EMDR Therapy in California
Compassionate, attachment-focused EMDR therapy online throughout California.
Sometimes something frightening happens—a car accident, a sudden loss, or witnessing an event that leaves you feeling shaken long afterward. Other times, the experiences that shape us unfold slowly, through childhood, relationships, or years of feeling unsafe, unseen, or alone.
You may understand what happened intellectually, yet still notice your body reacting, old beliefs resurfacing, or familiar patterns repeating. Insight alone does not always bring the relief you hoped for.
You deserve a place where your experiences are met with compassion, curiosity, and care. Healing does not require pushing yourself faster than you are ready to go.
Based in the San Francisco East Bay, I offer online EMDR therapy to adults throughout California, integrating Attachment-Focused EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and a holistic, compassionate approach to healing.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR is an evidence-based approach to helping people heal from traumatic and distressing experiences.
Sometimes, difficult experiences continue to affect us long after they’ve happened. Even when we understand what happened intellectually, our bodies and emotions may still respond as though the danger is present.
EMDR helps the brain reprocess distressing memories, allowing the emotional charge associated with them to gradually diminish. The memory doesn’t disappear, but it can become part of your story from the past rather than something that continues to trigger you in the present.
You don’t have to relive every detail of your experiences or find the perfect words to describe them. Together, we’ll approach this work with care, honoring your individual needs and readiness.
How EMDR Therapy May Help
- Trauma doesn’t always come from one overwhelming event. Sometimes it develops through years of difficult experiences, relationships, or situations in which we didn’t feel safe, supported, or understood.
EMDR therapy may help with:
- Recent traumatic experiences, including accidents, frightening events, or witnessing something distressing.
- Childhood and complex trauma, including emotional neglect, difficult family dynamics, and painful early experiences.
- Relational and attachment trauma, including experiences of betrayal, abandonment, emotional neglect, or painful early relationships.
- Anxiety and emotional triggers that seem connected to past experiences.
Negative beliefs about yourself, such as feeling unworthy, unsafe, or not good enough.
You don’t need to have experienced a single dramatic event for your pain to matter. Sometimes the experiences that shape us most deeply are the ones we’ve learned to minimize or simply live with.
My Approach to EMDR Therapy
I first became interested in EMDR while I was in graduate school, when I encountered the work of Dr. Francine Shapiro and wrote a paper exploring this approach to trauma healing. I later completed training in standard EMDR and continued deepening my understanding of how attachment and early relationships shape our experiences.
In 2016, I trained in Dr. Laurel Parnell’s Attachment-Focused EMDR approach. That training resonated deeply with the way I work: attending to safety, connection, and the unique needs of each person.
As I continue to study and evolve as a holistic trauma therapist, I have incorporated Internal Family Systems (IFS) into my EMDR protocols and now practice IFS-informed EMDR. This integration brings curiosity and compassion toward the different parts of ourselves that have worked so hard to protect us.
My work is collaborative, warm, and paced with care. We make room for your whole experience—mind, body, emotions, and the wisdom you already carry.
What to Expect During Online EMDR Therapy
Before we begin reprocessing traumatic memories, we spend time building a foundation of safety, trust, and connection. This includes developing resources that help you feel grounded, supported, and connected to your own inner strengths.
I believe this preparation is an essential part of the healing process. We move at a pace that honors your individual needs, without rushing or pushing through experiences that feel overwhelming.
During online EMDR sessions, we may use alternating tapping, handheld pulsars, or bilateral sounds to support the reprocessing process. Together, we’ll explore what feels most comfortable and effective for you.
Throughout our work, I integrate attachment-focused EMDR and IFS-informed approaches, creating space for the different parts of you to feel heard, understood, and supported.
Can EMDR Therapy Work Online?
Yes! EMDR can be offered virtually, allowing you to participate from the comfort and privacy of your own space. With thoughtful preparation and the right tools, online EMDR can provide a supportive environment for healing. We’ll work together to find an approach that feels comfortable and appropriate for you.
Curious about how it works? Read my blog, “Can EMDR Therapy Work Online? Virtual EMDR Explained,” to learn more about the experience.
Begin Your Healing Journey
Healing doesn’t mean forgetting what happened or becoming someone different. It’s about finding greater freedom, connection, and compassion for yourself as you move forward.
If you’re curious about whether EMDR therapy might be right for you, I invite you to reach out for a free consultation. Together, we can explore what you’re looking for and whether my approach feels like a good fit.
I offer online EMDR therapy to adults throughout California.