Anxiety affects millions of people every year, and in a high-pressure environment like Washington DC, it’s no surprise that many residents are looking for relief. Add to that the mass layoffs in Washington DC, the uncertainty of Federal jobs that individuals expected to have until retirement, and the collective stress in Washington DC, people are looking for mental health support in Washington DC. If you’ve been exploring your options, you may have asked, “Can EMDR therapy help with anxiety in Washington DC?” The answer is: yes, it can. This blog explains how EMDR therapy works for anxiety, and why many Washington DC therapists recommend it as part of a holistic approach to mental health.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an evidence-based psychotherapy originally developed to treat PTSD. However, EMDR therapy has also shown success in treating anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, and performance-related anxiety (Faretta & Dal Farra, 2019). In Washington DC, where anxiety often stems from career stress, high expectations, and unresolved trauma, EMDR can be an especially powerful tool.
How EMDR Therapy Helps with Anxiety
So, can EMDR therapy help with anxiety? The answer lies in how EMDR targets the brain’s unprocessed memories and emotional responses. Anxiety is often the result of past experiences that have not been fully integrated or resolved. EMDR therapy helps the brain “unstick” from those distressing memories or beliefs that fuel anxious thoughts and behaviors.
Washington DC therapists use EMDR to help clients reprocess memories or beliefs such as “I’m not safe,” “I can’t fail,” or “I’m not good enough” (and many more–these are just examples). These core beliefs often drive anxiety. Through bilateral stimulation (typically guided eye movements, but also hand tapping, drawing, or audio stimulation), clients can reduce the emotional intensity of these thoughts and replace them with more adaptive beliefs (sometimes referred to as “positive beliefs”).
EMDR Therapy for Different Types of Anxiety in Washington DC
Whether your anxiety shows up at work, in social situations, or during public speaking, EMDR therapy in Washington DC can be tailored to your unique situation:
- Performance Anxiety: Professionals in Washington DC often face high-stakes situations. EMDR helps reduce fear of failure or judgment.
- Social Anxiety: EMDR targets early memories of rejection or embarrassment that fuel social fears.
- Panic Attacks: By identifying and reprocessing the root causes of panic, EMDR can decrease the frequency and intensity of attacks.
- Health Anxiety: Especially post-COVID, DC residents with health-related fears benefit from EMDR’s capacity to reduce catastrophic thinking.
What Washington DC Experts Say About EMDR and Anxiety
A growing number of clinicians in Washington DC support EMDR as an effective treatment for anxiety. Clinical research backs them up: a randomized controlled trial found EMDR significantly reduced symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (Gunter & Bodner, 2009). Many DC-based therapists report that clients with longstanding anxiety experience breakthroughs within fewer sessions compared to traditional talk therapy.
Additionally, Washington DC EMDR therapists, like Jordan Nodelman, LICSW often integrate mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and somatic work to support lasting change.
What to Expect from EMDR Therapy for Anxiety in Washington DC
Your first few sessions with an EMDR therapist in Washington DC will involve building trust, identifying anxiety triggers, and learning calming strategies. Once you’re prepared, your therapist will guide you through EMDR reprocessing to address the root causes of your anxiety. Should you have a more complex trauma history, the initial phase of therapy may last much longer than a few sessions.
Therapy in Washington DC with Jordan Nodelman, LICSW is only online. Virtual EMDR therapy is increasingly popular among busy DC professionals and has been shown to be effective (Lenferink et al., 2020). Additionally, Jordan has conducted thousands of virtual EMDR sessions, with success.
Is EMDR Right for Your Anxiety?
If you’ve tried talk therapy, medication, or self-help methods and still feel stuck, EMDR therapy in Washington DC could be your next step. It’s especially helpful for people who suspect that anxiety is connected to past experiences, perfectionism, or trauma.
In Conclusion
So—can EMDR therapy help with anxiety in Washington DC? Absolutely. From reducing panic attacks to easing social fears, EMDR offers a research-backed approach that empowers clients to move beyond anxiety. If you’re looking for a new path to healing, consult with Jordan Nodelman, LICSW. He is an EMDR-Certified therapist in Washington DC. He is certified by EMDRIA, the only agency that has the highest standards for certification with a requirement for ongoing, continuing education–demonstrating ongoing competency in the latest research and methods for the proper use of EMDR.
References
Faretta, E., & Dal Farra, C. (2019). EMDR and Anxiety Disorders: A Review. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 13(1), 16–26. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.13.1.16
Gunter, R. W., & Bodner, G. E. (2009). EMDR Works: EMDR Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Controlled Study. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 3(4), 262–272. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.3.4.262
Lenferink, L. I., Meyerbröker, K., Boelen, P. A., & van den Bout, J. (2020). Online EMDR Therapy for PTSD During COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 74, 102263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102263
