Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a simple but effective evidence-based psychotherapy designed to help people process and heal from distressing life experiences, trauma, anxiety, and deeply rooted emotional patterns. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones to accelerate the brain’s capacity to process and heal a troubling memory or distressing experience.

Research has shown EMDR to be highly effective for trauma and PTSD, with many individuals experiencing meaningful improvement in a relatively short period of time. Virtual EMDR therapy has also been shown to be effective and can be
provided securely through telehealth.

Who Can Benefit from EMDR?

EMDR therapy can help individuals struggling with:

Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety and panic
Relationship difficulties
Perinatal concerns including birth trauma, miscarriage and infant loss
Grief
Stressful or overwhelming life transitions
Low self-esteem or negative self-beliefs
Medical trauma, accidents, or injuries
Childhood experiences that continue to affect present-day functioning

EMDR is appropriate for:

Clients currently in therapy who feel as though something is keeping them from making progress, despite the strong connection they have with their therapist.
Clients who have been in therapy before and are looking for a different approach to their healing journey.
Clients who have experienced a distressing or traumatic single incident (car accident, injury, divorce, loss, etc) or are anticipating a distressing future event (wedding, move, new job, etc).

EMDR Therapy at The Ross Center

EMDR therapy is offered both in person and virtually for adults.

EMDR Therapy is offered in-person in our Washington DC office with Joan Barnett, PsyD, and virtually to residents of Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, or Washington DC with Heather McMillen, LPC, PMH-C.