EMDR Therapy in Encino and Los Angeles, California
GO BEYOND TRADITIONAL TALK THERAPY
SPECIALIZED, TRAUMA-INFORMED THERAPY
YOU’VE TRIED EVERYTHING TO FEEL BETTER, BUT NOTHING’S REALLY WORKED.
Sometimes, distressing experiences don’t get fully processed by the brain. Instead, they remain “stuck,” continuing to show up as anxiety, triggers, negative beliefs, or emotional overwhelm.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps your brain reprocess these experiences so they feel less intense and no longer hold the same emotional charge.
Using bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or tapping, we activate the brain’s natural ability to process and integrate difficult experiences. Over time, this allows you to respond to the present with more clarity, rather than reacting from the past.
You don’t have to relive everything in detail for EMDR to be effective. The process is structured, collaborative, and always guided at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
You’re ready to stop feeling…
Frustrated by reactions that don’t seem to match the present moment
Disconnected from yourself, your body, or the people around you
Overwhelmed by anxiety, triggers, or emotions that feel hard to control
EMDR CAN HELP YOU FEEL LESS TRIGGERED AND MORE IN CONTROL.
EMDR helps you process the experiences that may be keeping you stuck so they no longer feel as intense, overwhelming, or present in your day-to-day life.
Instead of just talking through what happened, EMDR works at a deeper level to shift how those experiences are stored in your brain and body. As a result, many people notice they feel less reactive, more grounded, and better able to respond to the present moment.
This approach can be especially helpful if you find yourself feeling triggered, anxious, emotionally overwhelmed, or disconnected even when you understand why.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain process and integrate distressing experiences that may feel “stuck.”
When something overwhelming happens, the brain doesn’t always fully process it—so it can continue to show up as anxiety, triggers, negative beliefs, or emotional reactivity. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or tapping) to help the brain reprocess these experiences in a way that feels more adaptive and less distressing.
Over time, this can reduce the emotional intensity of past experiences and shift how you relate to them, allowing you to feel more grounded and present in your daily life.
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Sessions are collaborative, supportive, and tailored to your needs.
Some days we may focus on processing emotions or exploring patterns, while other sessions may be more structured and skill-based. If we’re using EMDR, we move at a pace that feels safe and manageable, with time spent building coping tools and grounding strategies before deeper processing begins.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before coming in—therapy is a space where we make sense of things together.
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EMDR can help reduce the emotional intensity of past experiences so they no longer shape how you feel or respond in the present.
Instead of feeling triggered, overwhelmed, or stuck in the same patterns, many people begin to feel more grounded, regulated, and in control of their reactions.
Over time, you may notice a shift in how you see yourself, your past, and your relationships—allowing you to move through life with more clarity, ease, and self-trust.
HOW EMDR THERAPY WORKS
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HISTORY & UNDERSTANDING YOUR STORY
We begin by getting to know you: your experiences, current challenges, and what’s bringing you to therapy. This helps us understand patterns and identify what you’d like to work through.
PREPARATION & BUILDING SAFETY
Before starting EMDR, we focus on building tools to help you feel grounded and supported. This may include coping strategies, emotional regulation skills, and creating a sense of safety in the process.
IDENTIFYING TARGET MEMORIES
Together, we identify specific memories, experiences, or patterns that feel “stuck” and continue to impact you in the present.
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PROCESSING (DESENSITIZATION)
Using bilateral stimulation (like eye movements or tapping), we begin reprocessing these experiences so they feel less overwhelming and intense over time.
SHIFTING CORE BELIEFS (INSTALLATION)
As the emotional charge decreases, we begin strengthening more adaptive, supportive beliefs and helping you see yourself and your experiences in a new way.
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BODY AWARENESS (BODY SCAN)
We check in with your body to notice and release any remaining tension or discomfort, supporting a deeper sense of resolution.
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CLOSURE
Each session ends with grounding and stabilization, so you leave feeling supported, settled, and able to return to your day.
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REEVALUATION & CONTINUED GROWTH
At the start of each session, we check in on your progress and decide what to focus on next, ensuring the work continues to feel helpful and aligned with your goals.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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No—you don’t have to go into full detail or relive everything for EMDR to be effective.
The process focuses on how the memory is stored in your brain and body, rather than retelling the entire story. We move at a pace that feels safe and manageable, and you remain in control throughout the process.
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While talk therapy focuses on understanding your experiences, EMDR works at a deeper level to help your brain process them.
Many people already have insight into their patterns—but still feel stuck emotionally. EMDR helps shift how those experiences are stored, so they no longer feel as intense or continue to shape your reactions in the present.
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EMDR can be helpful if you feel stuck in patterns that don’t seem to shift, even with insight or past therapy.
It’s especially effective for anxiety, trauma, and experiences that continue to feel emotionally charged or triggering. If you’re unsure, we can talk through your goals and decide together if it feels like a good fit.
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Everyone’s experience is different, but many people describe EMDR as allowing thoughts, memories, or emotions to move through more fluidly.
You may notice shifts in perspective, a decrease in emotional intensity, or new insights emerging. Throughout the process, we prioritize staying grounded and regulated.
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The number of sessions varies depending on your goals, history, and what you’re working through.
Some people notice shifts relatively quickly, while others benefit from a longer-term approach. We’ll move at a pace that feels supportive and adjust as needed based on your progress.
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Yes—EMDR is an evidence-based therapy that has been extensively researched and shown to be effective for trauma and related concerns. Many people experience meaningful relief in fewer sessions compared to traditional approaches, although the pace and process can vary from person to person.
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Not at all. While EMDR is widely known for treating trauma and PTSD, it can also be helpful for anxiety, panic, self-esteem, relationship patterns, and distressing life experiences that may not seem “big enough” to be called trauma—but still feel impactful.
