EMDR Therapy in Pasadena
Sometimes insight alone isn’t enough. You understand what happened. You’ve talked about it. But the memories still feel sharp, your body still reacts, and certain experiences or emotions still pull you back into the past. EMDR can help.
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured therapeutic approach that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories, emotions, and beliefs so they can be integrated rather than relived.
Originally developed to treat PTSD, EMDR is now used to support healing from:
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Trauma (both single-incident and complex)
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Childhood neglect or abuse
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Anxiety and panic
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Grief and loss
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Chronic shame or self-criticism
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Relationship wounds and attachment injuries
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Performance anxiety and limiting beliefs
What sets EMDR apart is that it works not just through talking, but by engaging the brain’s natural healing mechanisms through bilateral stimulation (typically side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or taps) while you bring up key aspects of a memory or issue.
This process allows the nervous system to let go of stuck patterns and rewire how the memory is stored, so it no longer triggers the same emotional or physiological distress.
How EMDR Works
During an EMDR session, you’ll be guided to:
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Identify a memory or belief connected to your current distress
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Notice your thoughts, feelings, and body sensations associated with it
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Engage in structured 20- to 40-second sets of bilateral stimulation, which helps the brain reprocess the experience
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Form new, more adaptive beliefs as the emotional charge lessens
Unlike traditional talk therapy, you don’t need to go into every detail of your story. The focus is on how the memory is held in your body and mind now and helping your system find resolution and relief.
While the sessions themselves can be exhausting at times, many clients report feeling lighter, clearer, and more present after EMDR treatment, as though the experience finally belongs in the past.
EMDR Can Help If You’ve Thought…
“I know it’s over, but I still feel like it’s happening.”
“I freeze up every time I try to speak up.”
“I’ve done so much work, and I’m still triggered.”
“A part of me knows better, but I can’t seem to believe it.”
These are signs that a past experience may still be activating your nervous system. EMDR may help update that internal wiring so you can respond from the present, not the past.
How I Integrate EMDR in Therapy
As a trauma therapist, I use EMDR both as a standalone treatment and as a tool woven into a larger healing process. Especially for folks with more complex trauma histories, I combine EMDR with:
- Parts-based approaches (like Internal Family Systems and Ego State Therapy)
- Emotionally Focused Therapy for relational healing
- Attachment-focused care that prioritizes safety, trust, and compassion
Together, we go at your pace. EMDR is never forced. It’s a collaborative process, and my goal is always for you to feel safe, supported, and resourced before beginning any reprocessing.
