EMDR Therapy for Trauma, Dissociation, and Sexual Assault

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a research-backed therapy that helps survivors of sexual assault, complex trauma, and dissociation process traumatic experiences safely and effectively. I provide EMDR therapy for adults across California via secure telehealth sessions, or with in-person appointments for those who are in the Sacramento CA area. Sessions are tailored to your needs, whether you’re seeking relief from flashbacks, dissociation, anxiety, or relational struggles caused by trauma.

Who can be helped by EMDR Therapy?

EMDR is effective for adults who are:

Struggling with traumatic experiences
Survivors of sexual assault or sexual trauma
Experiencing dissociation or feeling disconnected from themselves
Coping with childhood trauma, relational trauma, or complex trauma
Self-worth, shame and negative beliefs
Unwanted and unhealthy patterns that keep repeating
Feeling disconnected from yourself
Struggling with anxiety, shame, or nervous system dysregulation

If you’ve felt overwhelmed by your memories or parts of yourself that feel fragmented, EMDR can help you safely process trauma and integrate your experiences.

How Does EMDR Work?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a trauma therapy that helps your brain heal from experiences that still feel emotionally or physically “stuck.” When we go through something overwhelming, our brains don’t always have the opportunity to fully process what happened. Instead, the memory can become stored along with the fear, shame, helplessness, or physical sensations we experienced at the time. That’s why something that happened years ago can sometimes still feel very present.

With EMDR, we gently bring parts of the memory into awareness while using eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. This gives your brain an opportunity to process the experience differently and begin connecting it with the information and resources you have today.

The goal of EMDR isn’t to erase what happened or make you forget it. It’s to help you remember the past without feeling like you are still living in it. As the memory is reprocessed, the emotional charge can lessen, and your brain can begin to develop a more adaptive understanding of what happened. You may move from “I’m still in danger” toward “It’s over, and I survived.” From “There was nothing I could do” toward “I have choices now.” In a sense, EMDR helps build an adaptive bridge between the person you were when the trauma happened and the person you are today—so that a part of you no longer has to remain stuck in the past, and your brain can begin to truly recognize that you survived.

Your Therapy May Focus On:

Stabilization and grounding techniques
Processing traumatic memories at your pace
Integrating dissociated parts of self
Improving emotional regulation and body awareness
Building resilience and restoring a sense of self

What to Expect in EMDR Therapy?

Initial consultation to assess trauma history, dissociation, and readiness
Stabilization and preparation for safe trauma processing
Gradual, guided EMDR sessions targeting memories that keep you stuck
Integration of trauma work into daily life

Clients often notice improved emotional regulation, less dissociation, and a greater sense of safety even after a few sessions.