A proven approach to help you reprocess painful memories, reduce distress, and restore balance in daily life
EMDR Therapy in Virginia
When the past keeps replaying, finding peace can feel impossible
You may find yourself caught in cycles of overthinking, tension, or memories that won’t let go. Even when you try to move forward, certain experiences from the past still seem to shape how you feel and react in the present. You might notice patterns of anxiety, recurrent and intrusive memories of past experiences, or feeling as if you have to be on guard.
It can be discouraging when you’ve already tried to “get over it” or talk about it, yet the pain still lingers. EMDR therapy offers a way to finally find relief — helping your mind and body process what happened, so those memories no longer hold the same emotional power over you.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s an evidence-based therapy that helps your brain reprocess distressing memories and experiences so they no longer trigger the same emotional intensity.
Through EMDR, you can reduce the emotional charge connected to painful memories and begin to see them from a new, healthier perspective. Over time, the memories remain, but the distress tied to them fades.
At my practice, Breakthrough Mental Health Counseling, I provide EMDR therapy for adults across Virginia, including Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Roanoke. Whether you’ve experienced trauma, anxiety, or simply feel “stuck” in old patterns, EMDR can help you move forward with greater peace and confidence.
How EMDR Therapy Works
EMDR therapy follows a structured process with several phases, beginning with preparation and resourcing. Before we ever start processing specific memories, we work together to build coping skills and grounding techniques that help you feel stable and in control.
Once you feel ready, we identify the past experiences connected to your current distress and use a form of bilateral stimulation (often through eye movements or gentle tapping) to help your brain reprocess what happened. Throughout the process, you remain aware, in control, and supported.
Each phase is intentional and moves at your pace. EMDR isn’t about reliving trauma — it’s about helping your brain heal and restore balance.
What EMDR Can Help With
EMDR therapy can help with:
Anxiety and excessive worry
Past trauma or distressing experiences
Feelings of being “stuck” or unable to move forward
Nightmares or intrusive memories
Grief and loss
Negative self-beliefs
How is EMDR different from other therapies?
Many traditional forms of therapy involve a back-and-forth conversation between you and your therapist. You might spend sessions talking through situations, exploring emotions, and learning new coping strategies to use outside of therapy.
EMDR looks a little different. Instead of focusing on extended conversation, EMDR sessions guide your brain through a structured process of reprocessing distressing memories. During this process, you’ll briefly bring a memory to mind while engaging in a form of bilateral stimulation — such as following gentle eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones — to help your brain naturally move toward healing.
Between each round, you’ll share what you noticed, and I’ll help guide the process without interpreting or analyzing what you say. This keeps the focus on what your brain is doing, rather than on talking through the event in detail.
Unlike Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or other skills-based approaches, EMDR doesn’t rely on practicing specific tools or completing homework outside of sessions. The healing work happens right there, during our time together in session. Each step of EMDR is guided by a trained and licensed therapist.
Online EMDR Therapy in Virginia
EMDR can be just as effective online as it is in person. Through secure telehealth sessions, I use evidence-based tools and adapted forms of bilateral stimulation that allow clients to fully engage in the EMDR process from the comfort of their own space.
While virtual EMDR may look slightly different, it remains an ethical and clinically sound approach supported by research. I’ll guide you through each step, ensuring that sessions feel safe, effective, and personal — even through the screen.
Meet Sarah- Your EMDR Therapist
I’m Sarah Theimer, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional – Level II (CCTP-II). I specialize in helping adults work through anxiety, trauma, and the lasting effects of painful life experiences.
My approach to EMDR therapy is grounded in evidence-based care, compassion, and a deep belief in your capacity for healing. Together, we’ll explore the root causes of what’s holding you back and move toward lasting change — one step at a time.
Take the Next Step Toward Healing
Healing doesn’t mean forgetting what happened. It means finding freedom from the pain that once felt unmanageable. EMDR therapy can help you restore balance, find relief, and move toward the life you were meant to live.
You don’t have to carry the weight of the past alone.
