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What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) is a specialized trauma therapy that helps clients overcome traumatic experiences that are at the core of their distress. Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, it is a highly effective and thoroughly researched (evidence-based) approach for healing from trauma and PTSD. Research shows that bottom-up approaches such as EMDR trauma therapy that address how trauma impacts our body are much more effective than top-down approaches such as CBT (which rely on logic, thoughts and rational mind). The World Health Organization also recognizes EMDR therapy as a recommended treatment for trauma-related difficulties.
What Can EMDR Help with?
EMDR has been used to successfully help Millions of people over the past 40+ years who were struggling with PTSD, Complex PTSD and/or impacts of past traumatic incidents such as childhood trauma or neglect, emotional or physical abuse, sexual abuse or assault, dissociation and flashbacks, low self-worth, shame and and negative self-talk related to past trauma, racial trauma, recovery from traumatic accidents (such as car accidents), relationship difficulties arising from past traumatic or adverse experiences in relationships or childhood, parenting difficulties stemming from childhood trauma, natural disasters, and impacts of voilence and war.
Struggling, but not sure why?
Sometimes trauma shows up in how you feel, think, or relate to others, instead of a vivid memory of a traumatic incident to which you can connect the difficulties you’re experiencing.
EMDR may help if you’re dealing with:
Always feeling on edge or “not safe”
Difficulty trusting people or feeling close to others
Difficulty with vulnerability
Feeling numb, detached, or “checked out”
Emotional outbursts or feeling overwhelmed easily
Shame, self-blame or self-criticism you can’t shake
People-pleasing or difficulty setting boundaries
Feeling like something is “wrong” with you
Recurring relationship patterns you don’t understand
Our EMDR Therapists in Washington DC can help you uncover and process the root of these difficulties at your own pace. We offer EMDR Online and in-person at our office in Downtown DC.
Wherever you are, we’ll meet you with compassion, care, and the clinical experience to support your healing.
Easy Online booking, No Phone Tag, No Waitlist
You don't have to name it to heal it.
In EMDR, you don’t need to have a clear memory or a defined traumatic incident to begin.
Some of our clients come to EMDR knowing exactly what they want to work on — often after years of talk therapy, still feeling stuck. But many arrive unsure of what’s behind their distress. They just know they’re struggling — feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, anxious, or not like themselves.
Part of the early work in EMDR is gently exploring which past experiences might be affecting your present — and doing that at a pace that feels safe and grounded.
Erika Arnold-McEwan, LICSW
Veronica Thornton, LGPC
John Hardenbergh, LICSW
Ashley Badgley, LGPC
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR is based on the Brain’s natural ability to heal
EMDR is based on the core understanding of the neuroplasticity of the brain that the brain can often heal itself naturally in the same way as the body does. Much of this natural coping mechanism occurs during sleep, particularly during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Dr. Shapiro developed Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help clients recreate this natural healing process by using Rapid Eye Movement and bilateral movements in sessions to successfully treat Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Since then, EMDR has been used to effectively treat a wide range of mental health problems.
Helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories and creates lasting positive change
The core phase of EMDR, called Reprocessing, involves desensitizing the emotional charge of traumatic memories and letting go of limiting beliefs associated with the memory. This is achieved through bilateral stimulation, which can include guided eye movements, auditory tones, or tactile movements. This process helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories, making them less distressing.
As the traumatic memories are desensitized, EMDR therapy strengthens positive beliefs and adaptive thoughts that came up during reprocessing. The therapist and client then work together on developing new ways of being, while assimilating the positive beliefs in client’s life in the form of a Future Template which are value based actions to create lasting changes in the client’s life.
EMDR is the most thoroughly researched treatment for trauma
The World Health Organization recognizes EMDR therapy as one of the recommended treatments for trauma-related conditions, including PTSD. The validity and reliability of EMDR has been established by rigorous research. Numerous comprehensive reviews and meta-analyses have consistently found EMDR therapy to be effective in reducing symptoms related to trauma. More than 30 positive controlled outcome studies have been done on EMDR therapy. Some of the studies show that 84%-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have post-traumatic stress disorder after undergoing EMDR.
A study published in the "Journal of Traumatic Stress" (2005) found that individuals who received EMDR treatment for PTSD showed sustained improvement in symptoms over time, supporting the long-term efficacy of the therapy. In several direct comparisons with cognitive-behavioral therapy, EMDR offers equivalent effects more quickly (fewer sessions and/or no homework), process analyses indicate less distress for individuals undergoing treatment.
Have more questions about EMDR?
Schedule a Consultation with one of our Holistic EMDR Therapists in DC to discuss more.
No wait times, book instantly with our online scheduling Client Portal.
For more information and resources about EMDR
Check out our EMDR Therapy Blog.
Schedule a Consultation with our Holistic EMDR Therapists
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Erika Arnold-McEwans, LICSW
Holistic EMDR Trauma Therapist & Attachment-informed Psychotherapist
DC, Online Only
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John Hardenbergh, LICSW
Holistic EMDR Trauma Therapist & Attachment-informed Psychotherapist
DC, In-person & Online
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Veronica Thornton, LGPC
Holistic EMDR Trauma Therapist & Mental Health Counselor
DC, Online Only
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Ashley Badgley, LGPC
Holistic EMDR Trauma Therapist & Gender-Affirming Psychotherapist
DC, In-person & Online
We are an LGBTQIA2S+ affirming, BIPOC-inclusive, Health at Every Size (HAES) supportive, Body-positive, and Sex-positive practice committed to creating a welcoming space for everyone.
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