EMDR Therapy for High-Achieving Black Women

Healing trauma without reliving every painful detail.

You’ve tried to move past it. You’ve worked hard to keep going. But trauma has a way of staying with you—showing up as anxiety, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, or that constant feeling that you’re not safe, even when you are.

EMDR therapy offers a different path forward. It helps your brain process traumatic memories so they lose their emotional charge, allowing you to heal without having to talk through every painful moment in detail.

If you’re ready to stop just managing and start truly healing, EMDR might be exactly what you need.

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s an evidence-based therapy approach that helps your brain process traumatic memories the way it naturally should have—but couldn’t at the time.

When you experience trauma, your brain can get stuck. The memory doesn’t get properly filed away, so it keeps triggering you as if the threat is still happening. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (like guided eye movements) to help your brain reprocess these memories, reducing their emotional intensity and helping you move forward.

I offer EMDR therapy both in-person and virtually. Virtual EMDR is just as effective as in-person sessions—you’ll get the same quality of care from the comfort and privacy of your own space.

EMDR is recognized by:

• The American Psychological Association
• The World Health Organization
• The Department of Veterans Affairs
• The Department of Defense

It’s not experimental—it’s proven, powerful, and it works—whether we’re meeting in my office or online.

What Can EMDR Help With?

EMDR is particularly effective for processing:

Specific Traumatic Events

• Childhood trauma or neglect
• Sexual assault or abuse
• Accidents or medical trauma
• Sudden loss or grief
• Workplace trauma or discrimination

Ongoing Racial Trauma and Stress

• Cumulative impact of microaggressions
• Experiences of racism and discrimination
• Vicarious trauma from witnessing violence against Black people
• Intergenerational trauma

Symptoms That May Be Rooted in Trauma

• High-functioning anxiety
• Perfectionism and fear of failure
• Difficulty trusting others
• Emotional numbness or disconnection
• Hypervigilance and constant scanning for danger
• Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks
• Feeling like you’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop

How EMDR Works: What to Expect

EMDR therapy typically happens in phases. We won’t rush into processing trauma before you’re ready—safety and preparation come first. Whether we’re meeting virtually or in-person, the process and effectiveness are the same.

Phase 1-2: History & Preparation 

We’ll discuss your history, identify what we want to work on, and build coping skills so you feel grounded and safe throughout the process. In virtual sessions, I’ll also make sure your space feels comfortable and private.

Phase 3-6: Processing 

This is where the healing happens. We’ll focus on specific memories or experiences while using bilateral stimulation. In virtual sessions, I use specialized online tools that guide your eyes back and forth across your screen, or we can use alternating audio tones through headphones, or self-administered tapping. You’ll notice thoughts, feelings, and sensations that come up, but you won’t need to describe every detail out loud. Your brain does the work.

Phase 7-8: Closure & Integration 

We’ll make sure you leave each session feeling stable, and we’ll track your progress to ensure the changes stick.

Many clients notice significant shifts within a few sessions. Some memories that used to feel overwhelming become neutral—like something that happened, but no longer controls you. This happens just as effectively through virtual sessions as it does in person.

Why EMDR for High-Achieving Black Women?

As a high-achieving Black woman, you’ve likely learned to compartmentalize, push through, and keep going no matter what. That resilience is real—but it also means trauma can go unprocessed for years.

You might be dealing with:

• The pressure to be twice as good to get half as far
• Feeling like you can’t show vulnerability or “weakness”
• Carrying the weight of representing your race in white spaces
• Navigating microaggressions while maintaining professionalism
• Experiencing both personal trauma and collective racial trauma

EMDR allows you to heal without having to explain or justify your experience to anyone. It respects your strength while honoring the reality that you’ve been through things that deserve to be processed and released.

You don’t have to keep carrying what wasn’t yours to carry in the first place.

Is EMDR Right for You?

