EMDR Therapist California

Finding the right therapy approach for trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges can transform your life. At Light Within Counseling, our group practice offers specialized Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in Roseville, CA, and through telehealth services across California. Our experienced EMDR therapist team provides compassionate, personalized care for adults, teens, and children seeking healing and growth.

What is EMDR Therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, evidence-based therapy used to assist individuals in overcoming psychological trauma and distressing life experiences. Developed in the late 1980s, EMDR has gained global recognition for its effectiveness, particularly in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a range of other trauma-related conditions. At Light Within Counseling, we are dedicated to providing this transformative therapy to help our clients achieve lasting healing and resilience.

EMDR therapy follows a structured eight-phase approach that works by helping the brain process traumatic memories that have become “stuck” in the nervous system. During EMDR sessions, clients focus on distressing memories while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation – typically through guided eye movements, though tactile or auditory stimulation may also be used.

This unique approach helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional impact and allowing clients to develop healthier perspectives. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require extensive discussion of painful memories or completing homework between sessions, making it an appealing option for many seeking therapy for trauma healing.

The Eight Phases of EMDR Therapy

EMDR treatment follows a comprehensive, structured approach divided into eight distinct phases:

History Taking and Treatment Planning: Your EMDR therapist gathers information about your background, identifies target memories, and creates a personalized treatment plan.
Preparation: You’ll learn coping strategies and relaxation techniques to help manage emotional distress during and between sessions.
Assessment: Together with your therapist, you’ll identify specific memories to target and assess related negative beliefs, emotions, and physical sensations.
Desensitization: This phase involves the bilateral stimulation technique while focusing on the target memory, allowing your brain to process the traumatic material.
Installation: Your therapist helps strengthen positive beliefs to replace the negative ones associated with the trauma.
Body Scan: You’ll be guided to notice any remaining physical sensations or discomfort related to the memory and process it.
Closure: Each session ends with stabilization techniques to ensure you feel grounded and calm.
Reevaluation: At the beginning of subsequent sessions, your therapist will assess your progress and determine the focus for continued treatment.

This methodical approach ensures thorough processing of traumatic memories while maintaining your emotional safety throughout the healing journey.

How Does Trauma Affect the Brain?

Understanding how trauma impacts the brain helps explain why EMDR therapy is so effective. When we experience a traumatic event, our brain’s normal information processing system can become overwhelmed and unable to process the experience properly.

The Neurobiology of Trauma

Trauma can significantly disrupt the brain’s natural ability to process and integrate experiences. When a person experiences trauma, three key brain regions are particularly affected:

Amygdala: Often called the brain’s “alarm system,” the amygdala becomes hyperactive after trauma, storing the emotional intensity of traumatic memories and remaining on high alert for potential dangers.
Hippocampus: This structure, responsible for organizing memories, may struggle to integrate traumatic experiences properly. This can result in fragmented recollections where sensory impressions of the trauma (sounds, images, physical sensations) become disconnected from the context of the complete memory.
Prefrontal Cortex: The brain’s “rational” center can have difficulty regulating emotions and making decisions under stress following experienced trauma. This explains why logical thinking may become challenging when trauma triggers are present.

Traumatic memories often become trapped in dysfunctional neural networks, creating a tangle of negative emotions, beliefs, and physical sensations that can be triggered by seemingly unrelated stimuli in everyday life.

EMDR and Neural Networks

EMDR therapy works by helping to untangle these disrupted neural networks. The bilateral stimulation used in EMDR appears to facilitate communication between the brain hemispheres, enabling the reprocessing of traumatic memories in a way that reduces their emotional charge.

Through this process, clients can integrate past experiences into their broader life narrative in a healthier way. The memory itself doesn’t disappear, but its power to cause distress diminishes significantly. Many clients report feeling as though the memory moves from being a present-tense, vivid experience to becoming a past event that no longer controls their emotional state.

Who Can Benefit from EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy has proven effective for a wide range of mental health challenges beyond PTSD, making it a versatile treatment option for many individuals. At Light Within Counseling, our group practice uses EMDR therapy to help clients dealing with:

Trauma and PTSD

EMDR was originally developed to treat trauma and continues to be one of the most effective approaches for PTSD. Whether you’ve experienced a single traumatic event or complex trauma over time, EMDR can help your brain properly process these experiences, reducing flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance. Research shows that clients often experience significant relief from PTSD symptoms after completing EMDR treatment.

