EMDR Therapy for Trauma and PTSD
Why can’t I just get over it?
You may understand that something difficult or traumatic happened in the past, but still find yourself reacting to reminders of it as though it's happening now. You might experience anxiety, intrusive memories, strong emotional reactions that you don't fully understand, or find yourself avoiding situations that remind you of what happened.
Knowing that something is over doesn't necessarily mean your mind and body have stopped responding to it.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy for trauma and PTSD. It can help you reprocess traumatic or distressing experiences so that those memories will no longer trigger the same emotional or physical distress.
I'm an EMDRIA-certified EMDR therapist in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. I work with adults who have experienced a single traumatic event, such as an accident or assault, as well as those dealing with the effects of repeated or long-term trauma, including childhood trauma and complex PTSD.
How does EMDR therapy work?
During EMDR, you'll briefly focus on pieces of a distressing memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation (alternating stimulation of the left and right sides). In my office, I use handheld buzzers that gently vibrate back and forth. During virtual sessions, I use alternating sounds and/or guided eye movements.
EMDR does not erase memories or change what happened. Instead, the goal is for you to be able to remember what happened without experiencing the same intense emotional or physical reactions.
What will EMDR therapy be like?
During the first sessions, we will be getting to know each other! We’ll start by talking about what brings you to therapy now, how your past experiences may be affecting you, and what you’re hoping to gain from EMDR therapy.
Before we start reprocessing memories, we'll make sure you have skills to handle difficult emotions and stay grounded when distressing memories come up. How much preparation you need will depend on your individual circumstances. If you've experienced a single traumatic event, we may be able to begin reprocessing relatively quickly. If you've experienced repeated or long-term trauma, we may spend more time on preparation before moving into reprocessing.
You don't have to describe every detail of your traumatic experiences out loud, and I’ll check in with you along the way to be sure we’re moving at a pace that feels manageable for you.