EMDR therapy in San Diego & El Cajon, CA. In-person & online.
High-impact therapy for deep healing. Break free from your past and achieve long lasting, positive transformation.
EMDR is a powerful healing tool that goes beyond talk therapy.
You don’t feel like yourself. You get so overwhelmed that all of your energy goes to keeping anxiety or depression at bay.
Are you someone who:
- Had painful experiences in the past that still haunt you now.
- Carries underlying beliefs of being “not good enough” despite professional and personal achievements.
- Experiences nightmares, intrusive thoughts and images, or intense reminders of past painful memories.
- Finds it difficult to trust others, set healthy boundaries, or build mutually supportive relationships.
Maybe you have tried talking about what happened, but nothing has given you the tools to feel better. With the power of EMDR, there’s a future where you can feel at peace again.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a science-backed therapy that helps your brain place painful memories in the past, where they belong.
How EMDR works
Using eye movements or other types of dual stimulation, we can help the right and left sides of the brain communicate better to process memories that may be “stuck.” This process encourages new perspectives on your past—ones that emphasize your strengths, help you feel safe in the present, and break the cycle of self-blame and shame.
EMDR is designed to bypass all the lies we’ve learned to tell ourselves and to get to the source of our pain. It helps us use our brain’s natural ability to heal, releasing unresolved traumas that show up as strong emotions, low self-esteem, self-sabotage, health problems, and a general feeling of being stuck.
Another benefit of EMDR treatment is that you don’t have to talk about details of your painful experiences. The healing work is done internally whether you talk about it or not. You are in control of this process the entire time.
What to expect
EMDR treatment consists of 8 phases. We will start with getting to know each other and developing a safe bond which is necessary for this treatment to be effective.
Phase 2 can take longer for some people, but you really can’t skip it. In this phase, together we find tools and resources to help you manage feelings that may come up as we move through your painful memories. These tools will help you effectively process memories without becoming overwhelmed or disconnected.
When you have sufficient internal and external resources, we will start working on one memory at a time to:
- reduce physical and emotional distress
- change negative beliefs you hold about yourself
- access new insights between sessions to build confidence and improve relationships
A comprehensive EMDR protocol targets your past painful memories to make them feel less upsetting, reduces the intensity of symptoms that impact your present life, like sleep issues or intrusive thoughts, and prepares you to masterfully handle triggering situations in the future.
EMDR can help you…
- Process and release past memories that keep intruding on your current life.
- Reduce the intensity of painful emotions and increase a sense of control.
- Develop effective coping mechanisms to deal with stressful or triggering life situations in the future.
- Enhance your self-esteem and foster compassion for versions of you who had to endure past challenges with limited resources.
- Build relationships on the foundation of strong boundaries and ability to effectively communicate your own needs.
It’s time to finally leave your past in the past.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does EMDR therapy take?
The duration of EMDR therapy varies depending on individual circumstances, including the nature and complexity of the trauma, available resources, coping mechanisms, and personal experiences. Single incidence adult traumas, for instance a car accident, are generally processed faster than repeated childhood experiences. However, we often find that our responses to adult traumas are determined by ways we learned to manage stress in childhood, so at times in order to process a difficult adult memory, an earlier childhood memory will have to be processed first.
Q: What issues does EMDR therapy help?
EMDR therapy has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of issues, including:
- Anxiety disorders: such as generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and phobias
- Mood disorders: such as depression and bipolar disorder
- Trauma and stress-related disorders: such as PTSD, complex trauma, and dissociative disorders
- Grief and loss
- Phobias, specific fears, and OCD
- Performance anxiety
- Chronic pain
- Eating disorders
- Substance abuse
- Personality disorders
Q: Are there negative side effects of EMDR therapy?
EMDR therapy is generally considered safe and well-tolerated. However, like any therapeutic approach, some people may experience temporary discomfort, including:
- Intense emotions: It’s not uncommon to feel a temporary increase in distress or emotional intensity as you process traumatic memories. This is a normal part of the healing process and typically subsides as therapy progresses.
- Vivid dreams or nightmares: Sometimes people experience more vivid dreams or nightmares during EMDR therapy. These dreams are often related to the memories being processed and can be a sign that the brain is working to integrate and heal.
- Physical sensations: During EMDR sessions, you may experience physical sensations such as tingling, muscle twitching, or changes in body temperature.
- Fatigue or lightheadedness: Feeling tired or lightheaded after an EMDR session is also common. It is important to allow yourself time to rest; don’t schedule any demanding tasks after your therapy sessions.
And as with any trauma therapy, sometimes “it might get worse before it gets better.” That’s why we will spend sufficient time in the preparation phase to ensure you have enough resources to manage any distress that might come with your healing work.