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EMDR in VA and DC: What Parents & Teens Should Know

  • Erica Cornelius
  • 5 days ago
  • 3 min read
Woman touching and tapping her shoulders in blurred background. The letters EMDR are shown on gray stone blocks.
Woman touching and tapping her shoulders in blurred background. The letters EMDR are shown on gray stone blocks.

If you’re a parent of a teen or young adult who’s struggling with anxiety, trauma, or even just constant school stress, you might be hearing about something called EMDR therapy and wondering, is this legit? Could it actually help?


Short answer: Yes. Longer answer: Let me walk you through what it is, how it works, and why more young people (and their families) are turning to it.


What Is EMDR Therapy?


EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It sounds a little intense, but it’s actually a structured, research backed approach that helps people process hard or overwhelming experiences in a safe way. Instead of talking everything to death, EMDR works with how your brain stores memories and helps "unstick" the ones that are causing distress.


During EMDR, a therapist guides you through a series of steps while using bilateral stimulation, like eye movements or gentle tapping, to help your brain reprocess what happened. It can work for big traumatic events (think accidents, medical trauma, or bullying) as well as those cumulative "little t" stressors that build up over time.


"EMDR therapy is the gold standard [for PTSD], recommended by both the American Psychological Association and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies." — EMDRIA, via Oprah Daily


Why Teens and Young Adults Are Turning to EMDR


Teens today are under a lot of pressure. Performance anxiety around school, extracurriculars, social media, college apps, you name it. Especially in Northern Virginia, where many students attend top performing school districts with high expectations, the pressure to succeed can feel overwhelming and relentless.


EMDR can help with:


  • School-related stress and anxiety

  • Panic attacks or performance-based anxiety

  • Trauma from accidents, bullying, or medical procedures

  • Chronic stress from family conflict, perfectionism, or feeling "never enough"


One of the reasons EMDR works so well for teens and young adults? It doesn’t require them to retell every painful detail. That alone can be a huge relief.


At In View Counseling, we see clients across Fairfax, Alexandria, Richmond, and Washington, DC who come in for just this reason, they’re tired of coping and ready for something different.


What to Expect During EMDR Therapy


Most clients ask: what is this actually like?


Here’s the rundown. EMDR follows an eight-phase protocol, which your therapist personalizes to your pace:


  1. History & treatment planning

  2. Preparation (learning calming skills)

  3. Assessment (identifying a specific memory to target)

  4. Desensitization (using eye movements/tapping while recalling that memory)

  5. Installation (replacing distressing beliefs with more adaptive ones)

  6. Body scan (checking for lingering tension or sensations)

  7. Closure (making sure you're grounded before leaving)

  8. Re-evaluation (reviewing progress and planning next steps)


It’s not hypnosis. You’re fully awake and in control the whole time. And while everyone’s experience is different, many clients feel real relief after just a few sessions especially for single-incident trauma.


"After just a few sessions, my teen was sleeping better and didn’t feel as triggered at school." — Parent, Fairfax VA

EMDR Therapy in Virginia and DC: Local Support That Gets It


As the practice owner of In View Counseling and an EMDRIA certified EMDR therapist, I specialize in EMDR for teens, young adults, and adults. We’re based in Fairfax, and also work with folks from Alexandria, Falls Church, Herndon, Richmond, and Washington, DC.


We offer both in-person and online EMDR options, depending on what’s most accessible for you. (And yes virtual EMDR is in fact very effective. We adjust the tools to fit the format.)


The best part? EMDR is adaptable. Whether your teen is dealing with social anxiety, academic burnout, or lingering trauma, we tailor treatment to fit them. Not the other way around.


Common Questions We Hear (and Honest Answers)


Does EMDR work for teens and young adults? Absolutely. Many teens find EMDR less intimidating than traditional talk therapy.


Is it virtual or in person? Both! We offer online sessions that use modified tools for remote EMDR, and in-person sessions in Fairfax.


How long does it take to see results? For single-event trauma, relief can show up in 3–8 sessions. More complex issues might take longer, but it’s always at your pace.


Does my teen have to talk about everything? Nope. EMDR can be effective even without saying every detail out loud. That can be a big win for more private or overwhelmed teens.


Ready to Learn More?


Finding the right therapy can feel overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re curious whether EMDR might be right for your teen (or yourself), we’d love to talk.



We’re here to help you feel less stuck and more supported.


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