Home/EMDR for Trauma

Some things don't respond to talk therapy alone. EMDR works differently.

For a lot of people, it works better. Here's what it is, how it works, and whether it might be right for you.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. The name is a mouthful, but the process is straightforward: it helps your brain finish processing experiences it got stuck on.

Traumatic memories don't always work like regular memories. Instead of fading and integrating over time, they can stay raw and reactive, surfacing in ways that feel out of proportion to what's happening now. EMDR works by pairing those memories with bilateral stimulation while you're in a calm, guided state. Over time this allows the memory to be reprocessed and stored differently, losing much of its emotional charge.

It's recognized and endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the World Health Organization as an effective treatment for trauma and PTSD.

What happens in a session

01 Preparation

Before any processing begins we spend time building a clear picture of what we're working on and making sure you have tools to stay grounded.

02 Bilateral stimulation

During processing you follow a moving stimulus with your eyes, or use tapping, while briefly accessing the target memory. This mimics what the brain does naturally during REM sleep.

03 Reprocessing

The memory gradually loses its intensity. Most people find that what felt unbearable becomes something they can recall without being overtaken by it.

04 Integration

We close each session carefully, making sure you're grounded before you leave. The processing continues between sessions as your brain consolidates the work.

Recognized as effective by

  • American Psychiatric Association
  • Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Department of Defense
  • World Health Organization
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

How it fits into treatment

Flexible options

EMDR can be integrated into ongoing therapy, used as a focused short-term treatment for a specific issue, or run alongside work you're already doing with another therapist.

I also offer EMDR remotely via secure video, so it's available to you wherever you are in California.

Who it's for

EMDR is most commonly associated with PTSD and trauma, but it's also effective for anxiety, phobias, grief, performance anxiety, and a range of other issues where the emotional response feels stuck or disproportionate. If you're not sure whether it applies to what you're dealing with, that's a good question for the free consultation.