EMDR Therapy

Explore In-Person and EDMR Therapy in Virginia, Maryland or Florida

At Total Health Counseling, we offer EMDR therapy in Richmond, VA for individuals seeking support with trauma, anxiety, PTSD, and distressing life experiences. EMDR therapy helps clients process experiences that may feel “stuck” in the nervous system so they can move toward greater emotional relief, resilience, and healing.

EMDR can help reduce the emotional intensity connected to painful memories, negative beliefs, and patterns that continue to impact daily life

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What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, an evidence-based psychotherapy approach designed to help the brain process and heal from distressing experiences.

During EMDR sessions, clients work with a trained therapist to identify experiences, beliefs, or triggers that continue to create emotional distress. Through structured bilateral stimulation techniques, the brain is able to reprocess these experiences in a way that often reduces emotional overwhelm and increases a sense of safety and clarity.

EMDR therapy does not require clients to retell every detail of traumatic experiences in order for healing to occur.

What EMDR Therapy Can Help With

EMDR therapy may be beneficial for individuals experiencing:

Trauma and PTSD
Childhood trauma
Anxiety and panic attacks
Relationship trauma
Sexual trauma
Military trauma and MST
Grief and loss
Negative self-beliefs
Stressful or overwhelming life experiences

Many individuals seek EMDR therapy when they notice patterns such as hypervigilance, emotional reactivity, intrusive thoughts, or feeling emotionally “stuck.”

EMDR therapy begins with building trust, understanding your history, and developing coping tools before deeper processing begins. Sessions are collaborative and individualized to each client’s needs and comfort level.

Interested in Scheduling an Appointment?

You can view our therapists' profiles and schedule an intake yourself in 5 easy steps here. If you prefer to speak with a member of our onboarding team, you can call, text or email.

We are grateful for your consideration of Total Health!

Common Questions EMDR Therapy

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is an evidence-based therapy approach designed to help people process and heal from traumatic or distressing experiences. EMDR works by helping the brain reprocess memories that may feel “stuck,” reducing the emotional intensity connected to them.

At Total Health Counseling, EMDR therapy is used to support clients experiencing trauma, anxiety, PTSD, panic, negative self-beliefs, and nervous system dysregulation.
EMDR uses a structured process that includes bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, tapping, or audio tones, while a client focuses on specific memories, emotions, or beliefs.

This process helps the brain reprocess experiences in a way that often decreases emotional distress and allows clients to feel more grounded, safe, and emotionally regulated.
EMDR therapy may help individuals struggling with:

Trauma and PTSD

Childhood trauma

Anxiety and panic attacks

Sexual trauma

Military trauma and MST

Relationship trauma

Grief and loss

Phobias and fears

Negative self-worth beliefs

Stressful or overwhelming life experiences
No. While EMDR is widely known for trauma treatment, it can also help with anxiety, perfectionism, performance anxiety, relationship patterns, low self-esteem, and emotionally distressing experiences that may not meet the criteria for PTSD.
EMDR therapy begins by building trust, emotional safety, and coping skills before processing difficult memories.

Sessions may involve:

Identifying distressing memories or beliefs

Exploring emotions and body sensations

Bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or tones)

Grounding and nervous system regulation techniques

The process is collaborative, and clients are never forced to move faster than feels comfortable.
No. One benefit of EMDR therapy is that clients do not need to verbally relive or describe every detail of a traumatic experience for healing to occur.

Your therapist will guide the process in a way that prioritizes emotional safety and nervous system regulation.
EMDR is considered an evidence-based treatment and has been extensively researched for trauma and PTSD. Many individuals experience reduced emotional distress, fewer triggers, improved self-esteem, and increased emotional regulation after EMDR therapy.
The length of treatment varies depending on the individual, their history, and therapy goals. Some clients experience relief within a few sessions, while others benefit from longer-term work, especially when addressing complex trauma or long-standing patterns.
In many cases, yes. EMDR therapy can often be adapted for telehealth sessions using virtual bilateral stimulation tools and grounding techniques.