Healing Beyond Words
You understand what happened. But your body and emotions haven’t caught up yet. That’s where EMDR comes in.
What Is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a structured, evidence-based therapy developed specifically to help people heal from trauma, PTSD, and distressing experiences that haven’t fully resolved on their own.
When something traumatic happens, the brain sometimes struggles to process the experience completely. The memory gets stored in a way that keeps it feeling raw and present — as if it is still happening, even years later. Certain images, sensations, or beliefs about yourself become lodged in a way that ordinary talk therapy can’t always reach.
EMDR works directly with the way the brain stores traumatic memories. Using bilateral stimulation - typically guided eye movements - EMDR activates the brain’s natural processing system and helps those stuck memories move. Over time, what once felt overwhelming begins to feel more distant and manageable. The memory remains, but it no longer holds the same charge.
EMDR is recognized by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as an effective treatment for PTSD and trauma.
Who Is EMDR For?
EMDR may be right for you if:
• You have been through something traumatic and find that talking about it only goes so far
• You understand intellectually what happened, but your body or emotions haven’t caught up
• Certain memories, images, or triggers keep surfacing despite the work you’ve already done
• You experience anxiety, hypervigilance, numbness, or physical symptoms you can’t explain
• You are carrying grief that feels frozen rather than moving
• You hold beliefs about yourself - that you are broken, not enough, at fault, or not safe - that you cannot seem to shake
EMDR was originally developed for PTSD but is now used effectively for grief and traumatic loss, anxiety and panic, depression rooted in past experiences, childhood and developmental trauma, relationship trauma and attachment wounds, and shame.
-
We begin by exploring what brings you to therapy and identifying the experiences most relevant to your current struggles. There is no pressure to share more than feels comfortable. This phase is about building a foundation of safety and trust before any processing begins.text goes here
-
Before we move into processing, I help you develop tools for staying grounded and regulated — both during and between sessions. You will always have ways to manage difficult feelings if they arise. We do not move forward until you feel ready.
-
Together we identify the specific memory or experience to focus on, the beliefs it has created about yourself, and how it feels in your body right now. This gives us a clear starting point and a way to track your progress.
-
This is the heart of EMDR. While holding the targeted memory in mind, you follow a series of bilateral movements — typically my fingers moving side to side, though tapping or sound can also be used. You don’t need to talk much during this part. Your brain does the work. Most people are surprised by how natural and even calming this process feels.
-
After processing, we reinforce the positive beliefs that have emerged, check in on how the memory feels now, and ensure you feel grounded before leaving the session. Between sessions and at the close of treatment, we also take time to reflect on what has shifted and what that means for your life going forward.
Your First Session
In your first session, we will explore what brought you to therapy and begin to understand what you most want to work toward. If EMDR feels like the right fit, I will explain the process fully and answer any questions you have before we begin. Nothing happens without your understanding and your consent.
A Note on Telehealth EMDR
EMDR is highly effective via telehealth and I offer it to clients throughout California. Online EMDR uses the same bilateral stimulation techniques adapted for a video session — research consistently shows it is just as effective as in-person treatment.