EMDR THERAPY
A Transformative Approach to Healing Trauma and Emotional Pain
Trauma does not live only in memory.
It lives in the nervous system.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy that supports the brain and body in reprocessing distressing experiences so they no longer carry the same emotional intensity.
I am a depth-oriented psychologist. In my practice, EMDR is woven into relational, psychoanalytic, and somatic frameworks that address not only traumatic memories, but the larger patterns of attachment, identity, and embodiment that shape your life.
It is not used as a stand-alone protocol.
It is integrated within comprehensive psychological treatment to support lasting emotional, relational, and sexual integration.
I offer:
• In-person EMDR therapy in Marin County
• Remote EMDR therapy throughout California, Colorado, and Oregon
Why choose emdr therapy?
EMDR is particularly effective for:
• Sexual trauma and attachment injuries
• Childhood trauma
• PTSD and complex trauma
• Anxiety rooted in past experiences
• Relationship and intimacy triggers
Traumatic memories are often stored in emotionally charged and fragmented ways. EMDR supports the brain’s natural capacity to integrate those memories so they become adaptive rather than intrusive.
Within a depth-oriented framework, symptom relief is not the only goal. We also examine the unconscious relational patterns, early attachment dynamics, and embodied responses that continue to shape present experience.
Clients often experience:
• Reduced emotional reactivity
• Fewer triggers
• Greater embodiment
• Improved relational and sexual well-being
How Is EMDR Therapy integrated in my practice?
Traditional therapy relies primarily on insight and reflection.
Protocol-driven EMDR can focus narrowly on symptom reduction.
In my practice, EMDR is integrated into relational and somatic psychotherapy. Bilateral stimulation activates the brain’s natural information-processing system while ongoing depth work explores the broader meaning and relational context of the trauma.
This is not exposure therapy.
You are not required to relive trauma in detail.
The work is structured, collaborative, and paced according to your nervous system and psychological readiness.
the EMDR Process
EMDR unfolds in carefully structured phases designed to ensure safety and effectiveness.
History and Treatment Planning
We assess your history, attachment patterns, symptoms, and goals to determine readiness and identify treatment targets.
Preparation
We develop internal resources, grounding strategies, and nervous system stabilization before trauma processing begins.
Assessment and Desensitization
Specific memories and beliefs are identified and processed using bilateral stimulation.
Installation and Integration
Adaptive beliefs are strengthened, and residual somatic tension is resolved within the broader psychological context of your life.
Closure and Reevaluation
Each session ends with stabilization, and progress is reviewed over time as part of ongoing depth-oriented treatment.
Depth-Oriented EMDR Integration with Sexuality and Trauma
My work sits at the intersection of trauma, embodiment, and sexuality.
Sexual trauma, attachment injuries, and relational wounds often shape:
• Desire
• Arousal
• Boundary-setting
• Shame
• Intimacy patterns
• Nervous system regulation
EMDR allows us to reprocess the root experiences shaping these patterns rather than only managing symptoms.
I am an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and a licensed sexologist with over 20 years of experience in the field of human sexuality. I earned my Master’s degree in Human Sexuality from Widener University, one of only two accredited graduate programs in human sexuality in the United States.
In addition to being a licensed psychologist, my clinical foundation includes relational psychoanalysis, somatic psychology, attachment theory, and contemplative practice.
Early in my career, I worked in trauma-specific settings including rape crisis counseling, domestic violence shelters, and addiction recovery programs. This depth of experience informs how EMDR is integrated into my work today.
EMDR in my practice supports structural change at the level of identity, relational capacity, and embodiment.
The goal is not simply symptom reduction.
It is integration.
Common Trauma Patterns
You may recognize yourself in patterns such as:
• Fight or defensiveness
• Flight through overworking or avoidance
• Freeze or dissociation
• Fawn and people-pleasing
• Hypervigilance or emotional overwhelm
• Sexual shutdown or reactivity
These responses are adaptive survival mechanisms.
They are not character flaws.
Within a depth-oriented framework, we understand these patterns not only as trauma responses, but as relational adaptations that once protected you.
EMDR helps the nervous system recognize that the threat is no longer present, while psychotherapy supports the integration of new ways of relating to yourself and others.
A Specialized Approach in Marin County
My practice is intentionally small and depth-oriented.
I work with a limited number of clients to provide focused, high-level care. EMDR is integrated within comprehensive psychological treatment rather than offered as a stand-alone service.
If you are seeking EMDR therapy in Marin County or remote EMDR therapy in California, Colorado, or Oregon, we can explore whether this depth-oriented approach aligns with your needs.
Healing from trauma is not about erasing the past.
It is about freeing your nervous system from living in it and expanding your capacity for connection, intimacy, and embodiment.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is considered a trauma-informed approach. Developed specifically to address trauma-related distress, EMDR is grounded in the understanding of trauma and its impact on the brain, nervous system, and overall mental health. Here’s how EMDR aligns with trauma-informed principles:
Focus on Safety and Stabilization: EMDR therapists prioritize creating a sense of safety and trust before processing trauma. Early stages of EMDR often involve helping clients build resources and stabilize emotions to feel secure as they begin trauma work.
Recognition of Trauma's Impact: EMDR acknowledges that trauma can deeply affect memory, cognition, and emotions. The approach is designed to address how traumatic experiences are stored in the brain, often as fragmented or distressing memories that resurface involuntarily.
Empowerment and Collaboration: In EMDR, clients are encouraged to actively participate in their healing. Therapists work collaboratively with clients to set the pace, making adjustments based on each person’s readiness and comfort, thus giving the client control over the process.
Non-retraumatizing: Unlike some approaches that involve reliving trauma, EMDR aims to process trauma without requiring a detailed recounting of painful events. Instead, it relies on bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds) to help reprocess traumatic memories in a way that is less triggering and more manageable.
Mind-Body Integration: EMDR incorporates awareness of both mental and somatic (body-based) experiences. Trauma often affects the body as much as the mind, so EMDR helps clients notice physical sensations and work through them in the process of healing.
EMDR is widely used and well-supported by research for treating PTSD, complex trauma, and other trauma-related issues, making it a trusted trauma-informed therapy in clinical practice.