EMDR Therapy in Santa Monica
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy:
EMDR treatment in Santa Monica, Los Angeles
Certified EMDR Therapist in Ca and NY
I’m a certified EMDR therapist, and a member of EMDRIA. EMDR Certification requires six days of coursework and thirty hours of case consultation. I'm trained in the Standard EMDR protocol, EMDR 2.0 and Attachment Focused EMDR, which was created by Dr. Laurel Parnell, and I utilize EMDR in person in my Santa Monica office and virtually in the states of California and New York.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), was created by Francine Shapiro, PhD, a clinical psychologist. It is a treatment approach that enables clients to safely deal with traumatic memories in the here and now. It is a highly effective treatment for PTSD, based on the findings of over 20 controlled research studies. In his 2014 book “The Body Keeps The Score” Bessel van der Kolk writes; “EMDR loosens up something in the mind/brain that gives people rapid access to loosely associated memories and images from their past. This seems to help them put traumatic experience into a larger context or perspective.”
He emphasizes the fact that EMDR is not about asking clients to talk about the details of their traumas, but rather EMDR entails “regulating the intense memories activated by trauma.”
How does EMDR work?
EMDR targets unprocessed or “stuck” memories that are comprised of negative beliefs, emotions and physical sensations. First the client brings up an image of the event and then the therapist will ask the client to notice any negative thoughts, images and/or sensations in the body. Once the client has an awareness of his/her somatic and cognitive state, the therapist begins the process of Bilateral Stimulation, instructing the client to follow their fingers with their eyes.
Eye movements activate the brain’s information processing system so that old memories can safely be processed in the present. Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) can also be done using taps or auditory tones. The BLS results in the brain starting to make different connections which allow the client to safely process the memory with the therapist’s support.
Frequently asked questions about EMDR
Can EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) therapy help with anxiety?
Yes, EMDR is an effective treatment for anxiety; it works by targeting negative beliefs like “I’m not good enough” and unresolved memories that create stress in our brains and bodies. Once those memories and beliefs are processed in the present, your nervous system will start to feel more settled and relaxed.
EMDR has also been shown to be successful in treating conditions like PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), depression, grief and loss, substance abuse and acute stress. It’s an evidence-based modality, a 2020 systematic review of research articles on EMDR and Anxiety found that EMDR is efficacious for reducing symptoms of anxiety, panic, phobia, and behavioral/somatic symptoms.
How is EMDR different from talk therapy?
Talk therapy can be described as a “Top Down” approach because it focuses on the thinking, planning part of our brains called the prefrontal cortex. EMDR is considered a “Bottom Up” approach focused on the nervous system and the subcortical part of the brain where disturbing memories are often stored. EMDR therapy utilizes a combination of bilateral eye movements, tappers, or sounds to help people process and release unpleasant memories. Memory processing using bilateral stimulations is not included in traditional talk therapy. During an EMDR session, clients do not have to talk about the memories in detail for the treatment to be effective.
Does EMDR work better in-person vs. virtually?
During the 2020 pandemic I met with my clients virtually via Zoom. Many of them enjoyed the comfort and flexibility of attending their sessions from home. Research supports the theory that virtual EMDR sessions are just as effective as in-person sessions. Each individual is unique and my clients choose what works best for them. I offer both in-person and virtual EMDR sessions to clients living in California, and virtual sessions to clients who live in New York.
How do you decide when a client is ready to begin EMDR sessions and reprocessing memories?
Each person is different and it depends on the severity of your symptoms along with your nervous system’s capacity. We’ll spend some time in our early sessions exploring your history and seeing what your overall coping skills are like. I’ll be asking about supportive resources (people, animals, community, Nature) in your life. I also check in with my clients throughout our sessions, tracking sensations and checking to see if our work feels tolerable. It’s always okay to pause and take a break if something feels too challenging.
How will I know if EMDR is a good fit for me?
We’ll monitor your progress together to see if there is a reduction in anxiety, panic, somatic symptoms, or whatever your presenting issue is. I leave plenty of time at the end of our EMDR sessions to help you regulate your nervous system before you leave and get back in your car. Each week we’ll start our session by talking about any changes you’ve noticed between sessions and if you are noticing any difference in your nervous system.
Further Resources: Learn More About EMDR
In a 2026 Wall Street Journal article, Michael Waldholz details his experience using EMDR therapy to successfully alleviate PTSD symptoms. The piece provides a personal account of the therapy's effectiveness in managing the condition.
In her 2018 Ted Talk, Dr. Jennifer Fee explains the way EMDR can be helpful in treating anxiety disorders.
If you’d like to learn more about the differences between EMDR and Brainspotting you can watch this short excerpt from a presentation I gave at the 2023 CAMFT conference in Northern California.
The differences between EMDR and Brainspotting