A Practical Approach to Lasting Change
Many people come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck, sometimes without a clear explanation for why. You may not identify with the word trauma, but still notice anxiety, emotional reactivity, relationship patterns, or a sense that insight alone has not led to lasting change. At The Pragmatic Therapist, we offer trauma informed therapy in Fairfax, Virginia, using EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS). These approaches help address the underlying patterns driving your difficulties in a grounded, collaborative way, without forcing change or relying on short term coping strategies.
Meet Our Therapy Team
Our therapists share a grounded, thoughtful approach to therapy and bring a range of training and perspectives to the work. We specialize in trauma informed care using EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS), and we collaborate closely to support meaningful, lasting change.
A Clearer Sense of What Therapy Can Offer
EMDR and Internal Family Systems focus on addressing what is actually driving symptoms, not just managing them.
What EMDR and IFS Sessions Actually Look Like
Brief demonstrations to help you understand the process before starting therapy
Starting therapy can feel uncertain, especially if you are new to EMDR or Internal Family Systems. These short demonstration videos are designed to give you a clearer sense of what sessions can look like in practice. They show guided, educational examples of how EMDR and IFS are used in a calm, supportive setting. The demonstrations do not include real clients. They are created to help you understand the process, not to perform or dramatize therapy.
EMDR for anxiety and activation.
How EMDR supports nervous system regulation and reduces overwhelm
EMDR with relational grounding
How dual attention and therapist attunement work together
inner parts with compassion
How IFS helps create internal clarity and reduce reactivity
Working with protective parts
How protective responses are understood and supported rather than pushed aside
Our specialties
We provide trauma informed therapy for adults, with a focus on addressing underlying patterns rather than surface level symptoms.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy for adults working through anxiety, trauma, emotional reactivity, and longstanding patterns that impact daily life and relationships.
EMDR
EMDR is an evidence based therapy that helps process unresolved experiences contributing to anxiety, trauma responses, and feeling stuck. It is especially helpful when insight alone has not led to lasting change.
IFS
Internal Family Systems (IFS) works with different parts of the mind that influence thoughts, emotions, and behavior. This approach supports greater internal clarity, reduced reactivity, and more flexibility in how you relate to yourself and others.
Trauma Therapy
Trauma informed therapy for adults addressing the effects of past experiences that continue to shape emotional responses, relationships, and patterns in the present.
Couples Counseling
Couples counseling grounded in the Gottman Method, focused on improving communication, understanding patterns of conflict, and strengthening emotional connection.
Professional Reviews
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Blog
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
We am located in downtown Fairfax, VA at 3921 Blenheim Blvd Suite 73c Fairfax VA 22030
As of 7/2/2020 we are conducting both in-office sessions at my Fairfax office or virtually throughout Virginia.
We do not participate as an in-network provider. But, that does not mean you are not covered by health insurance. Many providers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem and CareFirst), Aetna, United Health Care, or TriCare have out-of-network benefits. If you call the member’s services number on the back of your insurance card and inquire about your out-of-network benefits they will let you know what portion of the cost they will reimburse you for.
55 minute individual sessions: $200
Our rate is set that each therapist can earn a livable earning while also not overburdening themselves by taking an excessive amount of clients. This means your therapist is available, emotionally present, and not overbooked. We provided a personalized experience with your therapist who has time for training, self development, their own therapy, and ultimately, time and space for you.
We usually recommend people email the owner (Michael@ThePragmaticTherapist.com) and ask for a 20 minute phone consultation. You want to make sure we are a good fit for you. If you feel you are ready to hit the ground running and want to start right away, give me a call or email me and ask to become a client. Its that simple!
The word pragmatic means a sensible and realistic way of thinking and problem solving. We believe that reflects how we tend to think about things and frame mental health counseling. An open, warm, and friendly way to sort out mental health. Hence, The Pragmatic Therapist.