EMDR Therapy for Women in Burbank, CA & Online Throughout California
You know your story. You're ready to stop living by its old rules.
Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
You may know where your people-pleasing, perfectionism, or fear of disappointing others began. But in the moments that matter, you still say yes when you want to say no, replay conversations, or feel like one mistake means you’ve let everyone down. Knowing where a pattern started doesn’t always make it easier to respond differently.
I help women work through painful experiences and the beliefs about themselves that took shape along the way. Through EMDR therapy, we can explore and process what still feels unresolved, at a pace we decide together—with room to be honest, uncertain, and yourself.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is an evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that helps people process distressing memories and reduce the emotional intensity connected to them.
During part of the therapy, you bring a specific experience to mind while using guided eye movements or another form of alternating left-right stimulation, such as tapping. Preparation and support are part of the process—we don’t begin by jumping into your most painful memory.
The goal isn’t to erase your story. It’s to help those experiences feel less overwhelming, so you have more room to choose how you respond in the present.
How EMDR Therapy Can Help?
When past experiences still shape how you feel about yourself or respond to others, EMDR may be worth exploring. In our work together, we might focus on:
Trauma or distressing memories that still feel close
Childhood experiences of criticism, neglect, or pressure to be “good”
Anxiety or feeling constantly on alert
Painful relationship experiences that affect trust and closeness
Shame, self-blame, or a persistent sense of being “not enough”
Experiences connected to people-pleasing, perfectionism, or fear of disappointing others
You don’t have to decide whether your experiences were “bad enough” before reaching out. Together, we’ll explore their impact and whether EMDR fits your needs.
EMDR for Childhood Trauma
You might describe your childhood as “not that bad” and still remember how important it was to be good, stay quiet, or avoid upsetting anyone. There may have been love alongside criticism, emotional distance, or expectations you didn’t know you were allowed to question.
Childhood trauma and emotional neglect can leave a lasting impact. Sometimes you learned to anticipate everyone else’s needs, hide your feelings, or get everything right to protect your place in a relationship.
Those responses may still show up today as:
Saying yes because someone’s disappointment feels hard to bear
Treating mistakes as evidence that something is wrong with you
Feeling responsible for keeping everyone happy
Struggling to trust your needs, feelings, or decisions
Staying on alert, even when there’s no immediate danger
EMDR therapy can help you process early experiences and reduce the emotional intensity they still carry. That work can also address beliefs that took shape along the way, such as “My needs don’t matter,” “Conflict isn’t safe,” or “I have to be perfect to be loved.”
As those experiences become less distressing, you may notice more room to respond differently—to say no without the same rush of fear, make a mistake without spiraling into shame, or let someone be disappointed without immediately trying to fix it. Alongside practicing new skills in therapy, EMDR may help those choices feel more manageable.
If you’ve spent years wondering why you react the way you do, or feeling like you’re “too sensitive” or “too much,” we can approach those responses with curiosity. Healing doesn’t require forgetting your past or dismissing what was good. It can mean feeling less pulled back into old experiences, with more freedom to choose how you live today.
EMDR for Anxiety
Anxiety can feel like you’re always preparing for something to go wrong—replaying conversations, reading into someone’s tone, or trying to anticipate every possible outcome. Even when you know you’re okay, it can be difficult to settle.
When anxiety is connected to distressing experiences, EMDR may help reduce the emotional charge those experiences still carry. Together, we can explore what gets stirred up in the present and work with memories and beliefs connected to that response, such as “I’m not safe” or “I can’t trust myself.”
That may mean a tense conversation feels less threatening, uncertainty feels more manageable, or you can make a decision without getting caught in the same anxious loop. We’ll also build practical ways to respond to worry and assess whether EMDR is a good fit for your particular anxiety.
My Approach to EMDR Therapy
You don’t have to be good at therapy. You can ask questions, tell me something doesn’t feel right, or say you need to slow down. Especially if you’re used to keeping others comfortable, I want there to be room for your honest response here.
My approach is collaborative: we’ll explore your story, what you want to change, and whether EMDR fits your needs. Before processing difficult memories, we’ll spend time building trust and practicing ways to feel grounded and manage strong emotions.
During EMDR, I’ll explain what we’re doing and check in with you along the way. Processing can bring up uncomfortable feelings, and you can ask to pause. We’ll adjust the pace together and make time to help you feel settled before ending a session.
Our work will also connect to your everyday life—speaking up, setting boundaries, tolerating uncertainty, and making choices that reflect what matters to you. There’s room to understand your story and practice living differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does EMDR work for anxiety?
EMDR may help when anxiety is connected to distressing memories or experiences. It isn’t the right approach for every type of anxiety. Together, we’ll explore what contributes to your symptoms and which treatment fits your needs.
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
You generally don’t need to describe every detail aloud. EMDR does involve bringing aspects of an experience to mind, including feelings, beliefs, or body sensations. We’ll prepare together, and you can ask to pause at any point.
Is EMDR therapy right for me?
EMDR may be worth exploring if difficult experiences still affect your emotions, relationships, or beliefs about yourself. We’ll consider your goals, current circumstances, and readiness for memory processing before deciding together.
Can I do EMDR therapy online in California?
Yes. I offer online EMDR therapy for clients located in California. We’ll discuss whether working online fits your needs and plan for privacy, a reliable connection, and support during sessions.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
There isn’t one timeline for everyone. The number of sessions depends on your history, goals, and the time needed for preparation and processing. We’ll review your progress together and adjust the plan as needed.
Even if it feels like the past keeps showing up in the present,
you don’t have to carry it alone.
You don’t have to have it all figured out before reaching out. We can start with a free consultation to talk about what’s bringing you to therapy and what you’d like to feel different. You’ll have room to ask questions and get a sense of whether you’d feel comfortable working with me.
I offer EMDR therapy for women in Burbank and online throughout California.
About Me
I provide counseling in Burbank and support clients throughout Glendale, Pasadena, North Hollywood, Studio City, Toluca Lake, Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, and across California through online therapy.
Licensed Provider
Kellie Murry, LPCC.
#8755 Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
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