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IN-PERSON & ONLINE THERAPY IN CA
Understanding EMDR Therapy
Sometimes, you know something happened in the past, but it still feels very present in your life today. A difficult experience, painful relationship, loss, or old wound may continue to shape how you feel, respond, connect with others, or see yourself.
You may understand that something is in the past, yet still find yourself feeling anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, or on guard. Maybe certain situations bring up emotions that feel bigger than the moment, or you find yourself reacting in ways you don’t fully understand. Sometimes, these feelings are connected to experiences you’ve been carrying for a long time.
EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based approach that can help you process distressing memories and experiences. Through a structured process that includes bilateral stimulation, EMDR may help lessen the emotional intensity associated with difficult memories so they feel less overwhelming in the present.
Thoughtful, Individualized EMDR Therapy
I believe preparation is an important part of EMDR therapy. Before beginning trauma processing, we’ll take the time to build a foundation of safety, trust, and coping skills so you feel supported and equipped for the work ahead.
Feeling safe, building trust, and developing tools to navigate difficult emotions are important parts of the process.
We’ll take the time to build emotional awareness, strengthen coping skills, and prepare for processing before moving forward. When clinically appropriate, we can begin at a pace that respects your story, your needs, and your capacity.
You don’t have to be ready to work through everything today. You just have to be ready to take the next step.
Is EMDR Right for Me?
Is EMDR Right for Me?
You may be wondering if EMDR therapy is right for you, especially if you've never considered yourself someone who needs trauma therapy. You don't have to have experienced one major, life-altering event for your experiences to matter or for EMDR to be worth exploring.
Sometimes, past experiences continue to affect how we feel, think, respond, connect with others, or see ourselves today. You might understand something logically but still feel emotionally affected by it, or notice that certain memories, situations, or relationships bring up reactions that feel stronger than you expect.
EMDR may be worth exploring if you're experiencing/experienced:
EMDR may be worth exploring if you're experiencing/experienced:
⟡ Childhood trauma, painful early experiences, or abuse
⟡ Loss, grief, or other difficult life experiences
⟡ Anxiety, fear, or feeling constantly on guard
⟡ Distressing memories that continue to feel very present
⟡ Strong emotional or physical reactions to situations that remind you of the past
⟡ Difficulty trusting yourself or others
⟡ Negative beliefs about yourself that are difficult to let go of
⟡ Relationship patterns that you understand intellectually but struggle to change
⟡ Feelings or experiences that seem unresolved, even when you thought you had moved on
You don't need to have one clearly defined traumatic event for your experiences to deserve attention and support. Sometimes, the patterns we carry develop over time through repeated experiences, relationships, or losses.
How EMDR Therapy Can Help
How EMDR Therapy Can Help
EMDR therapy can help you process distressing memories, emotions, body sensations, and beliefs connected to difficult experiences. The goal isn't to erase what happened or pretend it didn't matter. It's to help those experiences feel less overwhelming and have less influence on how you feel, see yourself, and respond to life today.
EMDR isn't about forcing yourself to relive everything you've been through. It's a structured approach that we consider carefully, based on your history, current needs, and goals. EMDR isn't automatically the right fit for everyone, and we'll take time to explore whether it's an appropriate option for you.
My Approach to EMDR Therapy
My Approach to EMDR Therapy
Starting EMDR doesn’t mean you have to dive straight into painful memories. We’ll begin by building trust, understanding your experiences, and making sure you have tools to help you navigate difficult emotions.
Working through painful experiences can bring up strong emotions, distressing memories, and physical sensations. Before beginning this part of the work, we'll take time to build coping skills and help you feel more prepared to manage what comes up along the way.
This preparation isn't a delay in therapy—it's an important part of the process. My goal is to help you feel equipped and supported as we decide together when and how to move forward. You'll remain an active participant in the process, and we'll work at a pace that respects your needs and what feels manageable for you.
You can work toward healing without having to face everything all at once. Together, we’ll work toward helping the past feel less present, so you can move forward with greater freedom.
You deserve to feel less weighed down by the past and more connected to the life you want to live. We’ll work toward that together, one step at a time.
What Might an EMDR Session Look Like?
What Might an EMDR Session Look Like?
When you're ready to begin EMDR processing, I'll guide you through focusing briefly on aspects of a difficult experience while using bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or alternating taps.
You'll remain aware and in control throughout the process, and we can pause or slow down whenever needed. We'll check in along the way and work together to determine what feels manageable for you.
50-Minute vs. 90-Minute Sessions
50-Minute vs. 90-Minute Sessions
The length of a session can matter, particularly when working with difficult experiences.
50-minute sessions may be appropriate for building skills, checking in, preparing for EMDR, or doing focused therapeutic work.
90-minute sessions can provide additional space when deeper EMDR processing is appropriate. Having more time can allow us to prepare before processing and create enough space afterward to help you feel grounded before leaving the session.
Not every EMDR session needs to be 90 minutes, and not every client needs EMDR. We will determine together what makes sense based on your needs, goals, and where you are in the therapeutic process.
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