About Emily Bachardy, Your Therapist in Virginia Beach, VA
Specializing in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Trauma, Childhood Abuse and Neglect, Sexual Abuse, Dissociation, Addiction, Poor Self-Image, Supporting Autistics and ADHDers, Depression, Anxiety, & the LGBTQ+ Community
A Creative Counselor in Virginia Beach Helping You Rewrite Your Story
I know you’re feeling overwhelmed with finding the right therapist in Virginia Beach, VA. I’m here to simplify the therapy process.
Emily Bachardy, LCSW (she/her), Virginia Beach Therapist specializing in Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Trauma, Childhood Abuse and Neglect, Sexual Abuse, Dissociative Experiences, Autism, ADHD, and Addiction, Depression, Anxiety, Poor Self-Image, and the LGBTQ+ Community
Therapy That Honors Your Individuality and Imagination
You’ve been struggling for so long and you’re ready to move forward. Who knew when you started googling “find a therapist near me” that there would be so many options in Virginia Beach. Sometimes it can feel like therapists are all saying the same thing. How do you find a therapist in Virginia Beach, VA that you can really trust? The process of therapy needs to happen with someone who gets it and you really click with.
I’m Emily Bachardy (she/her). I became a therapist in Virginia Beach, VA because I see pain all around me in the world and people who are not being helped. I enrolled in a Master’s program in Social Work as I started working with disadvantaged and struggling people. I realized as I was going through that program that most therapists aren’t trained at all on how to help people who have had traumatic and dissociative experiences.
I’ve received advanced trainings on all things trauma and dissociation in my practice so that I can fully show up with strategies that really work for you. I’m an actually autistic and ADHD therapist in Virginia Beach, VA. I help neurodivergent people access their innate gifts and find their self-worth independent of external validation.
Not Just Talk: ART, Metaphor, and Movement as Healing Tools
Whether you want to talk through your situation, don’t want to talk at all, or your guard is up after unsuccessful therapy, I’ve got the tools that really work to create the movement and change you want to see. And, if what we do doesn’t work, I’m gonna change it up or refer you out. I care more about you actually healing, making progress, and living a healed life full of joy above all else.
My specialties include healing from unresolved childhood abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, addiction, severe dissociative experiences, and any other traumatic event. I am trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) at the advanced level in Virginia Beach, VA. ART allows me to utilize cutting edge techniques that don’t require you to talk about what happened in order to feel better and heal.
Let’s create something meaningful together. Click here to schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation to explore if this creative approach in Virginia Beach, VA feels right for you.
Virtual sessions allow me to connect with people all over VA and TX, even if you live far away from where I’m based in Virginia Beach, VA. This makes support more accessible, especially if you’re struggling to find services in your hometown, you have a busy schedule, or if you have issues with transportation.
What else you might need to know about
I’m a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Virginia (#0904014854) and Texas (#64770). This means I can support you virtually if you’re physically located in VA or TX. I have been working as a therapist since 2020, and have been a social worker since 2017.
I have basic training in the Comprehensive Resource Model (2024-2025) which was originally developed by Lisa Schwarz for complex trauma. CRM is an emerging treatment modality that is made up of several elements including body-based work, “parts” work/ego state therapy, neurobiology, and spirituality. All of these are involved in developing internal resources for you to safely process traumatic material without retraumatization, and at the same time creating a new way of being with yourself.
I am certified in Trauma Model Therapy, which was developed by Dr. Colin Ross to safely stabilize trauma and dissociation. I completed my training at Dr. Ross’ Trauma Recovery Institute (2022) where I had the privilege of directly working with survivors of complex trauma and those on the dissociative spectrum.
I am certified in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) (2021-2022) at the advanced level, which allows me to use cutting-edge techniques to help you find relief from stubborn trauma symptoms (typically in 1-5 sessions!). Using eye movements, you are in the director’s seat of changing negative traumatic images so you see it in a new way when you remember it. You keep the autobiographical facts, you lose the pain!
You deserve to live in the present and create a future that isn’t derailed by your past. I know you probably have questions and I’d love to hear them!
Frequently Asked Questions about Psychotherapy in Virginia Beach, VA
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In Virginia, “counselor” and “therapist” are often used interchangeably, but there are some differences.
Counselors usually focus on short-term, current issues. Therapists, like me, are interested in exploring how past experiences are contributing to your day-to-day experiences. For the sake of this website, the words counseling and psychotherapy are used interchangeably so you understand that I provide compassionate mental health care.
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It’s best to find someone who is a good fit for you. Counselors are great for specific problems, short-term goals, and practical solutions for relationship issues, stress management, grief, or coping with another specific life situation. I am trained to work as a counselor and a therapist.
For me, I work best with clients who are looking for Accelerated Resolution Therapy or long-term talk therapy to untangle past issues which keep them in survival mode. I work best for people looking to transform long-term issues, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, dissociation, autism, and ADHD. I have more in-depth training in diagnosing and treating more complex mental health concerns, such as dissociative identity disorder (DID) and other specified dissociative disorder (OSDD).
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Mental health counselors work with individuals, couples or families to address a wide variety of mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and trauma.
Mental health counselors may use various therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, or humanistic therapy.
Examples include Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs, like me!), and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs).
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There are a few key differences between counselors and psychologists. Counselors typically need a Master’s degree and have a more limited scope of practice in areas like addiction, career, or school counseling for individuals, couples, and families. I am a counselor and therapist.
Psychologists can provide therapy for individuals, couples, and families, but they also engage in psychological assessment, research, teaching, and consulting. Psychologists have more specialized training and typically need a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD).
