EMDR Therapy

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) was named as such by originator and founder Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., who found that her eyes moved back and forth when she was internally processing or problem solving. The eye movement correlates to the bilateral stimulation of the brain, getting left and right hemispheres to communicate and to process information. Use of this method has been found useful in the treatment of trauma as the sensory fragments remaining after the original trauma are stored in the right brain, which has no sense of time. As such, triggers that remind the person of the original trauma create the sense that the trauma is happening again in the present moment. EMDR is effective at facilitating left brain/right brain communication so that the sensory triggers (visual, smell, hearing, tactile, taste, etc) are desensitized by the left brain’s ability to turn the original trauma into a narrative, a story of something that happened in the past and that no longer adversely affects the person in the present. Other forms of bilateral stimulation other than eye movement are commonly used such as alternating left-right tapping on the arms or legs or alternating sound in each ear. Research has shown that EMDR is effective in the treatment of trauma of all kinds. Treatment with EMDR can be part of short-term or long-term psychotherapy.

Services offered:

I serve California, New York, and South Carolina residents via telehealth only and North Carolina residents via telehealth or in-person.

Psychotherapy, counseling, and life or relationship coaching for individuals, couples, families, or small groups

• Free initial 15-minute phone consultation
• Weekly
• Brief (2-10 consecutive or intermittent sessions)
• Long-term intermittent work (every 2-4 weeks)
• Telehealth via video or phone

Supervision for trainees and associates working towards licensure in CA and NC (currently full)

Fees:

• $200 for 5o-min session, $240 for 60-min session, $300 for 75-min session, $360 for 90-min session
• I accept some forms of insurance through Alma (helloalma.com) depending upon state of residence and my availability.
• I do not submit claims for insurance. If needed, I can write a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP): I am a provider for Claremont EAP and Empathia EAP. Request services through your employer’s EAP.