this transformative journey towards healing.
This phase is all about equipping you with the internal resources you need to navigate the challenges and emotions that might come up during our sessions. Together, we'll explore your strengths, positive experiences, and coping mechanisms that you can draw upon whenever you feel overwhelmed or distressed. Whether it’s visualizing a relaxing place, practicing grounding exercises, or envisioning a positive future, we'll work strengthen the resources that will lay a positive foundation for processing.
During this phase we’ll begin to explore the memories, emotions, and beliefs that are at the core of your struggles. With gentle guidance and support, we'll focus on specific memories or experiences that you've identified as targets for processing. Using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tactile sensations, we'll work to desensitize the emotional intensity associated with these memories and reprocess them in a way that promotes healing and resolution. Throughout this phase, I'll be by your side, providing a safe and supportive space for you to explore, express, and ultimately transform your pain into healing and growth. Together, we'll navigate the complexities of your inner world, uncovering insights and creating new pathways towards a empowered future.
In this phase, we’ll take a moment to pause and integrate the insights and experiences that have emerged during our sessions. This provides an opportunity for us to review and process the progress you've made, as well as any new insights or shifts in perspective that have arisen. Together, we'll reflect on the changes you've noticed in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as well as how these changes are impacting your daily life. We'll also explore any lingering emotions or sensations that may require further attention or processing. This phase is crucial for solidifying the gains you've made and setting the stage for continued growth and healing.

Ways to work together…

EMDR & Ketamine-Assisted EMDR

I am available for ongoing 90-min EMDR therapy sessions for clients who want to incorporate EMDR or Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ into their weekly support.

Online or in-person, these sessions set a regular cadence for trauma processing and targeted symptoms relief for anxiety, trauma reactions, and other complex symptoms. Typically, meetings are weekly or bi-weekly.

90 mins | Rates | Get started

EMDR Intensives

I offer customizable healing intensives for individuals that are half-day to multi-day programs in-person at my office in downtown Washington, DC or online. All intensive packages require an intake evaluation (90 min) to prepare and a follow up session (50 min). Please check out my EMDR Intensives page to learn more.

Half-Day | Rates | Get started

Multi-Day Intensives | Rates | Get started

EMDR Consultation for Therapists

If you are an EMDR-trained therapist interested in individual clinical consultation, please contact me about working together.

60 mins | Rates | Get started

Frequently Asked Questions

During EMDR therapy, you will attend to a disturbing memory, trigger, or specific problem, while simultaneously focusing on a set of bilateral stimulation (eye movements, hand taps or tones). After each set, you will share any associations that come up (pictures, thoughts, feelings, body sensations, etc.). You will continue to do sets of bilateral stimulation until the memory becomes less disturbing and is associated with positive thoughts and beliefs about who you are.
EMDR isn’t just for trauma. It works on a wide-range of issues including anxiety, low self-esteem, and perfectionism. If you’re feeling stuck, chances are you picked up some unhelpful thoughts along the way. EMDR works by targeting these thoughts, decreasing their power, and installing different (more positive) beliefs that support your goals.
EMDR can help your brain think in a healthier, more adaptive way by removing blocks which helps you think better, feel calmer, and move forward.
If you’re interested in EMDR therapy, you might wonder whether it will work if you don’t really remember your past.
The good news is that you don’t need to fully remember something vividly to process it. There’s no need for accuracy because even a vague sense of what happened will provide plenty of information.
Since EMDR targets how upsetting a memory is experienced in the present, there’s no need for accuracy or concern about whether something happened a certain way. You’re simply observing what shows up now and letting your brain process this information, without needing it to be accurate or even make logical sense.
Bilateral stimulation works in EMDR by activating both sides of the brain which allows for the processing of memories, emotions, and incidents that are stuck in the nervous system. When we experience something negative, our brains can get "stuck" on that event and it can feel like we're reliving it over and over again. Bilateral stimulation is thought to help "unstick" those memories so that they can be processed and resolved.
Essentially, by having you focus both on something distressing while also paying attention to the stimulus activating alternating sides of the body, bilateral stimulation allows the brain to access both sides of the brain which leads to more effective processing of memories.
Bilateral stimulation can be achieved by moving your eyes back and forth (guided by the therapist), tapping your shoulders, listening to bilateral tunes, or with my preferred method - holding hand buzzers.