FAQ

Question 1

What is EMDR therapy?

Accepted Answer

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is an evidence-based therapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and now recognized by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and the Department of Veterans Affairs as an effective treatment for trauma. EMDR helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they lose their emotional charge and can be stored as past events rather than present threats.

Question 2

How is EMDR different from talk therapy?

Accepted Answer

In traditional talk therapy, healing often happens through insight — understanding why you feel the way you do. EMDR works differently. Rather than talking through the details of what happened, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help the nervous system complete the processing it couldn't finish at the time of the trauma. Many clients find that EMDR produces change that talking alone never could.

Question 3

What is bilateral stimulation?

Accepted Answer

Bilateral stimulation refers to any rhythmic, alternating left-right sensory input — traditionally eye movements following a therapist's hand, but also tapping, auditory tones, or handheld buzzers. This back-and-forth activation of both brain hemispheres appears to mimic the processing that happens naturally during REM sleep, allowing the brain to metabolize and integrate traumatic material.

Question 4

Is EMDR evidence-based?

Accepted Answer

Yes. EMDR has been studied extensively since the 1990s and is supported by more than 30 randomized controlled trials. It is endorsed by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense as an effective treatment for PTSD and trauma-related conditions.

Question 5

What makes an intensive different from regular weekly therapy?

Accepted Answer

In weekly therapy, much of each session is spent re-establishing context, warming up, and then closing down before the hour ends. An intensive format removes those constraints. By working in longer, dedicated sessions, we can move past the threshold where real processing happens and stay there — allowing the nervous system to move through the trauma more completely. Many clients experience feeling differently in a few intensive sessions rather than spending months or years in weekly therapy.

Question 6

Who is a good candidate for EMDR Intensive Therapy?

Accepted Answer

EMDR Intensive Therapy is designed for adults who have experienced a single traumatic incident — a car accident, a medical event, an assault, a sudden loss, or another discrete event — and who are ready to do focused, immersive work. It is not designed for complex or developmental trauma, active psychosis, or severe dissociative disorders. If you're unsure whether it's right for you, the free consultation is the best place to start.

Question 7

How many sessions will I need?

Accepted Answer

Most clients working on a single traumatic incident complete the work in three to twelve intensive sessions of 1.5 hours each. The exact number depends on the nature of the trauma, your nervous system's readiness, your current support system, and how the processing unfolds. We'll discuss realistic expectations during the consultation and check in as we go.

Question 8

Do I need to have a current therapist to work with you?

Accepted Answer

No. I offer both standalone Intensive EMDR for clients who are not currently in therapy, and Adjunct Intensive EMDR for clients who have a regular therapist and want to do focused trauma work alongside their ongoing care. If you do have a current therapist, I will coordinate with them with your permission.

Question 9

Where are sessions held?

Accepted Answer

I see clients in person at my office in Davis, California, and online throughout California via a secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. Both formats are effective for EMDR Intensive work.

Question 10

What does it cost?

Accepted Answer

EMDR Intensive Therapy is offered on a private-pay basis. Rates vary by format — 50-minute sessions are $250/session and 90-minute sessions are $450/session. I can provide a superbill for clients who wish to seek reimbursement from their out-of-network insurance benefits. I encourage you to contact your insurance provider before we begin to understand your coverage. Often, insurance companies will not pay for extended sessions.

Question 11

Do you take insurance?

Accepted Answer

I do not bill insurance directly. However, I can provide a superbill — a detailed receipt with the diagnostic and procedure codes your insurance company needs — so you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement. Many clients with PPO plans receive partial reimbursement. I recommend calling your insurance provider to ask about your out-of-network mental health benefits before we begin.

Question 12

What is the free consultation?

Accepted Answer

Every new client starts with a free 15-minute phone call. It's a chance for us to get a sense of each other, talk through what you're carrying, and see if working together feels like a good fit. There's no pressure and no commitment.

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