Reconnect with who you are & grow beyond what happened to you.
EMDR Therapy for Trauma in San Francisco, Online Across CAlifornia
You’ve spent years trying to move on, but the past still finds its way into your thoughts, your relationships, and how you see yourself.
Some days, you hold it together just fine. Other days, something small can send you spiraling, and you might not even know why. You try to push past it, stay busy, or tell yourself it’s not a big deal, but you can feel by the tension in your body that this approach isn’t actually helping.
You keep catching yourself reacting in ways that don’t make sense for what’s actually happening in the moment, and it feels like part of you is always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
MAYBE YOU’VE EXPERIENCED…
Feeling controlled by memories or beliefs from your past, no matter how much time has passed.
Growing up in a home with anger, the silent treatment, or criticism that made it hard to feel safe.
Betrayal or manipulation from someone you trusted—like a partner, friend, family, or faith leader—and maybe even feeling responsible for it.
Guilt or fear tied to religious teachings that once felt comforting but now feel confusing or burdensome.
Losing touch with yourself or not knowing who you are because you often put others’ needs and wellbeing before your own.
Attracting relationships that mirror the ones that hurt you most.
Living with a constant underlying anger or resentment that affects your moods and relationships.
You’re tired of living in survival mode and ready to start feeling fully present again.
HOW I CAN HELP
We’ll use the mind-body connection to help you feel safe in the now and heal from what’s holding you back.
This process starts with slowing down and paying attention to what your mind and body are trying to tell you. Instead of forcing yourself to “move on,” we’ll focus on helping your nervous system feel safe enough to stop reliving the past.
We’ll take plenty of time to get comfortable with one another before diving deeper—there’s no rush here. But when you do feel ready to tell your story, we’ll try to notice the moments when your body tenses, shuts down, or goes on alert, and uncover what those reactions are protecting you from.
Then, we’ll begin reprocessing the memories or emotions that still hold power over you. Through EMDR and other grounding techniques, you’ll practice staying present with what comes up instead of avoiding it. Over time, you’ll start to feel more in control and less at the mercy of what happened before.
What is EMDR?
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an evidence-based, research-backed therapy that helps your brain and body process painful or overwhelming experiences so they stop feeling so charged with emotion in the present.
Instead of talking through every detail of what happened, we focus on the memories, emotions, and body sensations that feel the most intense. Using bilateral stimulation techniques like eye movements, sounds, or taps, we connect the mind and body to help your brain reorganize those memories in a new way. You won’t forget what happened, but over time, you can reach a place where the memory feels less powerful and your nervous system feels safe.
-
Getting to know your story: We start by understanding what you’ve been through, what’s been hardest, and what healing might look like for you.
Building safety: Before we go near the difficult memories, we’ll work on helping you feel grounded and equipped to handle whatever comes up.
Finding the targets: Together, we identify specific memories, images, sensations, or beliefs that still trigger strong emotional or physical reactions.
Desensitization: You’ll focus on the most difficult part of that target while using eye movements, sounds, or taps to help your brain process it differently.
Reprocessing & insight: As we revisit the target, the emotion or image usually starts to change—the intensity lessens, and new thoughts or perspectives begin to surface.
Installation & meaning-making: We strengthen those new, more balanced beliefs so they begin to take root and guide how you see yourself.
Body awareness: We check in with how your body feels to make sure it’s no longer carrying the same tension, fear, or charge.
Closure & growth: Each session ends with grounding and reflection, making sure you leave feeling safe, settled, and having celebrated your progress.
What we’ll work on
Specialized therapy for trauma can help you…
Feel safe in your own body and stop living like you’re always waiting for the next bad thing to happen.
Rebuild trust in yourself, your intuition, and your emotions after years of doubt.
Release the guilt, shame, and fear tied to your past experiences or rigid belief systems.
Set boundaries that protect your energy and sense of self without feeling selfish.
Rediscover who you are beyond your trauma and reconnect with your values, voice, and purpose.
Live more fully grounded in the present, connected to yourself and the people you care about.
We can’t change the past, but we can reclaim your peace and your future.
let’s find a new way forward.
Frequently asked questions
-
A lot of people hear the word “trauma” and assume it only applies to something big or catastrophic, but that’s not always the case. Trauma is really about what happens inside you, and the way your body and mind had to protect you during something painful or overwhelming. If certain memories, situations, or even tones of voice bring up strong reactions that don’t quite fit the moment, that can be a sign that something unresolved is still living there. If you’re interested in exploring what’s going on, you can schedule a free consultation here.
-
Not at all. EMDR can help with anything that feels stuck—from a painful breakup or harsh criticism to major life events or long-term abuse. It’s less about the “size” of the trauma and more about the impact it’s still having on your life. I’ll tailor the process to your experiences so you can start feeling more at peace and in control.
-
Not necessarily, no. EMDR focuses more on what your body and emotions are holding onto than on retelling every detail. You’ll share only what feels necessary for the work, and I’ll make sure you always feel grounded and safe during the process. Healing doesn’t come from rehashing the story, it comes from changing how it lives inside you.
-
You’re certainly not alone. Many people carry deep pain from faith communities or beliefs that once felt safe. We can gently explore those experiences, untangle fear or guilt, and help you reconnect with a sense of meaning that feels authentic to you. My approach is always respectful of your background and beliefs.
-
It depends on your goals and the complexity of what you’re healing from. Some clients notice relief after a few sessions; others need more time for deeper work. The focus isn’t on speed — it’s on helping you feel safe, steady, and integrated. We’ll check in regularly to make sure the pace feels right for you.