EMDR Therapy in Temecula
For the memory that will not stay in the past, even after you understand it. EMDR works with the way the memory is stored.
There is a particular frustration that brings people to EMDR. You can explain what happened. You may have talked about it before. You can name the insight, the family pattern, the reason your body reacts the way it does. And still, a tone of voice, a smell, a silence, or a look can send your nervous system straight back there.
EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — is for that gap between what you know and what your body still believes. I am trained in EMDR and use it inside an integrative therapy relationship, not as a detached protocol. The relationship matters. The room matters. The pace matters. For some Temecula clients, being in person gives the nervous system a steadier place to do the work.
What this looks like
The EMDR structure is phased, not rushed.
- History. We identify what is active and what we are deliberately not touching yet.
- Stabilization. We build grounding, resources, and enough steadiness to keep the work contained.
- Processing. We use bilateral stimulation while you hold the target lightly, without forcing a detailed retelling.
- Integration. We check what shifted, close the session carefully, and make sure you leave oriented to the present.
EMDR can be useful for single-event trauma, relational trauma, grief, shame-based beliefs, and the body reactions that keep showing up long after the event is over.
How I work
I do not start with processing. I start with enough stabilization that your system can stay with the material instead of being overwhelmed by it. If you are in acute crisis, we stabilize first. If your life is currently unsafe, we address safety before memory work.
EMDR here is integrated with parts work, somatic awareness, CBT/DBT skills, and relational therapy. We choose what fits the moment. You are not a protocol. You are a person with a history, a body, and a life you still have to walk back into after session.
EMDR sessions are available in person at the Temecula, CA office or by secure telehealth across California. The Temecula office is the only physical office for the practice.
Common questions
- Is EMDR hypnosis?
- No. You are awake, aware, and in control. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation while you notice what comes up; you can pause or stop at any point.
- Do I have to describe the memory out loud?
- No. EMDR can work without a detailed verbal retelling. We need enough shared understanding to work safely, but you do not have to narrate every part.
- How many sessions?
- It depends on the target, your history, and how much stabilization is needed first. We talk honestly about pacing before we begin processing.