EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing

I Can Help You HEAL From Trauma

Be Your AUTHENTIC SELF

ALLEVIATE Depression and REDUCE Anxiety

I use EMDR but also incorporate other evidence-based practices to offer a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan for each person. This approach aims to provide holistic care that addresses individual needs and promotes healing on various levels.

Our emotional pain can become all-consuming and take over our daily lives. When the pain becomes so great that it hinders relationships and daily functioning, it is a signal that it’s time to get help. With the support of meaningful therapy and a safe place to share thoughts and challenges, the healing process can begin. Healing and growth are always possible, and I am committed to helping you create lasting change in your life and assist you in being your authentic self.

One of the remarkable aspects of EMDR is its ability to address issues that might seem logically understood but remain unresolved on an emotional or day-to-day level. Some people find that despite their understanding of certain experiences or situations in talk therapy, they continue to struggle with the emotional impact in their daily lives. EMDR assists in processing these unresolved emotions and experiences on a deeper level, often leading to more significant and lasting changes.

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a widely researched and respected form of therapy to treat trauma. It works by activating parts of the brain that aren’t activated by just talking alone. For those who have tried talk therapy and not seen any results, EMDR might be a good option for you. People often seek EMDR after traumas like car accidents and assaults; however, it can also be helpful for less obvious traumas like grief, breakups, regret, a lack of self-esteem, or prolonged negativity from a partner or family member. EMDR allows us to clean out memories that get stuck in our brains.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT works to change patterns of thinking that do not serve our greater good. In the process of bringing awareness to our thoughts, it changes patterns of behaviors and feelings that cause us hardship. By changing the thoughts we have, we in turn change behaviors, beliefs, and ways of approaching challenges. It often involves homework, learning new skills, and collaborating with a therapist to address specific issues. It's widely used for various mental health concerns and tends to be more structured and time-limited compared to other therapies.

Trauma Focused- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (FT-CBT)

This modality of therapy is similar to cognitive behavior therapy, except it combines behavioral techniques with trauma-specific strategies to concentrate on understanding and coping with traumatic experiences in children, teens, and families. This process aids in developing new coping skills, learning about how our minds process trauma, and also working to heal relationships in the family and re-frame narratives.

Some of the Reasons People Try EMDR

  • When traditional talk therapy isn’t working

  • Understand the issue logically but struggle to implement desired changes in daily life.

  • You would prefer to not talk about the trauma in detail

  • Feeling stuck

  • Racing thoughts throughout the day

  • Crying often

  • Flashbacks or re-experiencing the traumatic event

  • Avoiding things or places that remind you of the abuse

  • Difficulty connecting with friends and family

  • Anxiety

  • Feeling down

  • Decrease fear

  • Frequent self-critical thoughts

  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep

What Client’s Are Saying

  • "Incredibly attentive and considerate, Michelle allows space for empathy in my struggles through life. While being incredibly thoughtful and effective in her responses, suggestions, and ultimately way of thinking, I’ve experienced catharsis in nearly every session. While the process of growth through therapy largely is placed on the individual being open to change, Michelle seamlessly has helped guide me through relief in my anxieties through every facet in my life. I can confidently say that my life has dramatically changed for the better because of the time spent with her and I believe most people would benefit from seeing her. Michelle has been the best therapist I’ve seen since I began going to a variety of therapists 10 years ago.”

  • “Michelle’s use of EMDR therapy has facilitated personal growth I never thought possible. Our sessions have helped me to reprocess trauma and redefine my personal narrative. The progress I’ve made under Michelle’s compassionate guidance has empowered me to navigate significant life transitions with grace.” 

  •  "I experienced the most growth and healing while working with Michelle. She helped me navigate through past trauma in a safe and effective way using EMDR. I value Michelle's empathic, collaborative, and tailored approach to therapy and I am forever grateful to her for helping me in my healing journey”.

  •  “Michelle is the best therapist I've ever had. She applies modern techniques with deft skill and a great balance between compassion and supportive encouragement.” 

  • I’m incredibly grateful for Michelle’s skillful approach and passion for helping me work through my past traumas. She has adeptly helped me uncover the root causes of my issues, using a gentle touch with a variety of EMDR techniques tailored to my needs. Michelle’s balance of patience and holding me accountable has been instrumental in my progress. I highly recommend her expertise in EMDR and supportive practices. 

  • "EMDR with Michelle has been life changing for me. I suffered a traumatic loss last year and a high risk pregnancy this year and my anxiety and PTSD is manageable and doesn’t flare because of my therapy and EMDR sessions. It’s helped with big things like adjusting to motherhood and smaller things like navigating in-laws and holidays. For me, EMDR is like a hug and a warm blanket around the hard memories and dark thoughts. It calms me down and allows me to see and feel the light. I have more clarity looking back on those moments and feel less triggered and upset by it all. I can live in those moments with less pain and more empathy and compassion for myself. I couldn’t recommend Michelle enough, this last year would have been insurmountable without her and EMDR. "

  • "EMDR with Michelle was incredible. I was able to process events that were really holding me back in life and start to form new, more positive core beliefs."

AREAS OF SPECIALTY

  • Emotional or psychological distress is caused by extremely distressing events or experiences that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.

  • Exposure to multiple or prolonged traumatic events, often beginning in childhood and continuing over time, can involve chronic and repeated experiences of trauma, such as abuse, neglect, or living in unstable or unsafe environments.

  • A pattern of abusive behavior within a relationship where one partner seeks to control or dominate the other through physical or emotional means.

  • Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or loss of interest in activities affect a person's thoughts, emotions, and daily functioning.

  • Anxiety is a common mental health condition characterized by feelings of unease, worry, and fear. It's a natural response to stress, but when these feelings become overwhelming or persistent, they can significantly impact daily life.

  • Children raised by individuals with Narcissistic Personality Disorder or Borderline Personality Disordered might struggle with emotional well-being, self-esteem, and forming healthy relationships due to the dynamics within the family.

  • Attachment wounds refer to emotional injuries or disruptions in the development of healthy and secure attachments between individuals, often stemming from early childhood experiences. These wounds can result from inconsistent caregiving, neglect, trauma, or disruptions in the primary caregiver-child relationship. They can lead to difficulties in forming trusting, secure connections in adulthood and can contribute to challenges in relationships and emotional well-being.

EMDR Helps With

  • Decreasing anxiety

  • Choosing responses rather than reacting

  • Healthier thought patterns

  • Shift blocking beliefs

  • Improve relationships

  • Healthier communication

  • Regulate feeling and emotions

  • Shift the narrative about yourself

  • Improve self talk

  • Decrease worry

  • Decrease PTSD symptoms

  • Increasing self-esteem

Sometimes you just need someone on the outside to help you see clearly, and other times, you just need the support of someone who genuinely cares. 

We all struggle, and we all get stuck from time to time. There’s no need to face it alone. Contact me for a free consultation to see if I might be a good fit for what you need right now. 

Questions are always welcomed. Feel free to call me at (310) 564-4645.

“Sometimes the smallest steps in the right direction end up being the biggest step of your life.”

— Naeem Callaway