EMDR Therapy in Virginia
Mindful Innovations offers EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy for adults, children and teens working through trauma, PTSD, anxiety and painful memories. We see clients virtual by secure telehealth anywhere in Virginia.
If past experiences still feel stuck, EMDR can help your brain process them so they lose their emotional charge. You don't have to describe every detail of what happened for it to work.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy for trauma and distressing memories. It was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and has been studied extensively since.
During EMDR, you briefly focus on a memory while following bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements, tapping or alternating tones. This helps the brain reprocess the memory, so it feels like something that happened in the past rather than something still happening now.
EMDR is recommended for PTSD by the World Health Organization and the VA/DoD clinical practice guideline.
What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy?
What EMDR Can Help With
EMDR is best known for trauma and PTSD, but our clinicians also use it for:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Childhood trauma and neglect
Anxiety and panic attacks
Grief and traumatic loss
Birth trauma and medical trauma
Car accidents and single-incident trauma
Military and first-responder stress
Phobias and performance anxiety
How EMDR Works: The 8 phases
EMDR follows eight phases, so you always know where you are in the process and nothing is rushed.
Phases 1–2: History and Preparation
Your therapist learns about your history and goals and identifies which memories to work on. Before any processing begins, you build calming and grounding skills you can use in and out of sessions.
Phases 3–6: Processing the Memory
You bring a target memory to mind, notice the images, beliefs and body sensations connected to it, and follow sets of bilateral stimulation. Over time, the memory becomes less distressing and more helpful beliefs, like "I'm safe now," start to feel true.
Phases 7–8: Closure and Reevaluation
Each session ends with you feeling settled. At the start of the next session, your therapist checks what has changed and decides what to work on next.
What to Expect in Your First EMDR Session
Your first session is a conversation, not memory processing. Your therapist will ask what brings you in, review your history and explain how EMDR works.
Most EMDR sessions last [60–90] minutes. Processing usually begins after a few preparation sessions, once you feel ready. You stay in control the whole time and can pause at any point.
Start EMDR Therapy in Your Home Today
Ready to take the next step? Book a free 15-minute consultation to ask questions and see if EMDR is a good fit.