EMDR Therapy in the DC Metro Area

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy that helps you manage negative beliefs about yourself, and process distressing memories. EMDR is an effective tool for addressing issues related to relationships, intimacy, sexuality, and past events. EMDR can be incorporated into individual, couples, or sex therapy. 

Why Get EMDR Therapy In DC?

EMDR can be used to help process any experience or unhelpful belief about yourself that affects your ability to experience emotional or physical intimacy. For example, you may have picked up negative messages about sex over your lifetime (such as “pleasure is bad”) and internalized them, leading to anxiety around sex. Or perhaps you picked up negative messages about yourself (such as “I’m not good enough”), which leads to acting out or withdrawing from your relationship. EMDR can “turn down” the intensity of these messages so that you can have healthier relationships with the people in your life, without being burdened by these negative beliefs. 

Here’s how EMDR can benefit you:

  1. Processing Trauma

    • EMDR helps you reprocess traumatic experiences that may impact your psychological health or sexual health. This includes anything that may be affecting you now, such as traumatic events, disturbing situations, non-consensual touch, relationship betrayals, or any event that has created fear, shame, or negative beliefs around relationships and intimacy.

  2. Reducing Anxiety

    • Many individuals experience anxiety related to sexual performance or intimacy. EMDR can help reduce these feelings by desensitizing the emotional responses linked to specific memories, allowing for a more relaxed experience in intimate situations.

  3. Enhancing Emotional Connection

    • By working through unresolved issues, clients often find that their emotional connection with their partner improves.

  4. Building Healthy Sexual Beliefs

    • EMDR can assist in replacing negative beliefs about sex and intimacy with healthier, more positive perspectives, fostering a sense of empowerment and confidence.

Who is EMDR therapy for?

EMDR therapy is for anyone looking to address emotional pain, improve their mental health, and enhance their overall well-being, regardless of the specific issue. EMDR therapy is a versatile and effective treatment option for a wide range of people facing various challenges with intimacy and sexuality. EMDR therapy can help you manage:

  • Acute trauma. This may be assault, car accidents, violence, or natural disasters. When we think of trauma, we often think about acute trauma, but this is just one type of trauma.

  • Developmental trauma. This is when we don’t get our needs met as we grow up (developing). Examples are childhood abuse, neglect, dysfunction, loss, or separation. It is caused by things out of your control, such as a family member suffering from substance abuse who is unable to be there.

  • Symptoms of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). EMDR therapy was developed specifically for PTSD. It helps to reprocess traumatic memories and alleviate symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.

  • Anxiety or depression symptoms. Sometimes processing memories or negative core beliefs can help alleviate these symptoms. 

  • Repetitive negative beliefs or thoughts about yourself. The EMDR process specifically targets “negative cognitions” that are untrue (such as “I’m unlovable” or “I can’t have pleasure”). 

  • Couples and relationship issues. EMDR can be effective in couples therapy, particularly for those dealing with the aftermath of infidelity, relational trauma, or unresolved conflicts that impact intimacy and connection.

  • Grief or loss. Those navigating complex grief or loss can find EMDR helpful in processing their emotions and memories associated with the loss, leading to healing and acceptance.

Can you use EMDR for relationship therapy or sex therapy?

Yes, EMDR can also be used to improve sexual intimacy. When it comes to sex therapy, EMDR might be helpful for you if you experience:

  • Difficulty or discomfort talking to your partner about intimacy

  • Feelings of withdrawal or tuning out in intimate situations

  • A disconnect from your body and partner

  • Feelings of anxiety (tension in the body, sweating) during sex

  • Difficulty having sex when you want to

  • Pelvic pain, vaginal pain, or chronic illness that affects your ability to have the sex life you’d like

And EMDR can be used in couples therapy too. EMDR can help partners address and heal from relational trauma, improve communication, and strengthen their emotional connection. This approach is particularly effective for couples dealing with the effects of past traumas that impact their relationship dynamics.

What can you expect in EMDR therapy?

You’ll always start with a thorough assessment at the beginning of any therapeutic process. If your therapist thinks EMDR would be helpful, they will integrate it naturally into your individual or couples therapy. Our approach is to use EMDR as a valuable tool or resource, at the right time, as part of an ongoing therapeutic relationship. 

