Therapy in Irvine and Los Angeles: What to Expect in Your First EMDR Session
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If you're thinking about starting EMDR therapy in Irvine, Los Angeles, or California, you might be wondering what actually happens in that first session. Will you have to share your entire history? Will you leave feeling emotionally drained?
The short answer: No. Your first EMDR session is about getting oriented, understanding the process, and making sure you feel safe and in control. We go at your pace, always.
My Approach to EMDR
EMDR is a powerful method for processing trauma and other distressing experiences, but how we use it together will be tailored to you. I integrate somatic-based mindfulness, cultural humility, and awareness of the bigger systems that shape our lives.
That means:
We pay attention to what's happening in your body, not just your thoughts
Your cultural background, values, and identity are part of how we work
We name and acknowledge the impact of systemic issues like racism, sexism, immigration stress, or generational trauma
We work in a way that feels collaborative, not like I'm "doing" something to you
Step 1: Getting Comfortable
Before we talk about anything heavy, we focus on helping your nervous system register that you're in a safe space. If we're meeting in my Irvine office, I'll orient you to the space and make sure you have what you need to feel physically comfortable. If we're online, we'll help you anchor to what feels safe and soothing in your environment.
We'll also set a pause signal—so you can stop the process at any time without having to explain why in the moment.
Step 2: Talking Through What Brings You In
You don't have to tell me every detail of your life story. Instead, we focus on what's bringing you to therapy now, patterns you've noticed, and key experiences that might be important to work on.
We'll also talk about how stress and emotion show up in your body—things like muscle tension, restlessness, or changes in breathing. That helps me support you more effectively once we start reprocessing.
Step 3: Building Your Safety Tools
Before EMDR targets difficult memories, you'll learn regulation tools you can use both in and outside of session. I pull from somatic-based mindfulness here, so we work with what's happening in your body—not just your mind.
These tools might include:
Breathing patterns that help settle your nervous system
Grounding through your senses (sight, sound, touch)
Visualizing a safe place or resource figure
Gentle movement or posture shifts that signal safety to your brain
Step 4: Introducing Bilateral Stimulation
Bilateral stimulation (BLS) is a core part of EMDR. It's what helps your brain reprocess stuck memories. This can look like:
Moving your eyes side to side while following my hand or a light bar
Alternating tapping on your hands or knees
Listening to tones that switch from left to right
Holding tappers in your hands that alternate from left to right with a buzzing sensation
In the first few sessions, we'll try BLS in a neutral way—no difficult memories yet—so you can see how it feels and notice your body's response.
What Happens After the First Few Sessions
Over the course of your first few sessions, you'll gradually develop:
A sense of familiarity with how EMDR works
Tools to help you stay grounded in and between sessions
A beginning sense of safety in our working relationship
A plan for where we'll focus in future sessions
It may take several sessions just to get through all of this foundational work, especially if you come in with a lot to share and process. Some clients need more time to feel settled and resourced before we even think about reprocessing. There's no rush, we move at whatever pace feels right for you. To learn more about EMDR therapy, you can visit my EMDR therapy page.
Why People Choose EMDR Therapy in Irvine and Los Angeles
In my practice, I often use EMDR therapy to support people working through:
Anxiety and perfectionism — Reprocessing specific experiences that created these patterns, like moments when your worth felt dependent on being perfect or being easy.
Early relational trauma — Reprocessing early relational patterns that continue to impact how you connect with others and view yourself.
Reproductive trauma and loss — Processing experiences like infertility, pregnancy loss, and birth trauma to help you carry these memories with less distress and more self-compassion.
Perinatal and postpartum challenges — Easing the emotional weight of pregnancy, new parenthood, and the major identity shifts that come with them.
Collective and intergenerational trauma — Addressing the inherited pain, cultural wounds, and systemic oppression that can be passed down through families and communities across generations.
The immigrant experience — Navigating the stress, grief, and cultural complexity that can come with immigration, bicultural identity, and systemic barriers.
My Commitment to You
I'm here to make sure EMDR works for you in a way that feels safe, respectful, and effective. That means honoring your pace, your cultural context, and the bigger picture of what you're dealing with, not just the events we target in session.
Your first EMDR sessions are about building that foundation. If you're curious about starting, we can talk about what's been coming up for you and see if EMDR feels like the right fit.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you're considering EMDR therapy in Irvine or Los Angeles (or anywhere in California via telehealth), I'd love to talk with you about how this approach might support your healing journey. You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ask questions, learn more about my approach, and see if we feel like a good fit.
