EMDR Therapy at OC Psychology Center

| Newport Beach, California

Work with one of our EMDR treatment providers!

At OC Psychology Center, we proudly offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy as part of our comprehensive mental health services. EMDR is a powerful, evidence-based therapy designed to help individuals process and heal from trauma, PTSD, and other distressing life experiences. By using bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, EMDR enables the brain to reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional impact and fostering recovery.

Who Can Benefit from EMDR?

EMDR is suitable for a wide range of individuals, particularly those who:

Have experienced trauma, including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
Suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Struggle with anxiety, panic attacks, or phobias.
Deal with unresolved grief or loss.
Find it difficult to process distressing life events, such as accidents or natural disasters.

Symptoms Commonly Treated by EMDR

EMDR therapy at OC Psychology Center can effectively address a variety of symptoms, including:

Flashbacks and nightmares
Intrusive thoughts
Anxiety and panic attacks
Depression and mood swings
Emotional numbness or detachment
Sleep disturbances

EMDR Course of Treatment

EMDR therapy follows an 8-phase treatment protocol, designed to ensure a comprehensive and effective healing process:

History Taking and Treatment Planning: Gathering information about your history and identifying specific traumatic memories for processing.
Preparation: Building trust and preparing you with coping strategies to handle emotional distress during sessions.
Assessment: Identifying the target memory and the negative beliefs associated with it, as well as establishing positive beliefs to replace them.
Desensitization: Reprocessing the traumatic memory using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, until it no longer causes distress.
Installation: Strengthening positive beliefs associated with the processed memory to replace the previous negative associations.
Body Scan: Checking for any residual physical tension related to the memory and addressing it through further processing if needed.
Closure: Ensuring emotional stability at the end of each session, using relaxation and grounding techniques.
Reevaluation: Reviewing progress in subsequent sessions to ensure the memory has been fully processed and addressing any remaining issues.

Frequently Asked Questions about EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy that helps people heal from trauma by reprocessing distressing memories.
EMDR Interventions and Strategies:
- Bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movements, tapping)
- Guided imagery and visualization
- Cognitive restructuring
- Relaxation and grounding techniques
- Mindfulness exercises
The length of treatment varies, but many clients experience significant relief in 6-12 sessions. However, the number of sessions needed depends on the complexity of the trauma.
While EMDR is highly effective for trauma, it is also used to treat anxiety, depression, phobias, and other mental health concerns.
One of the unique aspects of EMDR is that it doesn’t require detailed discussion of the trauma. The focus is on processing the emotions and sensations associated with the memory, rather than recounting the event itself.

If you’re interested in learning more about EMDR or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact OC Psychology Center today. We are here to support you every step of the way.

Are you ready to get started? We can help.

Schedule an Appointment

Learn more about our EMDR Specialists

EMDR Certification is a rigorous process. Our providers have completed all requirements for EMDR certification from the top EMDR training programs and certification boards, EMDRI and EMDRIA. The EMDR Institute (EMDRI) was founded by the developer of EMDR Francine Shapiro PHD. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), is the largest EMDR training and certification board.