EMDR
Heal Trauma at the Source With EMDR Therapy
Zeam Health & Wellness offers EMDR therapy to help clients process trauma in a way that feels safe, structured, and effective. EMDR, short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, uses a guided method of memory recall paired with rhythmic stimulation to reduce the emotional weight of distressing memories. The goal is not to erase what happened but to change how it feels when you remember it.
This approach has gained international recognition as a powerful therapy for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and more. Our certified EMDR therapists in Sacramento, Roseville, and Folsom specialize in using this evidence-based treatment to help clients move forward clearly, confidently, and calmly.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy is a structured mental health treatment designed to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories. It works by guiding you to recall distressing experiences while engaging in bilateral stimulation. That often means moving your eyes back and forth, though some therapists use alternating sounds or gentle taps instead.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, rapid eye movement therapy does not require clients to explain the trauma in detail. Instead, it helps the brain change how the memory is stored, which reduces its emotional intensity. In time, painful memories feel less like active wounds and more like distant events.
EMDR therapy has been shown to work faster than many standard approaches. This makes it especially valuable for individuals who have tried other therapies but still feel stuck in the emotional residue of the past.
How EMDR Therapy Works in the Brain
The process is based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. According to this theory, traumatic experiences get “stuck” in the brain in an unprocessed form. These unprocessed memories remain raw, keeping the emotional pain fresh long after the event.
EMDR therapy stimulates both sides of the brain while the memory is active. This dual attention, holding a memory while following rhythmic cues, helps the brain reprocess the memory. Over time, clients report that these memories no longer trigger panic, shame, or fear. Instead, they become neutral and manageable.
This change happens not by removing the memory but by reducing its power. Triggers that once caused strong emotional reactions begin to lose their grip. For example, someone who experienced a car accident may no longer feel tightness in their chest when hearing tires screech.
What to Expect From an EMDR Session
A typical session with one of our EMDR therapists at Zeam begins with a short review of your emotional history. We identify the memories to target, develop calming tools, and teach you what to expect. Once you are ready, the therapist will guide you through the following eight phases of treatment:
- History taking: Identify targets such as traumatic memories or emotional triggers
- Preparation: Learn techniques for safety, grounding, and emotional regulation
- Assessment: Pinpoint the memory and negative belief to reprocess
- Desensitization: Recall the memory while following eye movements or another stimulus
- Installation: Strengthen a new positive belief to replace the old one
- Body scan: Notice and clear any lingering tension or distress
- Closure: Use relaxation tools to return to emotional stability
- Re-evaluation: Review progress and decide if other memories need processing
Most sessions last 60 to 90 minutes. A single memory can often be fully processed in one to three sessions, though full treatment may require multiple visits.
Why Choose EMDR Therapy Over Other Methods?
EMDR stands apart from other trauma therapies because it does not rely on homework, prolonged exposure, or direct confrontation of the event. That can make it less emotionally overwhelming for many clients. Instead of asking you to explain what happened over and over, EMDR focuses on shifting how the memory lives in your body and mind.
Other therapies aim to help you manage symptoms. EMDR aims to help you resolve the cause.
When EMDR Therapy Helps and When It May Not
EMDR therapy is considered one of the most effective treatments for PTSD. It is endorsed by organizations such as the World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It is also used to treat:
- Panic attacks
- Anxiety and depression
- Phobias
- Grief and loss
- Childhood neglect
- Addictions
- Performance anxiety
That said, EMDR may not be appropriate if a client has unmanaged dissociation, unstable medical conditions, or is not ready to recall trauma memories. In those cases, our team may recommend stabilizing treatments before beginning rapid eye movement therapy.
Is EMDR the Same as Hypnosis?
EMDR is not hypnosis. Although the therapy can create a deeply relaxed state, it does not involve suggestion, unconscious exploration, or altered awareness. Clients stay awake and alert throughout the process. In EMDR, you guide the content of what you focus on while your therapist simply helps you reprocess it in a new way.
Why EMDR Therapy Works
Researchers have proposed several mechanisms to explain why EMDR is effective. Some believe the bilateral stimulation used during EMDR therapy taxes working memory. By overloading the brain’s ability to focus, it reduces the vividness and emotional charge of the memory. Others suggest the rhythm creates an orienting response that helps shift emotional associations.
There is also growing neurobiological evidence that EMDR activates brain networks involved in memory integration and emotional regulation. In simpler terms, it helps the brain finish what trauma interrupted.
Zeam’s Approach to EMDR Therapy
We offer trauma-informed care grounded in compassion, science, and strategy. Our EMDR therapists tailor treatment to your needs, whether you are managing complex PTSD, single-incident trauma, or high-functioning anxiety rooted in childhood experiences.
We also offer integrative services that pair well with EMDR, such as:
- Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
- Neurofeedback
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Online therapy for flexible scheduling
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for treatment-resistant depression
Work With a Certified EMDR Therapist in Sacramento, Roseville, or Folsom
You do not have to keep revisiting trauma without resolution. EMDR therapy offers a structured, scientifically supported path toward relief. Whether your symptoms are recent or decades old, our team at Zeam is here to support you.
Schedule a consultation with one of our EMDR therapists today. Let us help you clear the fog of trauma and reconnect with who you are meant to be.
