What Is EMDR Therapy, and Can It Help With Anxiety? What I See in My Kirkland, WA Office

Written by Angelica De Anda, LMHC, CMHS, EMMHS

TL;DR

EMDR can help with anxiety, especially anxiety rooted in past experiences your body still treats as dangerous. It works on the nervous system level, which is why it can help when insight and talk therapy haven't been enough. Your trauma doesn't have to be "bad enough." Everyday pressure, criticism, and discrimination can leave a mark too. EMDR is generally safe with a trained therapist, but temporary after effects like tiredness or vivid dreams are common.

I offer weekly sessions and multi-day EMDR intensives in Kirkland, WA (driveable from Seattle) and by telehealth anywhere in Washington.

What is EMDR therapy, and can it help with anxiety?

Yes, EMDR can help with anxiety, especially when your anxiety is tied to past experiences your body still treats as dangerous. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy that helps your brain reprocess stuck memories so they feel less charged. Many people find that once those memories settle, the anxiety they have been managing for years starts to quiet down too.

I'm Angelica De Anda, an EMDRIA Certified licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in Washington. For 15 years, I've specialized in trauma, anxiety, and burnout. I see clients in person in Kirkland, WA, an easy drive from Seattle, and by telehealth across the state.

Why can't I think my way out of anxiety?

In my work with clients, I hear one sentence over and over: "I know where my patterns come from and why I do what I do, but I still can't seem to change them."

If that sounds like you, you are not failing at therapy. You have simply hit the limits of insight.

Insight lives in the thinking part of your brain. Anxiety often lives in your body's alarm system, which can keep sounding off about old experiences even when your logical mind knows you're safe. As NHS Lothian explains, trauma can make the brain's alarm more sensitive, so it keeps you on edge long after the danger has passed.

What I often see in my practice is high-achieving women who have read the books, done years of talk therapy, and can explain their childhood in detail. They are brilliant at understanding themselves. What they need now is a way for their nervous system to catch up with what they already know.

How does EMDR therapy work for anxiety?

EMDR follows a structured, eight-phase approach defined by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). Here's what that looks like in plain language:

  • Preparation: We build trust and coping tools so you feel steady before we touch any hard memories.

  • Finding targets: We identify the memories, beliefs (like "I'm not enough" or "I have to be perfect to be safe"), and body sensations linked to your anxiety today.

  • Reprocessing: While briefly holding a memory in mind, you follow bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, tapping, or tones. Your brain does much of the work.

  • Strengthening: We reinforce a new, truer belief about yourself.

Clients often describe the memory as feeling further away or less vivid afterward. It isn't erased. It just stops running the show.

Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?

No. One thing many clients appreciate about EMDR is that you don't have to retell every detail of what happened. You stay in charge of what you share, and we go at a pace that feels manageable.

"My trauma isn't bad enough." Is EMDR only for big trauma?

This is one of the most common things I hear, and it keeps so many capable women from getting help. Here's the truth: trauma isn't only about what happened. It's about how it landed in your nervous system.

Constant criticism, pressure to be "the strong one," or being the only person who looks like you in the room can all leave a mark. Research shows that experiences of discrimination act as a form of stress that harms mental health across racial and ethnic groups. For BIPOC professionals, repeated experiences of being overlooked or having to work twice as hard can add up in ways that show up as anxiety, perfectionism, and burnout.

You don't have to earn support by having a "bad enough" story.

What about EMDR therapy for complex PTSD?

EMDR can also be used for complex PTSD, which grows out of repeated or long-term trauma. A 2025 follow-up study found EMDR reduced trauma symptoms in people with both PTSD and complex PTSD, and early research on intensive EMDR for complex PTSD is promising. With complex trauma, I usually spend more time on preparation and stability first, so the work feels safe rather than overwhelming.

What are the dangers of EMDR therapy?

You deserve an honest answer. EMDR is recommended in PTSD treatment guidelines from organizations including the World Health Organization, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, and the VA/DoD (see EMDRIA's summary). Still, it isn't risk-free. Some possible downsides include:

  • A temporary rise in distress during or after sessions

  • Old memories or emotions surfacing unexpectedly

  • Feeling tired, foggy, or emotionally raw for a day or two

In my experience, the biggest risk is rushing into reprocessing without enough preparation, or working with someone who lacks proper EMDR training. That's why I pace the work carefully and check in often.

