EMDR Therapy in Los Angeles, CA
Trauma can deeply disrupt the fabric of your life. You may feel fragmented, as if the person you once knew has been shattered. You might try to suppress or numb painful emotions, but this often only prolongs your suffering. No matter how hard you try, letting go feels impossible—but you’re not doomed to a lifetime of pain. EMDR therapy in Los Angeles, CA, can help you heal.
Many of us may not realize we’re carrying the weight of past trauma, but it can show up in various ways: exhaustion, anxiety, hypervigilance, panic attacks, digestive issues, or mood swings—all normal responses to difficult experiences.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in Los Angeles can help rewire the connection between your thoughts and emotions, reducing their emotional impact. Ready to live free from the burden of past trauma? Our compassionate EMDR therapists are here to support you.
Who Can Benefit From EMDR Therapy
EMDR is primarily used to treat trauma and PTSD. However, it can also be effective for other mental health concerns, including:
Chronic pain
Fear
Addiction
Unlike traditional therapy, which often focuses on verbally processing emotions, EMDR also actively engages the body. This makes it a great option for those looking for an alternative to—or a complement for—talk therapy.
Start EMDR Therapy in Los Angeles, CA—Heal From Trauma Today
It's possible to move beyond past trauma and start feeling safe again! Taking the first step can feel scary, but we’ll be by your side through the entire journey.
How EMDR Therapy Works
To understand EMDR therapy, we first have to examine how our brain stores memories in neural networks. When a memory is traumatic, it can become “stuck” in a dysfunctional way—limiting our ability to fully process and resolve traumatic stress. Those memories are often connected to our senses, emotions, thoughts, beliefs, or even people—but they’re disconnected from positive emotions.
Emotions tied to traumatic memories are primarily stored in the right hemisphere of the brain, while positive emotions are more closely linked to the left. Because these neural networks don’t communicate effectively across both hemispheres, we’re unable to heal traumatic memories simply by talking about what happened or by trying to reframe them in a more positive light.
What EMDR therapy does is bridge the gap between traumatic memories and reprocessing through bilateral stimulation—such as side-to-side eye movements, alternating tones, or tactile pulsars. It stimulates both sides of your brain, allowing you to integrate positive emotions, thoughts, and sensations into the traumatic memory. Over time, the memory no longer feels as overwhelming or triggering, helping you feel more in control and less stuck in the past.
Holistic EMDR Therapy in Los Angeles, CA
Our EMDR therapists believe in your inherent capacity for healing and feeling whole again. Through EMDR therapy, we can help you rediscover that sense of completeness, and we’re here to guide you through this process. We will support you in reprocessing your trauma so that it no longer holds you back or dictates your life.
Why Choose a Holistic Approach with EMDR
No matter what challenges you’re facing, we believe in treating you as a whole person. EMDR therapy naturally supports this approach because it addresses both the emotional and physical impact of trauma.
At first glance, trauma may seem like a purely emotional experience. While processing feelings is important, emotions are only part of the picture—trauma also affects the body.
After trauma, the nervous system can become more sensitive to certain stimuli or triggers. By integrating both emotional and physical elements, EMDR therapy helps you reprocess trauma while reducing your reactivity to those triggers.
Get Started With EMDR Therapy in Los Angeles, CA
If you’re ready to heal from trauma, we’re here to help! We truly care about you, and our goal is to support you in becoming whole and calm again.
Option 1:
Book a free consultation
Start with a 15-minute call with our Care Coordinator, where you can share your questions and help us understand what you’re looking for.
Option 2:
Fill out our form
Complete our online intake form, and we’ll help you find the therapist who’s the best fit to support your unique needs and goals.
Meet Our EMDR Therapists
Get to know our holistic EMDR therapists and how they can help heal your trauma.
Wade Mollison
Wade has a compassionate, collaborative, and emotionally attuned style that honors each person's full self.
Isabel Kindberg
Isabel uses principles of trauma-informed care and harm reduction to work towards healing with authenticity and humor.
Sarah Callender
Sarah uses creativity, honesty, curiosity, and humor to create a safe environment in which to share, explore, and find healing.
EMDR Therapy FAQs
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Many people assume that trauma only comes from extremely disturbing events, but it can stem from many different experiences. These may include gaslighting, abuse, medical issues, natural disasters, witnessing violence, and more.
In addition, you may not recognize you’ve been through trauma if it came from a series of day-to-day, seemingly “small” struggles that felt normal at the time—such as growing up with emotionally immature parents. These experiences can lead to attachment trauma, which EMDR therapy can also help address.
You may be experiencing trauma or PTSD if you’ve noticed signs such as:
Anxiety, panic attacks, or hypervigilance
Mood swings, anger, or irritability
Insomnia or night terrors
Social withdrawal or difficulty in relationships
Feelings of shame or guilt
Quick heart rate or high blood pressure
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For many people, the idea of revisiting traumatic memories may feel counterintuitive—after all, it can seem like it will only bring more pain. Your feelings and fears are completely valid, but it’s important to know that EMDR will not make the trauma worse or re-traumatize you.
In fact, EMDR therapy takes place in a safe, supportive environment with a highly trained therapist. They are attentive to signs of distress (e.g., anxiety, jaw clenching, foot tapping) and will adjust the process to help you feel calm and comfortable again.
You are always encouraged to be open with your therapist. If at any point you’re not feeling well, you can ask to pause—or even stop—the session.
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In short, no. Individuals experiencing hallucinations or delusions may struggle with the focus required for EMDR, making it not recommended.
If you’re considering EMDR therapy in Los Angeles, CA, we encourage you to reach out. We’re here to answer your questions and support you in exploring whether EMDR is the right fit for you.
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EMDR therapy can sometimes bring temporary aftereffects, especially during the initial sessions. These may include mental or emotional exhaustion, heightened sensitivity to external stimuli or social interactions, vivid dreams, and occasional feelings of lightheadedness.
Rest assured, your therapist is highly trained to help you manage and reduce any discomfort or distress you may experience.
Work With Our EMDR Therapists in Los Angeles, CA
We understand the toll that trauma takes on a person, and we would be honored to help you from our Los Angeles, CA-based practice. Contact us if you’re ready to take this step!
Other Services We Offer at Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy
Our team of caring therapists offers a variety of mental health services to support you and your family. We provide both online therapy and in-person sessions in Los Angeles, CA, and across the state. We also offer affirming care for LGBTQ+ individuals and LGBTQ+ couples.
Start your therapy journey alongside a trained EMDR therapist. Or, learn more about our other services, including anxiety treatment, depression treatment, trauma therapy, grief counseling, eating disorders, teen therapy, and more.
If you have any further questions, visit our FAQs page or contact us directly.