EMDR Therapy in Washington, DC
Some memories don't become the past. They stay loaded — a smell, a tone of voice, an anniversary sets them off and the body responds as if it's happening now. That's not weakness; it's a filing error. The memory was never processed into 'over.'
EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — exists for exactly this. McVey is EMDR-certified and uses EMDR as one part of an integrative approach, rather than as a standalone protocol.
How EMDR works
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements — while a target memory is held lightly in mind. The pairing lets the brain do what it failed to do at the time: reprocess the experience so it files as memory rather than live threat. What changes isn't the fact of what happened; it's the charge it carries.
A course of EMDR is structured in phases: history and treatment planning, stabilization and resourcing, then processing — at a pace your system can actually use. You remain fully present and in control throughout.
What we use EMDR for
- PTSD and single-incident trauma
- Complex and childhood trauma, carefully paced
- Military, veteran, and first-responder trauma
- Betrayal trauma and relational wounds
- Anxiety and performance blocks with a traumatic root
- Trauma affecting intimacy and sexual health
Practical details
EMDR works in person at our downtown office and via telehealth — remote EMDR is well-established with adapted bilateral techniques. Sessions are 55 minutes, $215 with sliding scale from $150–194. If we recommend EMDR, we'll explain exactly why and what the arc looks like for your history.
Common questions
Ready to begin?
The 15-minute consult is where most people begin.