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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps your brain reprocess traumatic memories through bilateral stimulation, most often guided eye movements. It is recognized by the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization as a first-line treatment for PTSD and trauma-related symptoms.
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At Think Happy Live Healthy, EMDR is our primary trauma-focused therapy approach. Our EMDR-trained clinicians serve women throughout Falls Church, Ashburn, and the broader Northern Virginia area who are carrying the weight of past trauma while managing careers, families, and daily life. Whether you have experienced a single traumatic event or years of complex trauma, EMDR offers a path to healing that does not require reliving every detail out loud.
Understanding Trauma and Its Impact
Trauma affects approximately 70% of people at some point in their lives. It can stem from a single overwhelming event or from repeated, prolonged experiences, and it often shows up as intrusive memories, hypervigilance, difficulty trusting others, or feeling disconnected from your own body.
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These reactions are normal responses to abnormal experiences. EMDR therapy gives your brain the structured support it needs to finish processing what happened, so those memories stop running your daily life.
The 8 Phases of EMDR Therapy
EMDR follows a structured, evidence-based protocol developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro. Your therapist guides you through each phase at your own pace, so processing always feels safe and manageable.
Phase 1
History-Taking
Your therapist reviews your history and identifies specific memories to target in treatment.
Phase 2
Preparation
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You learn coping strategies and build a trusting relationship before any memory processing begins.
Phase 3
Assessment
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You and your therapist identify the image, belief, emotion, and body sensation connected to the target memory.
Phase 4
Desensitization
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Bilateral stimulation, typically guided eye movements, helps your brain reprocess the memory and reduce its emotional charge.
Phase 5
Installation
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Negative beliefs are strengthened into more adaptive, positive beliefs, such as moving from “I’m powerless” to “I have choices and strength.”
Phase 6
Body Scan
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You check for any remaining physical tension connected to the memory, since trauma is often stored in the body.
Phase 7
Closure
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Each session ends with grounding techniques so you leave feeling stable, whether or not processing is complete.
Phase 8
Reevaluation
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Future sessions begin by reviewing progress and confirming the previous target memory no longer carries the same distress.
Why EMDR is Highly Effective for Trauma
Many trauma survivors find EMDR particularly effective because it:
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Does not require extensive verbal discussion of traumatic details
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Allows your brain’s natural healing mechanisms to work more effectively
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Addresses trauma stored in both conscious and unconscious memory
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Often provides relief from trauma symptoms faster than talk therapy alone
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Helps you gain control over trauma-related triggers and emotional responses
EMDR Therapy in Northern Virginia
Think Happy Live Healthy provides EMDR therapy to clients throughout Northern Virginia, with welcoming offices in Falls Church and Ashburn, plus secure telehealth for anywhere in the state. Whether you are commuting from Arlington, McLean, Vienna, Reston, Leesburg, or elsewhere in Northern Virginia, you can access EMDR-trained clinicians without a long drive.
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Falls Church, VA office: 256 N. Washington St., Suite 2, Falls Church, VA 22046
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Ashburn, VA office: 20955 Professional Plaza Suite 310/320, Ashburn, VA 20147
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Telehealth EMDR sessions available across Northern Virginia
Who Can Benefit from EMDR Therapy
Our EMDR therapy is effective for women who have experienced:
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Acute trauma from a single overwhelming event
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Complex trauma from multiple or prolonged experiences
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Childhood trauma that continues to affect adult functioning
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Relationship trauma, including betrayal or emotional abuse
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Medical trauma from illness, surgery, or medical procedures
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EMDR is especially well suited for women who feel “stuck” in their healing process or who prefer a treatment approach that does not require extensive verbal processing of painful details.
Related Trauma-Focused Support
While EMDR is our primary approach to trauma recovery, we integrate other evidence-based treatments when they support your goals. Explore how these approaches complement EMDR:
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Trauma Therapy Services, our full trauma-informed treatment overview, including Brainspotting and NET
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Somatic Therapy, body-based trauma processing
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, reshaping trauma-driven thought patterns
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy, skills for emotional regulation
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Mindfulness Therapy, present-moment grounding alongside trauma work
Getting Started with EMDR Therapy
STEP 1
Reach Out
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Contact us through our website or by phone. You will speak with a real person, usually within a few hours.
STEP 3
Free Consultation
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Meet your matched therapist for a complimentary 15-minute consultation.
STEP 2
Get Matched
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Our referral coordinator matches you with an EMDR-trained therapist based on your history and goals.
STEP 4
Begin EMDR
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Start the 8-phase protocol at a pace that feels safe, in-person in Falls Church or Ashburn, or via telehealth anywhere in Northern Virginia.
EMDR Therapy FAQs
Think Happy Live Healthy is a leading psychological and wellness group serving Virginia, Maryland, and beyond with a mission to inspire, motivate, and empower. They provide a seamless blend of individual therapy, psychiatric care, and diagnostic testing for all ages, specializing in evidence-based treatments for trauma, mood disorders, and life transitions. Whether through short-term solution-focused sessions or long-term therapeutic partnerships, THLH serves as a dedicated guide for those ready to take a whole-life approach to their mental health and personal growth.