EMDR & Trauma Therapy
EMDR & Trauma Therapy in Newport Beach
Trauma therapy for PTSD, childhood trauma and painful experiences that still feel present. We treat trauma two ways, with EMDR and with psychodynamic, relational therapy, to help you process what happened and feel safer in your body, your relationships and your life.
In person at our Newport Beach office, serving Irvine, Costa Mesa and Orange County, or by telehealth anywhere in California. EMDR availability is limited, so ask about current openings for both approaches.
Prefer to talk? Call (714) 497-3008
Who it's for
What Is Trauma Therapy?
Trauma lives on in what stays with you after the event: fear, shame or numbness that still shows up in your body, your reactions and your relationships. Trauma therapy helps you process those experiences so they stop running your present.
We work with adults carrying:
- PTSD and post-traumatic stress
- Childhood trauma and complex trauma
- Accidents, assaults or medical trauma
- Painful memories that still feel present
- Anxiety or panic tied to past experiences
- Nightmares, flashbacks or feeling on edge
- Relationship and attachment trauma
- Traumatic grief and loss
You don't need a single major event to benefit. Many people carry smaller, repeated experiences that shaped how safe they feel.
Our approach
Two Ways We Treat Trauma
EMDR therapy. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, research-supported method. You briefly hold a painful memory in mind while following side-to-side eye movements or tapping, which helps your brain reprocess it so it loses its emotional charge. Your therapist builds safety and coping skills first, and you begin processing only when you're ready.
Psychodynamic, relational trauma therapy. Trauma often shapes how we attach, trust and protect ourselves. In relational therapy, you and your therapist explore how past experiences live on in your patterns and relationships, including the one with your therapist. Feeling safe and understood in that relationship is part of the healing. This approach is especially helpful for trauma that is early, complex or hard to put into words.
What to expect
Many clients do well with either approach, and some combine the two. On your free consultation call, we'll talk through your history and goals and recommend a starting point. EMDR availability is limited, so if there's a wait, you can begin relational trauma therapy sooner and add EMDR later.
Sessions are 50 minutes, in person at our Newport Beach office or by telehealth anywhere in California. Single-event trauma often takes less time, while childhood or complex trauma usually takes longer.
Newport Beach Specialists In Trauma Therapy & EMDR
Commonly Asked Questions
EMDR & Trauma Therapy FAQ
Does EMDR therapy work?
EMDR is one of the most studied trauma treatments. It is recommended for PTSD by organizations including the World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Will I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
No. EMDR doesn't require you to describe every detail out loud. You stay in control of what you share, and your therapist sets the pace with you.
Can EMDR be done online?
Yes. EMDR can be done by telehealth using on-screen eye movements or self-tapping, and many clients find it works well.
How long does EMDR therapy take?
It depends on your history and goals. Work on a single event may take a handful of sessions after preparation, while childhood or complex trauma usually takes longer.
What's the difference between EMDR and trauma therapy?
EMDR is one form of trauma therapy. We often combine it with depth-oriented talk therapy, and some clients do their trauma work without EMDR.
Does insurance cover EMDR?
We are an out-of-network practice. That lets us keep caseloads manageable, protect your privacy and keep insurance companies out of decisions about your care. If your plan has out-of-network benefits, we can provide a superbill for possible reimbursement.
Ready to Start EMDR or Trauma Therapy?
Book a free consultation to ask about current EMDR openings and find the right trauma therapist. We see clients from Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Irvine, Costa Mesa and across Orange County.