Healing from what still lingers, even now.

Some experiences leave a mark that outlasts the moment itself, showing up as anxiety, reactivity, or memories that still feel too close. EMDR is an evidence-based therapy designed to help your brain process those experiences more fully, so they can finally settle into the past.

What Is EMDR?

Some memories get stuck. EMDR helps them move.

You adapted to survive something difficult. Sometimes that adaptation keeps running long after the danger has passed.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is one evidence-based approach among several we use, not a one-size-fits-all answer. It's built on a simple idea: most memories process naturally over time, but some don't. A difficult experience can stay "stuck" in a way that keeps triggering the same fear, shame, or panic long after the event itself is over.

EMDR supports your brain's own natural ability to finish processing that memory, so it can be remembered without being relived.

How EMDR Works

You stay aware and in control the entire time

During EMDR, we ask you to briefly bring a difficult memory to mind while your brain engages in bilateral stimulation, a gentle back-and-forth rhythm that helps both sides of the brain communicate. It might look like following your therapist's hand movements, feeling alternating taps, or listening to alternating tones.

  • Eye movements
  • Tapping
  • Alternating sounds

You're never hypnotized and never lose control. You remain fully awake, aware of your surroundings, and able to pause or stop at any time. Most people describe it as far less intense than they expected, more like watching a memory from a comfortable distance than reliving it.

Is EMDR Right for Everyone?

We start with what you actually need

Not every person or every memory needs the same starting point, and that's a strength of good clinical care, not a delay. Some clients are ready to begin EMDR processing within the first few sessions. Others benefit from building coping skills and a sense of stability first, or from starting with traditional talk therapy before introducing EMDR.

We assess this together, thoughtfully and at your pace, so the approach we use actually fits where you are right now, not just what worked for someone else.

What to Expect

A process that moves at your pace

  • 01 Assessment. We take time to understand your history and what you're hoping to work through, so we know where to start.
  • 02 Preparation. Before any processing begins, we make sure you have the tools to feel grounded and safe throughout the work.
  • 03 Building resources. We strengthen your ability to manage distress, so difficult moments in session feel manageable, not overwhelming.
  • 04 Processing. Using bilateral stimulation, we help your brain move the memory toward resolution, at a pace you set.
  • 05 Integration. We check in on how the memory feels now, and support you in carrying that shift into everyday life.
Common Questions

What to know before you begin

Will I have to talk about every detail of what happened?+
No. EMDR doesn't require you to describe the experience in detail. You'll bring the memory to mind briefly, but the processing itself does the work, not a retelling of every part of the story.
Will I lose control during a session?+
No. You remain fully awake and aware throughout, able to pause or stop at any point. Your therapist stays present with you the entire time.
Is EMDR a form of hypnosis?+
No. EMDR is not hypnosis, and you're never in a trance. It's an active, structured process where you remain alert and in control.
How many sessions will I need?+
It depends on what you're working through. Some people find relief from a single memory in just a few sessions, while more complex or longstanding experiences take longer. We'll talk through what to expect for your specific situation.
Can EMDR be done online?+
Yes. We provide EMDR through secure telehealth video across California, using adapted bilateral stimulation methods that work well in a virtual setting.

What happened doesn't have to keep happening.

If something from your past still shapes your present more than you'd like, EMDR may be able to help. Whenever you're ready, we're here.