Anxiety Disorders

For those struggling with anxiety, EMDR therapy can target the root experiences that contribute to anxious thoughts and feelings. Many anxiety disorders, including panic attacks, phobias, and generalized anxiety, respond well to EMDR treatment. By processing past wounds that contribute to current anxiety, clients often find they can move out of survival mode and into a more regulated state.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD often has roots in traumatic or distressing experiences. EMDR therapy can help process these underlying issues while complementing other effective treatments like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. Many clients report a reduction in OCD symptoms as traumatic memories are processed and integrated.

Grief and Loss

Complicated grief can sometimes become “stuck” in our neural networks similar to trauma. EMDR therapy can help process painful grief experiences and memories, allowing for natural healing to occur. This approach can be particularly helpful when grief is complicated by traumatic circumstances of loss.

Depression

Many cases of depression have connections to past events or life transitions that haven’t been fully processed. EMDR therapy can address these underlying experiences, helping to lift depressive symptoms and create new possibilities for joy and fulfillment in life.

Other Conditions That May Benefit from EMDR

Research shows EMDR’s effectiveness for:

Eating disorders
Low self-esteem and self-doubt
Performance anxiety
Stress-related physical symptoms
Sleep disturbances
Relationship issues

EMDR therapy is appropriate for people of all ages. At Light Within Counseling, our therapists are trained to adapt EMDR techniques for:

Adults: Helping process past trauma, manage current stressors, and develop healthier coping mechanisms
Teenagers: Addressing developmental trauma, social anxiety, and emotional regulation challenges
Children: Using age-appropriate modifications of EMDR, including play therapy elements, to help younger clients process difficult experiences

EMDR Therapy at Light Within Counseling

At Light Within Counseling, we’re committed to providing exceptional EMDR therapy within our group practice setting in Roseville, CA. Our team consists of highly trained therapists with specialized certifications in EMDR and other complementary approaches.

Our Therapeutic Approaches

We believe in the power of personalized therapy. When you choose Light Within Counseling, you’ll receive a customized treatment plan that may integrate EMDR with other evidence-based therapeutic approaches based on your unique needs:

Brainspotting: A brain-body therapy related to EMDR that helps access, process, and release trauma held within the subcortical brain
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): A specialized treatment for OCD that helps clients face fears without engaging in compulsive behaviors
Play Therapy for Children: Age-appropriate therapeutic techniques that help children express and process emotions through play
Parenting and Co-Parenting Therapy: Support for parents navigating challenges in raising children together, whether in intact families or after separation

What Sets Us Apart

Our group practice approach offers several advantages for clients seeking EMDR therapy:

Specialized Expertise: Each EMDR therapist brings unique training and specialization, allowing us to match you with the best provider for your specific needs
Collaborative Care: Our therapists regularly consult with one another, bringing multiple perspectives to complex cases
Continuity of Care: In a group practice, you have access to care even when your primary therapist may be unavailable
Comprehensive Resources: We offer a range of therapeutic approaches under one roof, creating a seamless experience if your treatment needs change

Our Commitment to Quality Care

Every family therapist at Light Within Counseling is committed to providing compassionate, effective therapy in a safe environment. We understand that seeking therapy takes courage, and we honor that by creating a safe space where you feel respected, heard, and valued.

EMDR for Different Age Groups

EMDR for Adults

Adult clients often seek EMDR therapy to address both recent and childhood traumas that continue to impact their lives. Our therapists work with adults struggling with:

Traumatic incidents (accidents, assaults, natural disasters)
Childhood trauma and adverse experiences
Career-related stress and burnout
Relationship issues
Life transitions and major life changes
Anxiety and panic attacks
OCD symptoms

For adults, EMDR therapy typically follows the standard protocol, though always personalized to address individual needs and goals. Many adult clients appreciate EMDR’s efficiency compared to traditional talk therapy alone, often noticing meaningful improvements in fewer sessions.

EMDR for Teens

Adolescence brings unique challenges, and teens may benefit from EMDR to address:

School-related anxiety and performance pressure
Social anxiety and peer relationship issues
Sports or performance-related trauma
Family conflicts
Identity development struggles
Trauma from bullying or social rejection

When working with teens, our therapists adapt EMDR techniques to engage adolescents effectively while respecting their developing autonomy. We create a judgment-free zone where teens can explore their experiences and develop healthier coping strategies.

