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Top 10 Questions About EMDR Therapy, Answered by Our Therapists
Curious about EMDR therapy? Our trauma therapists answer the 10 questions they hear most often, from how it works to what to expect in a session.
The Difference Between Feeling Calm, Numb, and Dissociated in EMDR Therapy
Clients often tell their EMDR therapist, “I felt calm during that set,” only to realize later that they were actually numb or starting to dissociate. These states can feel similar in the moment, but they affect trauma therapy very differently. Understanding the distinction helps you communicate with your EMDR therapist, stay grounded in session, and get the most benefit from EMDR therapy.
How Much Detail Do I Need to Share During EMDR Therapy?
Do you have to spill every secret and relive every moment? Or is there room for keeping some things private? Let’s break down what's actually helpful when it comes to sharing your trauma in therapy.
Financial Trauma: Why Your Nervous System Doesn't Believe Your Bank Balance
Financial trauma is when your feelings about money don't match your balances. A trauma therapist explains how it forms, what it looks like, and how EMDR therapy can help.
EMDR and the New APA Guidelines: What Clients Should Actually Know
The 2025 APA guidelines gave EMDR a conditional recommendation. Here's what that actually means, what it doesn't mean, and why EMDR is still a strong treatment choice.
What Makes An "EMDR Super-Processor"? The Variables Behind Rapid EMDR Therapy Success
EMDR therapy is quickly gaining traction as a primary trauma therapy treatment, and for good reason. Studies have shown that EMDR has an 85% success rate for reducing trauma symptoms. As a team, we've collectively been providing EMDR therapy for over a decade, and with great results. We've seen our fair share of "super processors," or people who respond very quickly to EMDR therapy. Here are the variables we've noted.
Seriously, What's With the Eye Movements? A Simple Explainer on EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy sounds weird. Eye movements? Tapping? For trauma? Here's an honest, jargon-free explanation of what actually happens in EMDR and why it works.
Why EMDR Feels Worse Before It Gets Better
Feeling worse after starting EMDR? A trauma therapist explains why EMDR can feel harder before it helps, and what that actually means for your healing.
I Can’t Stop Thinking About Something That Happened. Can EMDR Therapy Help Me?
If you can't stop thinking about something that happened, you are not weak or dramatic. You may have an unprocessed memory, and EMDR therapy can often help.
What to Do If You Had a Bad Experience with EMDR Therapy
If you’ve landed on this page, it probably means you’re feeling confused, hurt, or discouraged after trying EMDR therapy. We want to say right up front: we’re so sorry that happened. When therapy is supposed to offer healing and instead leaves you feeling worse, it feels especially jarring.
When Your Parent Is Your First Bully
When your parent is your first bully, something profound happens in the nervous system. The world stops feeling emotionally safe in a very early, foundational way. And that kind of wound often follows people much longer than they realize.
Dreading Family Gatherings? How EMDR Can Reduce In-Law Anxiety
A lot of people experience real anxiety about in-laws.
Sometimes it starts days before the event. You find yourself dreading the holiday, the dinner, the birthday party, the weekend visit. Your body tenses up before you’ve even left the house. You rehearse conversations in your head. You worry about what will be said, whether your partner will back you up, and how long it will take to recover afterward.
Why Your In-Laws Trigger You So Much (And How EMDR Can Help)
If you find yourself wondering, "Why do my in-laws trigger me so much?" the answer is usually deeper than “they’re annoying.”
Yes, maybe they are intrusive and critical and always seem to know exactly how to get under your skin. But when a reaction feels intense, immediate, or hard to shake, it usually means something in your nervous system is getting activated.
Does EMDR Therapy Work Online? What The Research Says
When EMDR therapy first became widely available online, many people had the same reaction:
Wait… this works over video?
EMDR therapy already feels a little unusual if you’re new to it. You think about a difficult memory while following eye movements or tapping your shoulders, and somehow the memory becomes less distressing.
How To Find a Great EMDR Therapist in San Francisco
If you’re searching for trauma therapy in the Bay Area, you’ve probably come across EMDR therapy.
Short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR is a highly researched and effective treatment for trauma, PTSD, and emotional activation, among other things.
But like any therapy, your experience depends largely on finding the right fit.
EMDR Therapy for Fear of Flying: How It Works and Why It Helps
Fear of flying is super common. It’s not just about turbulence or claustrophobia. For many people, the anxiety tied to flying can feel overwhelming, even debilitating. It can affect your ability to travel for work, see loved ones, or take vacations. Even the thought of booking a flight might cause panic, sleeplessness, or intrusive thoughts.
Can EMDR Make Symptoms Worse Before They Improve?
Trauma processing, temporary distress, and how to know when EMDR therapy is working safely. One of the most understandable concerns people have before starting trauma therapy is this: can EMDR make symptoms worse?
How Long Does EMDR Take to Work? Timeline & What to Expect
One of the most common questions clients ask in our free phone consultations is how long EMDR therapy will take. It's an understandable concern; people want relief, and they want to know what they are committing to emotionally, financially, and timewise.
How EMDR Therapy Can Prevent PTSD (Rather Than Treat It)
Something happened. Maybe it was a car accident. A medical emergency. A sudden breakup. A traumatic birth. A natural disaster.
You keep thinking about it.
Your body feels jumpy. You’re not sleeping well. You replay certain moments. Loud sounds feel louder. Your nervous system feels… off.
And you might be wondering: Do I just wait this out? Or is there something I can do now?
There is.
EMDR therapy, when used early and strategically, can help prevent acute stress from becoming long-term PTSD.
Does EMDR Therapy Work for Everyone?
EMDR therapy is often described as transformative. And for many people, it is. It’s gained a solid reputation for helping with trauma, anxiety, and distressing memories. But you might be wondering: Does EMDR therapy work for everyone?
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Our Holistic Therapy Services In California & Florida
We offer individualized teletherapy for a wide range of mental health and relational issues. Our San Francisco & Los Angeles therapists can help with anxiety, trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, LGBT gay and lesbian therapy issues, holistic therapy, enneagram therapy, therapy for lawyers, couples therapy, therapy for burnout, and therapy for teenagers. We serve many people in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Los Angeles, as well as throughout California and Florida. Our team is anti-racist, body positive, LGBT and trans affirming and sex positive. You deserve to feel good!