Online EMDR in California

What is EMDR therapy? EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a specialized therapy that helps your brain process distressing memories, emotions, and experiences that feel stuck. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, taps, or sounds, to help your brain reprocess difficult experiences in a way that reduces their emotional charge. It's particularly effective for trauma, anxiety, and emotional reactivity that interferes with daily life and relationships. Does EMDR work online? Yes. EMDR can be effectively provided via telehealth. Online EMDR uses the same evidence-based protocol as in-person sessions, with bilateral stimulation delivered through visual cues on your screen, audio tones through headphones, or self-administered tapping. Many clients find online EMDR convenient and feel more comfortable processing difficult emotions in the privacy of their own home. How can EMDR help with parenting stress and reactivity? EMDR is especially helpful for parents who find themselves getting triggered, yelling, or reacting in ways they don't feel good about. Often, these reactive patterns are connected to your own past experiences, unresolved stress, or nervous system dysregulation. EMDR helps you process the underlying memories and emotions driving those reactions, so you can respond to your child from a calmer, more grounded place. Many parents notice they feel less anxious, less reactive, and more present after EMDR. Can EMDR help if I don't have "major trauma"? Absolutely. EMDR is effective for a wide range of experiences, not just major traumatic events. It can help with ongoing anxiety, feelings of inadequacy or shame, difficult childhood experiences, stressful life transitions, postpartum challenges, and the accumulation of smaller stressors that leave you feeling overwhelmed. You don't need to have experienced a single dramatic event to benefit from EMDR. If something feels stuck or keeps affecting how you show up in your life, EMDR can help. What is bilateral stimulation, and why does it work? Bilateral stimulation refers to alternating left-right stimulation of the brain, typically through guided eye movements, tapping, or audio tones. While it may sound unusual at first, bilateral stimulation is thought to help your brain process information similarly to how it does during REM sleep. It allows distressing memories to be reprocessed and stored in a way that reduces their emotional intensity. Many clients describe it as feeling natural once they begin, and research consistently shows it to be effective. Do I have to talk about everything in detail during EMDR? No. One of the benefits of EMDR is that you don't have to describe traumatic or distressing experiences in extensive detail for it to be effective. While some discussion helps me understand what we're working on, the processing itself happens internally. You're in control of what you share, and the focus is on helping your brain do the work, not on retelling painful stories repeatedly. Can EMDR help with anxiety? Yes. EMDR is highly effective for anxiety, including generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety, and parenting-related anxiety. Anxiety often has roots in past experiences or unresolved stress that keeps your nervous system on high alert. EMDR helps process those underlying experiences so your body and mind can feel safer and calmer. Many parents find that their constant worry and overwhelm decrease significantly after EMDR. Is EMDR safe for children? Yes. EMDR is safe and effective for children and is often adapted to be more playful and developmentally appropriate. Children can benefit from EMDR for trauma, anxiety, behavioral challenges, and emotional dysregulation. I tailor the approach to your child's age and comfort level, and parents are often involved in the process to provide support and help their child feel safe. How is EMDR different from regular talk therapy? EMDR is different because it doesn't rely primarily on talking through problems or analyzing patterns. Instead, it directly targets the memories, beliefs, and emotions that are causing distress and helps your brain reprocess them. This often leads to faster relief and deeper shifts than talk therapy alone. Many people who have tried traditional therapy without significant progress find that EMDR helps them finally feel unstuck. What can EMDR help with? EMDR can help with trauma (including childhood trauma, medical trauma, and birth trauma), anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, grief and loss, feelings of shame or inadequacy, emotional reactivity, intrusive thoughts, and difficulty managing stress. For parents, EMDR is particularly helpful for addressing triggers that come up during parenting, breaking cycles of yelling or overreacting, and processing your own past so it doesn't affect how you show up for your children. How long does EMDR take? The length of EMDR therapy varies depending on what you're working on and how your brain processes the material. Some people experience significant relief in a few sessions, while others benefit from longer-term work, especially if addressing multiple experiences or complex trauma. EMDR is not a quick fix, but many clients notice meaningful changes more quickly than they expected. I work collaboratively with you to create a pace that feels safe and sustainable. Will EMDR make me relive traumatic experiences? No. While EMDR does involve accessing distressing memories, the goal is to help you process them, not relive them. You remain present and in control throughout the session, and the bilateral stimulation helps keep you grounded while your brain does the reprocessing work. Most people describe the experience as manageable and even relieving, not retraumatizing. Can EMDR help me stop yelling at my kids? Yes. If you find yourself yelling or losing your temper in ways that don't align with the parent you want to be, EMDR can help address the underlying causes. Often, reactive parenting is connected to your own nervous system dysregulation, unresolved stress, or past experiences that get triggered in the moment. EMDR helps calm your nervous system and process those triggers so you have more capacity to respond calmly, even during challenging parenting moments. What if I'm seeing you for individual therapy that includes EMDR? If you're working with me individually and EMDR is part of your treatment, we'll integrate it into your overall therapy in a way that fits your needs and goals. EMDR sessions may focus on specific memories or experiences, or we may use it alongside other therapeutic approaches to address anxiety, parenting stress, or emotional patterns. The work is tailored to you, and we'll move at a pace that feels right. Is EMDR covered by insurance? I operate as a private pay practice and am out-of-network with all insurance plans. This allows me to provide highly specialized care and use EMDR in the way that's most effective for you, without insurance limitations on session length or treatment approach. I can provide superbills for potential reimbursement if your plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits. Many clients find that investing in targeted, expert EMDR therapy creates lasting change more efficiently than months of traditional therapy.