in Roseville & Across CA
EMDR Therapy
Specialized, evidence-based treatment for adults who want to release the impacts of their past and feel more calm, capable, & confident.
EMDR can transform the way you think and feel today.
You might feel like you don’t know who you are anymore, having lost interest in being with your family or friends and doing the things you used to enjoy. You may be struggling with:
Poor sleep
Persistent fear or anxiety
Hyperviligance
Relationship challenges
Guilt or self-blame
Loss of motivation
Self-doubt
Difficulty trusting others
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that allows you to get to the root of these challenges by processing painful or difficult experiences, decreasing triggers and distress, and transforming self-limiting beliefs.
Who can benefit from EMDR?
EMDR is a powerful technique for treating trauma, PTSD, phobias & anxiety, depression, and even pain disorders.
How EMDR works
EMDR leverages your brain and body’s natural ability to heal itself.
The model of EMDR is based on the principle that many mental health difficulties are due to incomplete or maladaptive processing of adverse experiences. Put simply: when our brain doesn’t correctly process painful experiences, they get “stuck.” This is what leads to our symptoms.
In EMDR, we help get those experiences “unstuck” and then re-process them so your brain and body can store them properly. In doing so, we also decrease or eliminate the symptoms.
EMDR is an eight-phase process:
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I’ll gather a complete history from you, including any traumatic events that may have occurred. During this discussion we will locate any related memories related to those experiences, helping us identify the memory or memories that will be best to start the processing on. We may determine that a good place to begin might be a future event. You and I will discuss and decide this together.
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I’ll explain EMDR and exactly what you can expect from the experience. We’ll discuss any questions or concerns you may have, as well as any coping skills or strategies you may need to manage emotional difficulties that may arise. There is no rush here; all of this will happen at your own pace.
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We’ll evaluate your current state using the SUD (subjective unit of disturbance) scale, rating emotions such as fear, anxiety, shame, guilt, anger, or sadness. This is how we can “measure” the changes you experience as a result of EMDR. I’ll also ask you where you feel the physical sensations associated with the target memory.
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We’ll activate your information processing system by using bilateral eye movements or tactile or auditory stimulation—you and I will discuss which is right for you. Using our chosen method, we’ll use the bilateral stimulation to bridge both sides of your brain while focusing on the target memory. You are fully awake and aware during this process.
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I’ll ask what words go best with the picture that expresses your negative belief about yourself and then, on the other hand, what you would prefer to believe about yourself instead. As treatment progress, we will work toward replacing the negative emotions and beliefs associated with the target memory with this positive belief. While holding the target in your mind, you’ll scan your body from head to toe for lingering disturbance, which we will address and reprocess until you feel truly at ease.
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At the end of each session, I’ll support you in returning to a state of calm. When we meet again, we’ll discuss your progress and whether distress is remaining low and positive beliefs are remaining strong. This will determine where we focus continued treatment.
Learn more about EMDR:
It’s possible to change your trajectory.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions about EMDR therapy
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While EMDR is traditionally associated with trauma, it can help with any mental health conditions that are the result of painful past experiences. EMDR has been successful in treating people experiencing:
Low self-esteem
Anxiety
Depression
Performance anxiety
Phobias
Grief
…and more
Reach out today if you’re wondering if EMDR is right for you.
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You get to decide how much you share in EMDR therapy. Since you are the one holding the target memory in your mind, you are in control of how much or little you talk about the event.
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It is. While EMDR therapy does require you to open yourself up to the painful or difficult emotions associated with your experiences, I’ll provide you with the space, skills, and support you need to do that safely. Then, as you get to the other side of those things, you’ll begin to notice the lightness and peace that comes with truly putting those experiences to rest in your brain and body.
Take the next step
Ready to get started?
Click the button below to schedule a private, complimentary consultation with me. I’ll answer any questions you have and you can decide if we’re the right fit to work together.