EMDR

"Trauma is not what happens to you, but what happens inside you as a result of what happens to you. It is the wound that is left behind.” -Gabor Mate

You’ve tried talk therapy, workouts, deep breathing, and journaling.

Maybe you’ve tried to "let it go," stay busy, or push through. 

You’re doing your best, but living with unresolved trauma is exhausting.

Unfortunately, we can’t think our  way of trauma. Talking about trauma is helpful in making sense of something horrible that happened, but if we’re healing trauma, we have to include the body and the nervous system. That one thing (or many things) still lives in your body like it just happened. You're not broken—your nervous system is just doing its best to protect you. That’s where EMDR comes in.

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a highly effective, research-backed approach to healing trauma, anxiety, and distressing life experiences. Instead of endlessly talking through what happened, EMDR helps your brain and body process painful memories—so they no longer hijack your present.

Using bilateral stimulation (like guided eye movements or tapping), EMDR helps your nervous system do what it naturally wants to do: heal.

Even Miley Cyrus recently opened up about how EMDR helped her recover from past trauma:

“It’s not that I forgot what happened. It’s that it doesn’t own me anymore.”

How Does EMDR Therapy Work?

When we experience trauma—big or small—our brain can’t always process it properly. That’s why you might feel like you’re constantly on edge, stuck in survival mode, or avoiding things that feel "too much." It’s not just in your head. It’s in your nervous system.

EMDR works by:

  • Reducing the emotional charge of painful or traumatic memories

  • Helping you reprocess old experiences so they feel more distant

  • Strengthening your ability to feel safe, grounded, and in control

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR allows healing to happen at a deeper level—without needing to explain every detail.

Why EMDR

EMDR is one of the most studied and recommended treatments for trauma recovery. It’s endorsed by the:

And it's helping people just like you find relief without retraumatization.

Is EMDR Therapy Right for Me?

We use EMDR with clients navigating:

  • Childhood trauma or neglect

  • Relationship injuries and attachment issues

  • Anxiety, panic attacks, and chronic stress

  • Grief and loss

  • Racial trauma and first-gen experiences

  • Shame and poor self-esteem

  • Medical trauma or car accidents

  • Big transitions or life after a crisis

Whether you're carrying trauma from years ago or trying to make sense of something recent, EMDR can help your body recalibrate, so your mind can finally rest.

Is EMDR Therapy Right for Me?

We use EMDR with clients navigating:

  • Childhood trauma or neglect

  • Relationship wounds and attachment issues

  • Anxiety, panic attacks, and chronic stress

  • Grief and loss

  • Racial trauma and first-gen experiences

  • Medical trauma or car accidents

  • Big transitions or life after a crisis

EMDR Therapy Can Help You:

  • Finally sleep through the night

  • Let go of shame and guilt

  • Set boundaries without fear

  • Heal from toxic relationships

  • Stop waiting for the other shoe to drop

  • Feel safe in your body again

Ready to feel different?

You don’t have to keep coping. You’ve done enough of that.

At Empower, our trauma-informed team offers EMDR therapy in Los Angeles, Long Beach and virtually for California residents for adults, creatives, caregivers, LGBTQIA+ folx, first-gen clients, and anyone holding more than they should have had to.

Book a free consultation with a therapist who gets it. You’re closer than you think to feeling like yourself again.