EMDR Therapy · Certified
When you understand it perfectly and it still runs you.
EMDR works with the memory network directly rather than through explanation. Certified EMDR therapy in San Diego and online across California.
What EMDR Is
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, in plain terms
Some experiences do not get filed the way ordinary memories do. They stay live, the image, the belief that came with it, the physical response, and get triggered by things that only faintly resemble the original.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, guided eye movements, alternating taps or tones, while you hold a specific memory in mind. This appears to help the brain reprocess the experience so it can settle into the past rather than staying perpetually present.
What usually changes is not the facts but the charge. The memory remains; the lurch that came with it loosens, and beliefs like "it was my fault" or "I am not safe" stop feeling self-evident.
It is a well-researched approach for trauma and PTSD, and it is also useful for anxiety with clear roots in earlier experience. I don't make any guarantees about results, what I offer is careful, certified practice and honest review as we go.
Often Used For
- Single-incident trauma and PTSD
- Accumulated relational and childhood experience
- Anxiety rooted in specific earlier events
- Persistent negative beliefs about yourself
- Grief, betrayal and loss
A Session
What actually happens in an EMDR hour
Open each card. People are usually surprised by how structured and how ordinary it feels.
Setting the targetWe choose one specific image, belief and body sensation to work with.
Rather than the whole story, we take a single representative moment: what you see, the belief about yourself that comes with it, the emotion, and where you feel it physically. Precision is what makes the rest work.
Sets of bilateral stimulationShort sets, then a pause: 'what are you noticing now?'
You hold the target in mind while following eye movements, taps or tones. After each short set we stop and you report whatever came up, an image, a thought, a sensation. Then we follow that. You stay awake, aware and in control throughout.
Closing the sessionNothing is left open when the hour ends.
We deliberately close down whatever was activated, return to a resourced state, and plan for the day after. If a target is not finished, we contain it rather than leaving it half-processed.
The Standard Protocol
Eight phases, and preparation is most of the work
Reprocessing is the visible part. What makes it safe is everything we do before it.
Mapping targets, then building the internal resources and grounding skills you will use during and after reprocessing. This phase is never skipped.
Who It Suits
EMDR may be a good fit if
- You have insight but the reaction has not changed
- Talking about it in detail feels intolerable
- A specific event still intrudes on the present
- A belief about yourself feels true no matter the evidence
- You want structured, targeted work rather than open-ended talk
Pacing
When we would slow down or start elsewhere
If daily life is currently overwhelming, or there is little stability to return to after a session, we spend longer in preparation and may start with anxiety-focused or skills-based work first. That is a clinical judgment we make together, and revisit.
EMDR sessions are billed at the standard individual rate: $210, or $325 for 90 minutes. Many people prefer the longer format for reprocessing sessions.
Fees and policies in fullQuestions
EMDR, answered
Do I have to describe the memory out loud?
No. EMDR does not require detailed narration. You need to be able to bring the memory to mind and report what you notice, which for many people is a relief compared with retelling it.
What does bilateral stimulation involve?
Following eye movements, alternating taps, or alternating tones, whichever suits you. Over telehealth we typically use on-screen movement or self-administered tapping.
How many sessions does EMDR take?
It varies widely depending on how much material there is and how it is layered. I don't make any guarantees about how quickly anything resolves. We review progress together as we go.
Is it safe if I have a lot of history?
That is exactly why the preparation phase exists. With extensive history we spend longer building resourcing and stability, and we target material in a deliberate order rather than opening everything at once.
Can EMDR be done over video?
Yes, frequently and effectively, provided we have prepared well and you have a private, settled space for the session. We would decide together whether starting in person is better for you.
Are you actually certified?
Yes. I am EMDR certified, and it is a core part of the trauma work in this practice rather than an occasional add-on.
Free 15-Minute Consult
Curious whether EMDR fits what you are carrying?
Fifteen free minutes to talk it through. No detail required, and no obligation to book anything after.
In person in San Diego, and by telehealth across California.