Trauma informed SUPPORT

EMDR Therapy

Heal from painful experiences, process trauma, and reconnect with yourself through specialized support.

Virtual Therapy in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and South Carolina

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The Foundation

What is EMDR therapy?

EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based approach designed to help people heal from trauma, distressing experiences, and painful memories that continue to affect their lives. EMDR helps the brain process difficult experiences that may feel “stuck,” reducing the emotional intensity connected to those memories. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require you to share every detail of a painful experience to begin healing.

Through guided techniques, including bilateral stimulation, EMDR supports your brain’s natural ability to process and integrate difficult memories. This approach can help reduce symptoms of anxiety, emotional overwhelm, negative beliefs about yourself, and the impact of past experiences on your present life. Together, we’ll move at a pace that feels safe while creating space for healing, growth, and a greater sense of peace.

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The phases

The 8 phases of EMDR

EMDR follows an eight-phase approach designed to help your brain safely process traumatic memories

1. History Taking

Your therapist learns about your history, symptoms, and goals to create a personalized EMDR treatment plan.

2. Preparation

You'll build coping skills, learn how EMDR works, and develop tools to feel safe throughout the process.

3. Assessment

Together, you'll identify the specific memory, emotions, beliefs, and body sensations to target during processing.

4. Desensitization

Using bilateral stimulation, your brain begins reprocessing the memory so it feels less emotionally overwhelming.

5. Installation

You'll strengthen a healthier, more adaptive belief to replace the negative belief connected to the traumatic memory.

6. Body Scan

You'll check for any lingering physical tension or distress and process anything that remains.

7. Closure

Each session ends with grounding techniques to help you leave feeling calm and emotionally regulated.

8. Reevaluation

At the start of your next session, you'll review your progress and decide on the next steps in your EMDR treatment.

Common Experiences

When does EMDR therapy help?

EMDR therapy can support you if you're experiencing:

  • Trauma and distressing life experiences

  • Anxiety and panic symptoms

  • Intrusive memories or upsetting thoughts

  • Negative beliefs about yourself

  • Shame, guilt, or low self-worth

  • Relationship or attachment wounds

Therapies That Work

The approach

I use compassionate, evidence-based approaches tailored to your unique experiences and goals, including:

  • Trauma-informed and individualized

  • Focused on healing, not reliving

  • Built on safety and trust

  • Collaborative and paced with you

  • Focused on lasting change

Your Therapy Journey

What to expect

Understanding Your Experiences

We’ll explore how past experiences may be impacting your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors today while building a deeper understanding of your story.

Creating New Ways Forward

EMDR helps you develop a stronger sense of self, healthier beliefs, and the confidence to move through life with greater clarity and resilience.

Processing What Feels Stuck

Using EMDR’s structured approach, we’ll work through distressing memories and experiences so they feel less overwhelming and no longer have the same hold on your present.

Building Safety & Coping Skills

Before processing difficult memories, we’ll focus on developing tools to help you feel grounded, regulated, and supported throughout the process.

Backed By Research

Why EMDR therapy works

Processing stuck memories

Sometimes difficult experiences remain “stuck” in the brain, continuing to impact how you feel, think, and respond. EMDR helps your brain reprocess these memories so they feel less overwhelming and more integrated.

Creating new perspectives

EMDR helps reduce the intensity of painful beliefs and emotions connected to past experiences. Over time, it can support the development of healthier beliefs, greater self-compassion, and a stronger sense of safety.

Supporting lasting healing

EMDR works with your brain’s natural ability to heal and adapt. By addressing the root of distress rather than only managing symptoms, therapy can help create meaningful, lasting change.

Common concerns

  • You don’t have to share every detail of a painful experience for EMDR to be effective. We’ll work at a pace that feels safe and focus on what you feel comfortable exploring.

  • Feeling safe and supported is an important part of EMDR. Before processing difficult experiences, we’ll build coping skills and make sure you have tools to stay grounded throughout the process.


  • EMDR can be helpful for many experiences that continue to impact you, including anxiety, negative beliefs about yourself, relationship wounds, body image concerns, and distressing life events—not just one specific type of trauma.

Begin your journey

Ready to explore therapy?

Start with an initial consultation to discuss your needs and see if we're the right fit.


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