Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is an evidence-based trauma therapy that helps the brain reprocess painful memories — reducing their emotional charge so you can move forward from the past rather than remain controlled by it.
What is EMDR?
EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy designed to help people process and heal from traumatic experiences and distressing life events. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require patients to extensively discuss or verbally re-examine painful memories. Instead, it works by engaging the brain’s natural healing processes through bilateral stimulation — most often guided eye movements — while a person briefly focuses on a troubling memory or feeling.
Originally developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and now recognized by the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association, EMDR has helped millions of people recover from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, grief, phobias, and more. The therapy is grounded in the understanding that traumatic memories can become “stuck” in the nervous system, continuing to trigger distress long after the event has passed. EMDR helps the brain reprocess these memories so they lose their emotional charge — and can be stored as part of the past rather than relived in the present.
EMDR at TrueMe® Counseling
At TrueMe® Counseling, EMDR is delivered by trained clinicians within a personalized, trauma-informed treatment plan. It is often integrated alongside CBT, somatic therapy, and other evidence-based approaches to address the full clinical picture — not just the surface symptoms.
Common signs EMDR may be for you:
- Intrusive memories or flashbacks
- Intense emotional or physical reactions to triggers
- Persistent negative beliefs about yourself
- Feeling stuck despite other forms of therapy
If you identify with 2 or more of these, you may be a good candidate for our EMDR.
OUR CLINICAL APPROACH
How we treat you — and why it works
Most therapy fails because it’s generic. At TrueMe® Counseling, our therapists use a structured, evidence-based framework built around your specific needs, history, and goals — not a one-size-fits-all program. Whether you’re across the street or across the state, we’re here — in person or virtually throughout California.
Understanding How Trauma Affects the Brain
When we experience a distressing or traumatic event, the brain doesn't always process it completely. Instead, memories, emotions, physical sensations, and negative beliefs can become "stuck," causing them to be triggered long after the event has passed. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps the brain reprocess these experiences so they no longer carry the same emotional intensity.
Identifying the Memories That Continue to Affect You
Not every difficult experience is obvious. Sometimes current anxiety, panic, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, or emotional reactions are connected to past experiences that remain unresolved. Together, we'll identify the memories, beliefs, and triggers that continue to influence your life today, creating a clear roadmap for treatment.
Reprocessing Painful Experiences Safely
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation—such as guided eye movements, tapping, or auditory cues—to help the brain naturally process distressing memories. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn't require you to repeatedly tell your story in detail. Instead, your therapist guides you through a structured, evidence-based process that allows your brain to heal at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
Replacing Distress with Healthier Beliefs
Trauma often leaves people with deeply held beliefs such as "I'm not safe," "I'm not good enough," or "It was my fault." As memories are reprocessed, these beliefs begin to lose their grip. Therapy helps you replace them with healthier, more adaptive beliefs, allowing you to respond to present-day situations with greater confidence, emotional balance, and self-trust.
A Personalized EMDR Treatment Plan
Every person's experiences and healing journey are different. Before beginning EMDR, your therapist carefully assesses your readiness, builds emotional regulation skills, and develops a treatment plan based on your history, symptoms, strengths, and goals. Throughout therapy, we continuously monitor your progress and adjust treatment to ensure the process remains supportive, safe, and effective.
Helping You Move Forward Without Your Past Holding You Back
Our goal isn't to erase your memories—it's to reduce the emotional pain and distress attached to them. By the end of EMDR therapy, many clients experience fewer triggers, improved emotional regulation, greater self-confidence, healthier relationships, and a renewed sense of freedom. Instead of feeling controlled by the past, you'll be better equipped to live fully in the present and move toward the future with resilience and hope.
YOUR THERAPY JOURNEY
What to expect in therapy
Starting therapy can feel intimidating — especially when you’re already carrying so much. Here’s exactly what the process looks like, step by step.
Free consultation call
Before anything else, you’ll have a brief, no-pressure call to share what you’re going through and ask any questions you have. There’s no commitment — just a conversation to make sure we’re the right fit for you.
Your first session
Your first session is a relaxed, open conversation — not a test. Your therapist will take time to understand your history, your current experience, and what you’re hoping to achieve. Many clients leave their first session already feeling a sense of relief just from being heard.
A personalized plan
Your therapist will work with you to create a plan tailored specifically to your needs — not a generic program, but a personalized roadmap designed around your unique history, goals, and what you’re going through right now.
Ongoing sessions & real tools
Each session builds on the last. Using CBT and other evidence-based methods, your therapist will help you identify the thought patterns and behaviors holding you back — and equip you with practical tools you can use in real life between sessions.
Tracking your progress
Healing isn’t always linear — and your therapist knows that. Progress is regularly reviewed and your plan is adjusted as needed to ensure you’re always moving in the adirection at the right pace for you.
Life beyond therapy
The goal of therapy isn’t just symptom relief — it’s lasting transformation. You’ll finish therapy with a deeper understanding of yourself, a toolkit you carry for life, and the confidence to face whatever comes next.
Meet Our Therapists
TrueMe® Counseling is a team of MFTs and PhDs with decades of combined clinical experience.
Marina Edelman
Founder | Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #51009
Cheryl Baldi
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #39801
Dr. Rachel Chistyakov
Doctor of Psychology | Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #150001
Sharalee Hall
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #135374
Chris Calandra
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #164783
Suzanne Perry
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #163151
Hayley Willis
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #163642
Jasmine Johnson
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist #137660
Sean Palmer
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist #161917
FAQ - EMDR
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR
Honest answers from our therapists — before you take the first step.
1. Does EMDR require me to talk in detail about my trauma?
2. How many EMDR sessions will I need?
The number of sessions varies depending on the nature, complexity, and history of the trauma being addressed. A single, relatively contained traumatic event may be significantly resolved within three to six sessions. Complex trauma — involving multiple events, childhood abuse, or prolonged adverse experiences — typically requires longer and more intensive treatment. At TrueMe® Counseling, EMDR is always embedded within a broader, personalized treatment plan, and your therapist will give you a realistic sense of timeline based on a thorough clinical assessment at the outset.
3. Is EMDR only for PTSD — or can it help with other conditions?
While EMDR was originally developed for PTSD and has the strongest evidence base in that area, it is now widely used for anxiety disorders, depression, grief and loss, phobias, panic disorder, OCD, chronic pain, and the negative beliefs about self that frequently underlie relationship difficulties and low self-esteem. In clinical experience, EMDR is effective for any presentation where unprocessed past experiences are contributing to present distress — which is far broader than PTSD alone.
4. What does bilateral stimulation actually involve in EMDR?
Bilateral stimulation refers to alternating left-right sensory input that activates both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously — mimicking the neurological process that occurs during REM sleep, which is when the brain naturally consolidates and processes emotional experiences. In EMDR sessions, this most commonly involves following the therapist’s finger or a light bar with your eyes from side to side. It can also be delivered through alternating taps on the hands or knees, or auditory tones delivered through headphones — whichever form is most comfortable and effective for you.
5. Can EMDR be combined with other forms of therapy?
Yes — and at TrueMe® Counseling, it almost always is. EMDR is particularly powerful when integrated with CBT, somatic therapy, and talk therapy approaches that address the cognitive and relational dimensions of the presenting concern alongside the neurological processing that EMDR provides. For couples, EMDR can be incorporated into relationship therapy where one or both partners carry unresolved trauma that is affecting the relational dynamic. Your therapist will design an integrated approach that addresses the full picture of what you are working through.
