Why would I need Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
At its core, CBT is designed to help you understand and change unhelpful thought patterns, leading to positive changes in behavior and overall well-being....
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a form of psychotherapy that is specifically designed to help individuals process and recover from traumatic memories and distressing life experiences. During EMDR sessions, a trained therapist guides you through bilateral stimulation while you focus on a specific distressing memory. This process engages both hemispheres of the brain and supports the natural healing of psychological wounds.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require you to describe every detail of the trauma. Instead, it harnesses the brain’s adaptive information processing system to reframe negative beliefs and reduce emotional charge, allowing you to integrate healthier perspectives and move forward.
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EMDR was created relatively recently, in the late 1980s, by Dr. Francine Shapiro, who discovered that her own disturbing thoughts diminished in intensity when her eyes moved rapidly from side to side. She refined this observation into an eight‑phase therapeutic protocol and conducted rigorous research demonstrating its effectiveness for post‑traumatic stress disorder. Today, EMDR is recognized as an evidence‑based treatment by organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization.
At its core, EMDR relies on the adaptive information processing (AIP) model, which posits that traumatic memories can become “stuck” in the nervous system, causing ongoing distress and maladaptive beliefs. Bilateral stimulation appears to mimic the eye movements that occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a critical period for memory consolidation and emotional regulation.
Neuroimaging studies suggest that EMDR may enhance connectivity between the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, facilitating the integration of fragmented memories into coherent narratives. As a result, clients often report rapid reductions in anxiety, vividness of painful memories, and self‑defeating beliefs, which are outcomes that can begin to emerge in far fewer sessions than other traditional therapies.
At Capo Canyon, our EMDR program combines the highest clinical standards with a personalized treatment environment. Every client begins with a comprehensive intake assessment where our licensed therapists evaluate trauma history, current symptoms, and treatment goals. From there, we tailor an EMDR plan that aligns with your pace and needs.
Our certified EMDR clinicians follow the official eight‑phase protocol:
We integrate EMDR with other evidence‑based therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness practices, to reinforce gains and support holistic healing. Safety and privacy are paramount: sessions take place in our private therapy suites, and you maintain control over pacing and bilateral stimulation methods.
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Clients who benefit most from EMDR typically struggle with distressing symptoms rooted in past traumatic experiences. This includes individuals with PTSD that stems from events like as accidents, combat exposure, or personal assaults.
However, EMDR’s applications extend beyond PTSD. If you experience persistent anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, or obsessive thoughts that trace back to upsetting memories, EMDR can help reprocess those events and reduce their emotional impact.
EMDR also supports healing for survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, or medical trauma by targeting deep-seated negative beliefs and replacing them with adaptive perspectives.
Each EMDR session at Capo Canyon unfolds in a structured yet flexible format designed to keep you safe and focused on healing. Sessions last 60 to 90 minutes and begin with a brief check-in: your therapist will ask about your current mood, any dreams or reflections since the last meeting, and review safety and coping strategies. You then select a specific “target” memory or image that you wish to process that day.
During the desensitization phase, your therapist guides bilateral stimulation—most commonly through side-to-side eye movements, though you may use hand-held taps or auditory tones if preferred. While your eyes follow the therapist’s hand or a light bar, you hold the distressing memory in mind. After each set of stimulation, you’ll report any new thoughts, feelings, or body sensations. The therapist uses these observations to guide the next set, allowing the memory’s emotional intensity to gradually decrease.
Once the initial distress level begins to fall, the session will move to the installation phase. You’ll focus on a positive belief like “I’m in a safe place” while receiving bilateral stimulation to strengthen that new cognition. A brief body scan follows to identify residual tension, and any lingering discomfort is addressed with additional processing or grounding techniques.
Sessions conclude with closure exercises, such as guided breathing or visualization, to ensure you leave feeling calm and centered. Your therapist then helps you create a plan for self-care between sessions, which may include journaling prompts, relaxation exercises, or light movement.
The typical EMDR treatment course will last for between 6 and 12 sessions, during which many clients experience substantial relief from trauma-related symptoms, improved emotional regulation, and a renewed sense of empowerment. EMDR at Capo Canyon offers a safe, supportive pathway to rewire painful memories and foster lasting psychological resilience.
While EMDR is powerful on its own, combining it with complementary therapies enhances and solidifies treatment gains. At Capo Canyon, we pair EMDR with cognitive behavioral therapy to help you identify and challenge the negative thought patterns that emerge after processing traumatic memories.
Dialectical behavior therapy introduces emotion-regulation and distress-tolerance skills, equipping you to manage intense feelings that may surface during or after EMDR sessions. We also offer mindfulness-based stress reduction workshops that teach present-moment awareness, reducing rumination, and strengthening your capacity to stay grounded when old memories arise.
Family therapy and group process sessions provide additional layers of support. Sharing experiences with peers normalizes recovery challenges and builds a sense of community, while family sessions educate loved ones about trauma responses and how to reinforce healthy coping at home.
Holistic services—such as yoga, art therapy, and equine-assisted activities—further integrate mind and body, promoting neural flexibility and resilience. By weaving EMDR into this broader therapeutic tapestry, Capo Canyon ensures your healing is comprehensive, addressing not just the traumatic memory but also the cognitive, emotional, relational, and physical dimensions of recovery.
Embarking on EMDR therapy at Capo Canyon begins with a confidential, no-obligation consultation. Our admissions team is available 24/7 to discuss your history, answer questions, and verify insurance or private-pay options. Once you decide to move forward, we schedule an in-depth intake assessment where our clinical director and EMDR-certified therapists map out your personalized treatment plan.
Getting started is easy, and we’ll be there to walk you through each step. Contact our admissions team, and take a proactive stance with your recovery.
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