EMDR for Children

For our youngest clients, EMDR looks somewhat different but remains highly effective. Child-focused EMDR might incorporate:

Play therapy elements
Art and creative expression
Age-appropriate bilateral stimulation methods
Parent involvement when appropriate

Children dealing with experiences such as:

Family changes or disruptions
Medical procedures
School difficulties
Grief and loss
Witnessing disturbing events

can benefit greatly from EMDR’s ability to process difficult experiences without requiring extensive verbal discussion.

EMDR Therapy for Specific Issues

EMDR for Anxiety

Anxiety often stems from earlier experiences where we learned to anticipate danger or negative outcomes. EMDR therapy helps identify and reprocess these core memories, allowing clients to respond to current situations without the weight of past fears.

For anxiety treatment, EMDR might target:

Early experiences that established anxiety patterns
Physical sensations associated with anxiety
Anticipatory anxiety about future events
Panic attacks experiences

Many clients report that after EMDR processing, they can face previously triggering situations with a new sense of calm and regain control over their responses. The lasting effects of EMDR treatment for anxiety can be profound, helping clients regain control over their nervous system responses.

EMDR for OCD

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that can significantly impact quality of life. At Light Within Counseling, we often combine EMDR with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy for comprehensive OCD treatment.

EMDR can help with OCD by:

Processing traumatic or distressing experiences that may have contributed to OCD development
Reducing the emotional charge of OCD triggers
Strengthening positive beliefs to counter OCD-related negative self-perceptions
Addressing guilt, shame, or fear associated with intrusive thoughts

Our therapists create a supportive environment where OCD symptoms can be discussed without judgment and addressed with compassionate, effective interventions.

EMDR for Trauma

Trauma therapy is where EMDR began, and it remains one of the most powerful tools for trauma recovery. Whether you’re dealing with a single incident trauma or complex trauma from multiple experiences, EMDR can help your brain process these memories in a way that reduces their ongoing impact.

EMDR trauma therapy might address:

Specific traumatic incidents
Negative beliefs about yourself that formed during traumatic experiences
Physical responses triggered by trauma reminders
Avoidance behaviors that developed to cope with trauma

Many trauma survivors report that after EMDR, they still remember what happened, but the memories no longer feel emotionally overwhelming or presently threatening. Trauma therapy with EMDR helps clients move beyond survival mode and begin living a more fulfilling life.

EMDR for Grief

Grief is a natural response to loss, but sometimes the grief process becomes complicated or stuck. EMDR therapy can help process grief-related memories and emotions, allowing for natural healing.

For grief work, EMDR might focus on:

Traumatic aspects of the loss
Unresolved interactions or unfinished business with the deceased
Self-blame or guilt related to the loss
Frightening or disturbing images associated with the loss

EMDR doesn’t remove grief entirely—that’s not the goal—but it can help transform debilitating grief into a more manageable experience that allows for continued living and eventual growth.

What to Expect During EMDR Therapy

Starting EMDR therapy may feel intimidating, especially if you’re new to therapy altogether. Understanding what to expect can help ease concerns and prepare you for the process.

Initial Sessions: Building Safety and Resources

Your first few sessions will focus on building a therapeutic relationship and ensuring you have the emotional resources needed for trauma processing. During this phase:

Your EMDR therapist will take a comprehensive history to understand your challenges and goals
You’ll learn grounding and self-soothing techniques to manage any distress
Together, you’ll identify target memories for processing
Your therapist will explain the EMDR process in detail and answer your questions

Many clients find this preparation phase valuable in itself, gaining immediate tools for emotional regulation even before formal EMDR processing begins.

Processing Sessions: The Core of EMDR Therapy

Once you and your therapist determine you’re ready for processing, EMDR sessions will typically follow this structure:

You’ll focus on a target memory while following the therapist’s fingers or another form of bilateral stimulation
You’ll notice whatever comes up—thoughts, feelings, body sensations, images—without judgment
Between sets of bilateral stimulation, you’ll briefly share what you’re experiencing
Your therapist will guide the process, helping you stay on track while allowing your brain to make its own healing connections
The session closes with grounding exercises to ensure you feel stable before leaving

Processing sessions can bring up intense emotions, but most clients find these manageable with therapist support. Many report feeling a sense of relief and lightness after processing difficult memories.