With EMDR therapy, you can expect: 

  • Initial assessment: Your therapist will conduct an initial assessment to understand your history, current challenges, and goals for therapy.

  • Safe environment: Sessions provide a supportive space to discuss sensitive topics without judgment.

  • Preparation: Throughout several sessions, you’ll work with your therapist to decide what memories or beliefs you want to work on with this tool. This will involve traditional talk therapy, as you tell your story and explore your history with your therapist.

  • EMDR process: Using guided techniques, your therapist will facilitate the reprocessing of memories, incorporating bilateral stimulation (e.g., guided eye movements, headphones, or buzzers in your hands) to help you process distressing thoughts and feelings.

  • Integration: You’ll work on integrating the insights gained through EMDR into your relationships and daily life, fostering healthier patterns of intimacy.

Throughout this process, you’ll have the support of a compassionate, experienced, and effective therapist. 

Meet Your Therapist

Camille Espinoza LICSW, MSW, MSPH

Camille Espinoza, (she/her) specializes in sex therapy and relationship therapy for people ages 25-45, of all orientations, genders, and backgrounds. Camille routinely integrates EMDR into individual and couples therapy sessions. She has completed EMDR basic training. Camille is also trained in several methods of couples therapy, including Gottman, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Collaborative Couples Counseling. She is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist.

Why choose the Center for Intimacy and Relationships?

We specialize in relationships and sex therapy using a variety of modalities, so you get the most out of your therapy. Here, we weave together individual therapy, couples therapy, and sex therapy with EMDR therapy, among many other tools.

At the Center for Intimacy and Relationships, we have: 

  • Specialized Training: Our therapists are trained in both EMDR and sex therapy, allowing us to provide a comprehensive approach to your concerns.

  • Holistic Perspective: We incorporate the emotional, psychological, and relational aspects of sexual health, ensuring a well-rounded therapeutic experience.

  • Compassionate Support: We prioritize your comfort and healing, guiding you through sensitive issues with empathy and respect.

We are a boutique psychotherapy practice offering customized therapy services, including sex therapy for couples, tailored to you and your goals. Here, you’ll receive care from a warm and welcoming team of clinicians committed to the therapeutic process, helping you harness your healing and growth. 

Offering both in-person and online therapy for busy DC professionals, we can meet you where you are on your schedule. Contact us now to schedule a free video consultation.

EMDR Therapy FAQs

  • Yes, EMDR can reduce anxiety symptoms in many cases. Traditionally developed as a treatment for PTDS, EMDR has been researched for the past thirty years and is used to treat a wide variety of mental health issues. More information here.

  • EMDR is suitable for most people, but there are some cases where it’s not helpful. People with severe mental health issues (such as hallucinations), seizure disorders, dissociative identity disorder, or people taking certain medications including benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin) are not good candidates. In addition, some people may simply not be ready for EMDR because their anxiety, depression, or PTSD symptoms may be too active. Your therapist will talk with you about your options and your readiness. In some cases, it may take several sessions or months of preparation before beginning EMDR, and this is normal.

  • No, this is not recommended. EMDR can only be administered by a licensed professional with formal training. The basic training for EMDR is 50 hours, and that is for licensed therapists who already have thousands of session hours behind them. Attempting to learn EMDR therapy at home or practicing on yourself is ineffective.

    However, a key stage of EMDR is resourcing, where you go through visualization or breathing exercises to help you manage stress. You can learn these in session and try them at home. Talk to your therapist about these types of homework exercises.

  • Not necessarily. In therapy, we always go at your pace. If you feel overwhelmed, or if you feel distressed, we can slow down. Feeling uncomfortable is okay but feeling flooded or out of control is a sign that the session needs to stop or slow down. We will work with you to learn about your pace and your timing. EMDR is a tool for healing yourself, at your own pace.

  • Yes. EMDR can be used to address relationship issues and sexuality concerns, either indvidually or in some cases, with a partner present. Our therapists will be happy to talk you through the options.

  • To get started, fill out our contact form. We’ll be in touch within 48 business hours. We start all potential clients with a free 15- to 30-minute video consultation to see if we’re a good fit to work together. And we are happy to refer you to one of our trusted colleagues if it’s not a good match.