Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy for the Bay Area | EMDR Treatment in Oakland & San Francisco

EMDR Therapy

 EMDR therapy is evidence-based brain therapy that uses the back-and-forth movements of the eyes to safely “reprocess” difficult memories.

Trauma occurs as a result of any sudden, negative experience that leaves a lasting effect. Many people dealing with trauma, including multiple and complex traumas, have repeated unsuccessful experiences in trauma therapy. In fact, sometimes, general trauma therapy can make the person feel much worse by exposing them unnecessarily to their difficult memories without any sense of resolve. Trauma or a traumatic event can range from mild to very severe and can disrupt a person’s life in a number of ways, even impacting their physical health. Here at Calm Again Counseling in Noe Valley, CA, we offer EMDR therapy sessions customized for you, and your specific needs.

Trauma may look like….

  • Chronic depression and anxiety

  • Avoidance of certain memories, people, or locations related to the event

  • Difficulty sleeping and recurrent nightmares

  • Hypervigilance or always being “on alert”

  • Elevated heart rate & blood pressure

  • Irritability & anger outbursts

  • Fatigue and chronic sickness

  • Difficulty feeling positive emotions or having emotional distress

And the list goes on.

EMDR therapy has a very high success rate, and many people experience relief in as little as one session.

In fact, one study conducted at Kaiser Permanente found that 100% of single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple-trauma victims were no longer diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after only six 50-minute sessions (Marcus, Marquis, & Sakai, 1997).

Along with trauma and PTSD, EMDR therapy also treats mood and anxiety issues, including depression, panic attacks, phobias, disturbing event memories, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and more.

Your Calm Again EMDR therapist will customize your trauma treatment plan depending on your needs. By blending EMDR therapy with other therapies, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, mindfulness training, and clinical hypnosis, we’ll help you get real relief from your unresolved trauma.

Why we love EMDR Therapy at Calm Again Counseling:

  • It’s evidence-based

  • It takes fewer sessions than other therapy modalities to see results

  • It doesn’t require you to talk about the trauma at length

  • Does not involve extended exposure or homework

Interested in learning more about EMDR? Visit our specialty clinic website to learn more about EMDR Therapy in San Francisco.

Curious about what the therapeutic process looks like?

Get to know EMDR therapy’s 8-phase treatment approach below.

  • History Taking

    This is where your EMDR therapist gets to know you and your life experiences that will lay the foundation for your therapeutic work together. An effective treatment requires your therapist to understand you well enough that they can then help you.

  • Preparation

    In this phase, your EMDR therapist walks you through how the sessions will work, i.e. learning the eye movements, butterfly hugs, or tapping techniques. During these therapy sessions, your therapist will also help you establish healthy coping skills and ensure your support system is in place.

  • Assessing The Target Memory

    In this phase, your EMDR therapist will help you to identify the image associated with the trauma, your negative belief associated with it, a positive belief you would like to have, how valid the positive belief feels to you now, your emotions at the present moment, how much disturbance you presently have, and bringing awareness to the physical sensations in your body.

  • Processing The Memory to Adaptive Resolution

    In these phases of therapy sessions, you will begin using back-and-forth movements or bilateral stimulation techniques to integrate the traumatic memory. These phases help you to become desensitized to the memory, strengthen positive beliefs about yourself, practice body scanning, and, lastly, wrap up the session with closure.

  • Evaluating Treatment Results

    This phase of an EMDR session is to make sure the charge to the memory has been neutralized, and you feel resolved in relation to this traumatic memory or distressing memories.

 Don’t let your past hold you back.

Get EMDR Therapy & Treatment in San Francisco.

Reach out for a free consultation and start EMDR therapy today.

FAQs

What is EMDR therapy?

EMDR is a therapeutic technique created by Francine Shapiro in 1987. EMDR therapy works by stimulating both the left and right hemispheres of the brain in order to reprocess traumatic memories. There are a variety of methods to achieve bilateral stimulation, such as using eye movements (back and forth), tactile (device or butterfly hug), and auditory (alternating sound through headphones). This process mimics the REM portion of sleep, where rapid eye movement works to process and integrate events and emotions.

How soon will I see results with EMDR therapy?

Every person is so different. Some people say they start to feel better by their first appointment, while others say they start to feel better by their 3rd or 4th appointment.

What does EMDR stand for?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, which when used properly, can help with unresolved trauma, disturbing memories, low self-esteem from negative thoughts, and other mood and anxiety issues.

What does EMDR therapy treat?

Along with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), EMDR therapy also can be used as a treatment plan for mood and anxiety issues, including depression, panic attacks, phobias, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and more.

What should I do to prepare for my EMDR sesssion?

ONE
Learn as much as you can about EMDR therapy beforehand. The more you know about it, the more you’re going to have an understanding of how it works and what the actual experience is going to be like. This means you can spend less time asking questions with your EMDR therapist and more time receiving EMDR therapy and its benefits.

TWO
Practice grounding techniques where you imagine a safe space (which you will also do with your EMDR therapist).

THREE
Anticipate your needs on the day of the session. EMDR is considered exposure therapy, which can be triggering. Clearing your schedule, taking a lighter load, or scheduling your session at the end of your work day is recommended.

FOUR
Notify your support system that you will be having an EMDR session that day so that they can prepare and be emotionally available if needed.

Can you do EMDR therapy over Zoom?

Yes, the results are the same (in-person vs telehealth/Zoom). Some people find it more comfortable to undergo EMDR therapy from the comfort & familiarity of their own homes.

How do I schedule an appointment?

If you’re looking into EMDR Therapy near you, you can call us directly and get in touch with our client coordinator, or fill out our contact form on our website and get a response in less than 24 hours.