Integration: Solidifying Positive Changes

As treatment progresses, sessions will focus on integrating insights and strengthening positive beliefs and behaviors. This might include:

Installing positive beliefs to replace negative self-perceptions
Processing anticipated future situations
Addressing any remaining trigger points
Developing ongoing resilience strategies

The goal is not just symptom relief but personal growth and enhanced life satisfaction. Many clients report improved self-awareness and a greater capacity for making sense of their past experiences.

Where We Serve

Light Within Counseling is proud to serve clients throughout the greater Roseville area from our centrally located office. We provide in-person EMDR therapy to clients from:

Roseville, CA
Lincoln, CA
Rocklin, CA
Auburn, CA
Granite Bay, CA
Loomis, CA
Orangevale, CA
West Roseville, CA
Sacramento, CA

Additionally, we offer online therapy through telehealth sessions for adult clients throughout California, making quality EMDR therapy accessible regardless of your location within the state. If you’re looking for an EMDR therapist California residents recommend, our practice is accessible from anywhere in the state through secure telehealth platforms.

Advanced EMDR Techniques

Our therapists stay current with the latest developments in EMDR therapy through ongoing EMDR training and professional development. Some of the advanced techniques we may incorporate include:

EMDR Intensives

For clients who want to accelerate their healing process, we offer EMDR intensives—concentrated periods of treatment that can produce significant results in a shorter timeframe. These EMDR intensives are particularly helpful for:

Processing a single traumatic event
Breaking through therapeutic plateaus
Accommodating clients with limited availability for weekly sessions
Addressing specific phobias or focused issues

EMDR intensives can be an efficient way to address trauma, often allowing clients to process difficult material more quickly than with standard weekly sessions.

Flash Technique

This gentle modification of standard EMDR is especially useful for processing highly distressing memories with minimal discomfort. The flash technique allows for processing traumatic memories without having to focus on them for extended periods, making it accessible for clients who might find standard EMDR too overwhelming initially.

Integration with Mindfulness Practices

Our therapists often incorporate mindfulness practices into EMDR therapy to enhance effectiveness. Mindfulness practices help clients:

Maintain dual awareness during processing
Develop greater present-moment awareness
Build resilience between sessions
Create lasting changes in thought patterns
Improve emotional well-being through daily practice

The combination of EMDR therapy and mindfulness creates powerful opportunities for healing and growth.

Attachment-Focused EMDR

For clients with early relational trauma or attachment wounds, we may use attachment-focused modifications of EMDR. This approach, informed by attachment theory, pays special attention to the therapeutic relationship as a vehicle for healing and addresses deep-seated relational patterns.

Attachment theory helps us understand how early relationships shape our expectations and behaviors in adult relationships. By addressing these patterns through EMDR, clients can develop more secure attachment styles and healthier relationships.

Polyvagal Theory Integration

Our therapists understand how trauma affects the nervous system through the lens of polyvagal theory. This approach helps clients:

Recognize their nervous system states
Develop skills to regulate autonomic responses
Process trauma in a way that respects physiological safety
Create greater capacity for connection and engagement

By combining EMDR with polyvagal theory principles, we help clients heal traumatic memories at both the cognitive and physiological levels.

Special Populations We Serve

First Responders

First responders face unique stressors and traumatic experiences in their line of work. Our therapists have specialized experience working with police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and other emergency personnel who have experienced trauma in the field. EMDR therapy can help first responders process difficult experiences while maintaining their ability to function effectively in high-stress situations.

Individuals with Complex Trauma

Complex trauma results from multiple traumatic experiences, often beginning in childhood. Our therapists are skilled in adapting EMDR therapy for those with complex trauma histories, creating a safe, paced approach that respects the complexity of these experiences. For those who have experienced trauma throughout their developmental years, EMDR can help heal traumatic memories and create new possibilities for connection and fulfillment.

Choosing the Right EMDR Therapist

Finding the right therapist is crucial for effective EMDR treatment. Here are important factors to consider when selecting an EMDR therapist:

Certification and Training

Proper certification is essential for ensuring quality EMDR therapy. Look for therapists who are certified by recognized organizations such as EMDRIA (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association).

At Light Within Counseling, our therapists have completed comprehensive EMDR training and maintain their skills through ongoing education. This commitment to professional development ensures you receive the most effective, up-to-date treatment approaches.

Therapeutic Relationship

The connection between you and your therapist significantly impacts treatment outcomes. Research shows that the therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of successful therapy.