What are the after effects of EMDR therapy?

Common after effects include tiredness, vivid dreams, emotions coming up, or new insights in the days after a session. These usually ease on their own. I encourage clients to plan gentle time after sessions, and we talk through how you felt each week.

Can I see an EMDR therapist online?

Yes. In a review of 279 veterans, telehealth EMDR led to similar improvements as in-person EMDR. I offer telehealth to clients anywhere in Washington, adapting the bilateral stimulation with on-screen eye movements or self-tapping. Many busy professionals find online sessions easier to fit into a packed week.

What does working with me look like?

I offer two ways to do EMDR together:

  • Weekly sessions: A steady pace that gives you time to integrate the work between appointments.

  • Multi-day EMDR intensives: Focused, longer sessions over consecutive days for people who want concentrated time to make progress.

Sessions are in person at my office in Kirkland, WA (located in the Moss Bay neighborhood), is about 25 minutes away from downtown Seattle by car, or by telehealth. I also work with fellow therapists who want a space that is just for them.

Is this a good fit for you?

EMDR may be a good fit if:

  • You understand your patterns but still can't seem to change them

  • Your anxiety, perfectionism, or burnout feels bigger than your current situation

  • Past experiences still trigger you, even if you think they "weren't that bad"

  • You're a high-achieving woman, BIPOC professional, or therapist who is tired of holding it all together

Something else might be better first if:

  • You are in active crisis or don't feel safe right now

  • Your life circumstances need stabilizing before deeper memory work

  • You mainly want short-term, skills-based coaching

Not sure? That's exactly what a consultation is for. We can talk through whether EMDR makes sense for you or whether another approach would serve you better.

So, what is EMDR therapy really about?

At its heart, what is EMDR therapy? It's a way to help your nervous system finally believe what your mind already knows: that you are safe now, and you are enough. You've done the hard work of understanding yourself. EMDR can help that understanding finally reach the places where anxiety lives.

If you're in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • It depends on you, your history, and your goals, so I can't promise a set number. Some people work on one specific issue, while others address layers of experiences over time. We'll check in regularly about how things are shifting, and you'll always have a say in the pace and direction of our work.

  • EMDR is generally considered safe when done by a trained, qualified therapist. The World Health Organization notes that because EMDR is technical, providers should be well trained and supervised. It can bring up strong emotions or temporary after effects, like tiredness or vivid dreams, so I focus on preparation, pacing, and coping tools first.

  • It can. In my practice, burnout and perfectionism are often connected to older beliefs like "I have to earn my worth" or "rest isn't safe." EMDR targets the experiences behind those beliefs. Many people find that when those memories soften, the pressure to overwork and overperform starts to loosen its grip as well.

  • Weekly therapy spreads the work out over regular sessions, giving you time to integrate between appointments. An intensive packs focused sessions into consecutive days, which some busy professionals prefer. Both use the same EMDR approach. During your consultation, we can talk through which format fits your goals, schedule, and nervous system best.

  • Not at all. My office is in Kirkland, WA, an easy drive from Seattle and much of the Eastside, but I also offer telehealth to clients anywhere in Washington. Online EMDR uses adapted bilateral stimulation, like on-screen eye movements or self-tapping, so you can do this work from home.

Ready to take the next step?

You don't need to have it all figured out, and your story doesn't need to be "bad enough." If you're curious whether EMDR could help your anxiety, I'd love to talk. Book a free 15-minute consultation and we'll explore what feels right for you, no pressure.


BOOK NOW

Sources

About the author

Angelica De Anda, LMHC, EMDR Certified Therapist, is a licensed therapist with over 15 years of experience supporting clients across Washington. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, burnout, and EMDR intensives. Her work focuses on supporting high-achieving women, BIPOC individuals, professionals, and therapists.

Angelica utilizes evidence-based approaches including EMDR, CBT, somatic interventions, nervous system-focused strategies, and trauma-informed care. She helps clients process painful experiences, reduce anxiety and stress, strengthen emotional regulation, and feel more grounded and connected to themselves.

At Eastside EMDR Therapy, she provides compassionate, culturally responsive care through in-person therapy in Kirkland and virtual sessions across Washington State.

Angelica De Anda, LMHC, CMHS, EMMHS
Next

7 Signs of Unresolved Trauma in Adults That Look Like Something Else