EMDR is an evidence-based therapy that helps people heal from the emotional distress caused by difficult life experiences, including trauma, anxiety, and negative self-beliefs.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (through eye movements, tapping, or sound) to help the brain reprocess memories and experiences that have become "stuck." As these memories are processed, the emotional charge around them lessens, allowing you to move forward with a greater sense of clarity, calm, and resilience.
We offer 2-hourEMDR intensive sessions, virtually or in-person. These extended sessions create space for deeper, more focused work than what’s typically possible in shorter formats or talk therapy. The longer structure allows us to fully engage in the EMDR process, making it especially effective for working through complex experiences such as trauma or longstanding anxiety patterns. With fewer interruptions and ample time to support your nervous system, this format allows for deeper work, often leading to quicker breakthroughs and meaningful, lasting change.
To learn more about EMDR and how it works,
EMDR, short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a modern therapy technique used in the treatment of a wide range of problems stemming from struggles with traumatic or disturbing events.
Using what's called bilateral stimulation -- rhymitic, left-right patterns delivered visually, tactically, or auditorily -- EMDR allows your entire brain to activate to process various events.
It has been clinically proven to accelerate the treatment of a variety of problems by tapping into a client’s memory system to strengthen positive memory networks while weakening negative or traumatic ones. It won't erase memories, but it will lower distress and lessen triggers.
In our practice, EMDR is frequently used to help individuals work through traumatic birth experiences.
We generally prefer that EMDR intensives be done in person at our office located within Be Hive Wellness at 8245 Boone Blvd, Suite 630, Vienna, VA (near Tysons Corner). Two hours is a long time to sit in front of a computer, and many clients find in-person sessions more comfortable.
However, EMDR can also be done virtually via a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform that delivers EMDR bilateral stimulation safely and effectively. If you are not local, prefer to meet virtually, or would like shorter follow-up EMDR sessions online, your therapist will guide you through the process to ensure a supportive and productive session—whether in person or online.
Yes! We often provide adjunctive EMDR depending on your needs and presenting concerns. For example, single-incident traumas—such as a birth-trauma—can often be effectively addressed this way, while more pervasive or long-standing issues may benefit from a more integrated approach with your primary therapist.
We’re happy to consult with your current provider to ensure a collaborative experience. You can do an EMDR intensive with us and then process or integrate the work with your own therapist, creating a supportive and coordinated approach to your care.
No! While EMDR is well-known for helping people process trauma, it can also be effective for anxiety, phobias, birth-related experiences, and other distressing single-incident events. EMDR helps the brain process and integrate memories or experiences that feel “stuck,” so it can support a wide range of emotional and mental health concerns.
EMDR intensives are typically 2-hour sessions focused on deeper processing or specific experiences. During the session, your therapist will guide you through bilateral stimulation while helping you safely process emotions, memories, or sensations. The session is paced to your comfort, and your therapist will provide support throughout. Many clients notice meaningful relief during or shortly after the intensive.
The number of sessions depends on your goals, the nature of the issue, and your response to processing. EMDR intensives (2-hour sessions) can allow clients to address a single-incident trauma in depth, often providing significant relief in just one session. Follow-up sessions can be useful to address new material that comes up, integrate the processing, or tackle additional issues as needed. Your therapist will collaborate with you to create a plan that fits your needs.
To get the most from your session:
It’s normal for your brain to continue processing after a session. Some people continue to have new thoughts or experience vivid dreams in the nights following EMDR. Ideally, distress levels will decrease over time as the processing continues. Many clients feel relief, a sense of clarity, or emotional lightness in the days following EMDR. Planning a calm evening and self-care afterward can help support this integration.
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