EMDR therapy in hermosa beach & beverly hills
online across california

EMDR Therapy

Compassionate and skilled in-person and virtual
EMDR therapy for trauma

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What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based, mind-body treatment for trauma that can release the emotional charge from traumatic life experiences. Traumatic life experiences include general life experiences both small and large that lead to depression, anxiety, relationship issues, or repeating old patterns that do not serve us.

EMDR therapy targets the unprocessed memories that are keeping you frozen in the past, stuck in your trauma responses. It is a portal into your unconscious mind, allowing for insight, connections and change to happen rapidly within a session.

EMDR is an evidence-based, science-backed psychotherapy treatment that has been proven to alleviate the symptoms of distress associated with trauma. It is client-centered, and therapist led. EMDR facilitates a process in which the brain is freed to complete its innate healing capability. It uses bilateral stimulation with eye movements, tapping or auditory stimuli, to activate your memory network and allow your brain to heal. It can be used as a stand-alone treatment, or in combination with traditional talk-therapy approaches.

EMDR Therapy Can Help With:

Traumatic event like birth trauma, a car accident, sexual assault, or other life threatening experiences
Complex trauma from childhood
Betrayal or relationship trauma and fear of abandonment
Intrusive thoughts about a past experience in which you felt threatened or frightened
Avoidance of triggering events, people, places or situations
Experiences of shut down and emotional numbness, even if you are still staying functional in your day-to-day life
Anxiety and depression, grief and loss, low self-esteem, sexual dysfunction, and more

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how it works

EMDR is a structured, eight-phase process that allows both the client and therapist to measure progress and adjust treatment as the therapeutic process evolves. It is also designed to give therapists a way of creating a treatment plan that is unique to each individual.

This often consists of using a combination of mindfulness, imagery, and cognitive techniques, as well as emotional regulation skills, to help prepare for the deeper work of reprocessing traumatic memories. And it may include breathwork, mindfulness meditation strategies, visualization, and even somatic approaches like yoga and moving meditation.

Moreover, in general, some form of talk therapy is also incorporated in the EMDR process. Talk therapy tends to build an avenue toward a greater sense of safety and trust that facilitates both EMDR and the healing process as a whole.

Once a client is familiarized with the process and equipped with effective tools for self-regulation, the eye movement, desensitization, and reprocessing part of EMDR therapy can begin.

Assessment and development of treatment plan.
Rather than just jumping right into EMDR sessions, it’s important for people to understand their trauma, the functions that certain triggers serve, and why some memories or reactions to stimuli are so intense.
Learning self-calming techniques.
Clients need to develop sufficient coping strategies for managing overwhelming emotions, painful memories, and triggers (before, during, and after sessions).
Guided visualization of memories. This entails the individual recalling a negative memory, image, belief, or bodily sensation associated with trauma or a disturbing experience.
Desensitization through Dual Attention Bilateral Stimulation.
While the client focuses on the traumatic memory and related thoughts and feelings, the therapist uses bilateral movement/stimulation techniques (rapid eye movements, oscillating tones, alternating vibrations) and asks the individual to describe their thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations.

Reprocessing the traumatic memory and installation of positive ideas.
The therapist carefully helps the client to shift their mind toward new and positive thoughts and feelings about the traumatic event. Alternating to this more optimistic outlook leads to resolution and healing.
Body scan for lingering somatic symptoms.
This involves pinpointing and reducing any residual physical discomfort that may still be connected to the disturbing memory.
Relaxation and debriefing.
Through relaxation techniques, clients are helped to return to a state of balance. The therapist reviews the individual’s self-regulation skills, assesses if they need additional support, and encourages them to document any issue that may arise in between sessions.
Reevaluating the overall progress and adjusting target.
This carries over into the next session(s).

WHAT TO EXPECT

EMDR therapy is a unique approach to trauma treatment and may look and feel different than any therapy you’ve been in before. It is a systematic and structured approach. Essentially it helps both you (and your therapist) get out of the way and allow the brains natural healing process to occur. There are a few formats of how we can work together with EMDR:

With a traditional therapy structure, we would meet once a week for 50-minute sessions. Ongoing therapy creates space for processing at a consistent, steady pace. With ongoing therapy, EMDR can be used as a stand-alone or in conjunction with traditional talk therapy.
Intensives offer extended time in the therapeutic process, allowing for rapid results. 3 hour, 1 day and 2 day options are available. You can learn more about intensive therapy here.
If you are already working with a therapist but EMDR is suggested as an adjunctive treatment, I can help. EMDR can be a great addition to your work, helping you break free from a certain traumatic event or barrier that is impacting your progress. Adjunctive work can occur via ongoing or intensive therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our therapist fees range from $150-225 for individual sessions, and $175-275 for couples sessions.

We offer a limited number of sliding scale spots for those with financial need.
We are a private pay practice and do not accept health insurance. However, I can provide monthly superbills for you to submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Please check with your provider to understand your benefits, as coverage varies by plan.
Your therapist reserves your appointment time just for you. Sessions canceled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours notice will be charged the full session fee unless rescheduled within the same business week. Availability for rescheduling is not guaranteed.

We offer both in-person sessions and HIPAA-compliant Telehealth sessions for residents of California. Our offices are located in Hermosa Beach and Beverly Hills.
We meet weekly for 50 minute sessions. Once therapy has been established, you and your therapist can discuss the appropriateness of moving to biweekly sessions.

75 and 90 minute sessions are also available for couples.
While this is unique to each person, the kind of therapy we do is an investment - but it is an investment in yourself and your future. It is not a bandaid or a quick fix and many clients are in therapy with us for six months or longer. This is because we are doing deeper work to create real, lasting change.