EMDR may be a good fit if:

• You’ve experienced trauma (recent or long ago) that still affects you
• You’re dealing with anxiety that feels rooted in something deeper
• You’re tired of talking about the same issues without feeling better
• You want a therapy approach that’s active and solution-focused
• You’re ready to heal, not just cope

EMDR works best when you’re ready to engage with the process and have some baseline emotional stability. If you’re currently in crisis or dealing with active substance use, we may need to focus on stabilization first before beginning EMDR.

If so, you may still be a good candidate for EMDR therapy. Contact me today for a free phone consultation to see if EMDR might help you release what no longer serves you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to talk about the traumatic event in detail? 

No. One of the benefits of EMDR is that you don’t have to describe every painful detail out loud. You’ll focus on the memory internally while the bilateral stimulation helps your brain process it. I’ll check in with you throughout, but you’re in control of how much you share.

How long does EMDR take? 

It varies. Some people experience significant relief in 3-6 sessions, while more complex trauma may take longer. We’ll work at your pace and track progress together.

Is EMDR only for “big T” trauma? 

Not at all. EMDR is effective for both “Big T” traumas (like assault or accidents) and “little t” traumas (like ongoing stress, humiliation, or invalidation). If it’s impacting your life now, it’s worth addressing.

What if I don’t remember specific traumatic events? 

That’s okay. We can work with feelings, sensations, or beliefs that seem connected to trauma, even if you don’t have clear memories. EMDR can still be effective.

Will EMDR make me forget what happened? 

No. The memories remain, but they lose their emotional charge. What used to feel overwhelming becomes more neutral—like something that happened in the past, not something that’s still threatening you now.

Can EMDR help with racial trauma? 

Yes. EMDR can be particularly helpful for processing both individual experiences of racism and the cumulative impact of living in a society where you face ongoing discrimination and microaggressions. We’ll approach this work with cultural sensitivity and awareness.

What does bilateral stimulation feel like? 

Most people find it calming. In virtual sessions, you might use self-guided tapping (like alternating taps on your collar or knees), follow a moving light or dot on your screen with your eyes, or listen to alternating tones through headphones that shift from ear to ear.  It might feel a little strange at first, but most clients adjust quickly and find the rhythm soothing. The technology works seamlessly, and your brain responds the same way whether we’re together in a room or connecting through a screen.

Do I need to do anything between sessions? 

Sometimes. I may ask you to keep a journal or practice grounding techniques. But EMDR doesn’t require a lot of homework—most of the work happens during our sessions.

What if I get emotional during EMDR? 

That’s normal and okay. We’ll create a safe space for whatever comes up, and I’ll help you regulate if things feel too intense. You’re always in control, and we can pause or slow down anytime you need to.

Can I do EMDR virtually? 

Yes—and it’s just as effective as in-person EMDR. Research shows that virtual EMDR produces the same outcomes as face-to-face sessions. I use secure, HIPAA-compliant video platforms along with specialized EMDR tools designed for telehealth. During virtual sessions, you’ll either follow a moving dot or light bar on your screen, use alternating audio tones through headphones, or do self-guided tapping. Many clients actually prefer virtual EMDR because they can heal in the comfort and privacy of their own space, without the stress of commuting to an office. You’ll need a private, quiet space, a good internet connection, and a device with a webcam.

Do you accept insurance? 

I’m an out-of-network provider, which means I don’t bill insurance directly. However, I can provide you with a superbill—a detailed receipt—that you can submit to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement. Many clients receive partial or full reimbursement depending on their plan. I’m happy to discuss payment options and help you understand your out-of-network benefits during our consultation.

Ready to Start Healing?

You’ve carried this long enough. EMDR can help you process what’s been weighing on you so you can finally feel lighter, calmer, and more present in your life.

Let’s talk about whether EMDR is right for you.

During our consultation, we’ll discuss your goals, answer any questions you have about EMDR, and determine if this approach feels like a good fit. There’s no pressure—just an honest conversation about what you need and how I can help.