During an initial free consultation, notice how comfortable you feel with the therapist. Do you feel heard and understood? Does the therapist explain things clearly? Trust your instincts about whether this person feels like the right fit for your healing journey.

Specialized Experience

Consider whether a therapist has experience treating your specific concerns with EMDR. While EMDR is versatile, therapists often develop expertise in particular areas.

At Light Within Counseling, our group practice includes therapists with specialized experience in various issues, including:

Childhood trauma
Complex PTSD
Anxiety disorders
OCD
Grief and loss
Developmental trauma

This allows us to match you with a therapist whose expertise aligns with your needs.

A Closer Look at Our Team

Light Within Counseling is proud to have a team of licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) who specialize in EMDR therapy. As family therapists, our clinicians understand how individual healing impacts relationship dynamics and vice versa. This integrated perspective allows us to address both personal symptoms and relational patterns.

While we primarily offer individual therapy for trauma and anxiety, our family systems background informs our work, helping clients make connections between their personal healing and improvements in their relationships. For some clients, this may include elements of couples therapy when appropriate, helping partners understand and support each other through the healing process.

Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR Therapy

How long does EMDR therapy take?

The length of EMDR treatment varies depending on your history, the number of traumatic experiences requiring processing, and your individual healing pace. Some clients with single-incident trauma may experience significant relief within 5-12 sessions. More complex trauma often requires longer treatment.

At Light Within Counseling, we believe in efficiency without rushing. Your therapist will regularly assess progress and collaborate with you on treatment planning, ensuring therapy moves at a pace that’s both effective and comfortable.

Is EMDR therapy painful?

EMDR therapy isn’t physically painful, but it does involve accessing distressing memories that may temporarily bring up difficult emotions. However, EMDR is designed with safety in mind:

The preparation phase ensures you have coping skills before processing begins
The therapist helps maintain “dual awareness,” where you’re connected to the present while accessing past memories
Sessions include closure procedures to ensure emotional stability

Many clients report that while EMDR sessions can be emotionally intense, they often leave feeling lighter, with a sense of relief that difficult material has been processed.

How does EMDR differ from traditional talk therapy?

EMDR differs from traditional talk therapy in several key ways:

EMDR focuses on the brain’s information processing system rather than just changing thoughts or behaviors
It doesn’t require detailed discussion of traumatic events or extensive homework between sessions
The bilateral stimulation component activates the brain’s natural healing processes
EMDR often works more quickly for trauma-related issues than talk therapy alone

Many clients who haven’t found relief through talk therapy alone discover that EMDR helps them make breakthroughs by addressing the neural networks where traumatic memories are stored.

Is EMDR therapy covered by insurance?

At Light Within Counseling, we accept out-of-network benefits. This means:

We can provide superbills that you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement
The exact coverage depends on your specific insurance plan
We recommend contacting your insurance provider to ask about out-of-network mental health benefits

Our office staff is happy to guide you through understanding your insurance options. We believe quality mental health care should be accessible and work with clients to navigate financial considerations.

How do I get started with EMDR therapy?

Taking the first step toward healing is often the hardest. At Light Within Counseling, we’ve made the process as straightforward as possible:

Contact our office by phone or through our website
Our intake coordinator will gather basic information and discuss your needs
You’ll be matched with a therapist whose expertise aligns with your concerns
Your first appointment will be scheduled, with options for in-person or telehealth sessions

We strive to respond promptly to all inquiries, usually within 24-48 business hours. We offer a free consultation to help you determine if our approach is the right fit for your needs.

Begin Your Healing Journey Today

At Light Within Counseling, our group practice is committed to helping you reclaim your life from the effects of trauma, anxiety, OCD, depression, and grief. Through evidence-based EMDR therapy and other specialized approaches, we provide a path toward healing that’s personalized, compassionate, and effective.

Our Roseville location serves clients throughout the surrounding communities, including Lincoln, Rocklin, Auburn, Granite Bay, Loomis, Orangevale, West Roseville, and Sacramento. For adult clients throughout California, our telehealth services bring quality EMDR therapy directly to you.

You don’t have to continue carrying the weight of past experiences. With the right therapeutic support, healing is possible. Contact Light Within Counseling today to learn more about our services and take the first step on your healing journey toward wholeness and a more fulfilling life.

Reach out to begin transforming your life with EMDR therapy. Our team provides the support you need to process pain from the past and build a brighter future.