EMDR Therapy San Diego: Overcome What Holds You Back
EMDR Therapy San Diego: Overcome What Holds You Back
Maybe you’ve already tried traditional talk therapy, but you still feel anxious, stuck, or like there’s something deeper you need to work through.
Or perhaps you’ve been searching for “EMDR therapy San Diego” and aren’t sure how to find a therapist who really understands what you’re going through.
If you’re looking for a deeper approach to anxiety, trauma, or perfectionism, an EMDR therapist may be able to help you. On this page, you’ll find out what an EMDR therapist is, who they can help, and what to expect when you work with me.
What is an EMDR therapist?
An EMDR therapist is a licensed mental health professional with specialized training in this approach.
EMDR stands for “eye movement desensitization and reprocessing” therapy. It’s a structured form of psychotherapy that can help people work through distressing experiences and the anxiety, trauma symptoms, and other patterns that may be connected to them.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require you to talk through every detail of a painful experience. Instead, it focuses on the connections between your memories, thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. The goal is to help those experiences feel less overwhelming in the present so you can respond to life without feeling like you’re stuck in the past.
An EMDR therapist guides you through the entire EMDR process, which involves:
Briefly bringing a distressing memory to mind while focusing on an external stimulus.
Using bilateral stimulation, which typically means following the therapist’s finger side-to-side with your eyes, but can also include hand taps or alternating sounds.
Helping you process memories that still feel emotionally “stuck” so they become less intense and distressing.
Working through EMDR’s eight phases, beginning with understanding your history and developing a plan before moving into memory reprocessing.
Whether you’re seeking EMDR therapy for anxiety, ongoing effects of trauma, phobias, or something else, this treatment may help you work through any emotional distress.
Common reasons why people start EMDR therapy
EMDR therapy in San Diego has become increasingly well known, particularly for its use in trauma and PTSD. But it isn’t only used for traumatic experiences. Depending on your needs, EMDR can also be used as part of therapy for anxiety, perfectionism, and other patterns that may have deeper roots.
There are several reasons you might consider EMDR therapy, including:
Going deeper than just managing symptoms
If you’ve already learned strategies for managing anxiety or other symptoms but still feel like you’re stuck in the same patterns, you may be ready to go deeper. EMDR can help you explore what might be driving patterns such as high-functioning anxiety and perfectionism, so you can start responding differently without giving up your drive. Depending on your needs, you can use EMDR to work with anxiety, panic, perfectionism, relationship patterns, and other concerns.
Understanding the beliefs that keep you stuck
You may want to move past a difficult experience quickly, especially when you’re used to solving problems and getting things done. But therapy isn’t about rushing you through the process. EMDR can help you explore the experiences and beliefs underneath patterns so you can develop new ways of responding.
Talking feels too hard
Talking about difficult experiences can be hard, especially when you don’t have the words for everything you’ve been through. EMDR doesn’t require you to tell your story in exhaustive detail. Instead, your therapist can guide you through the process while you focus on the memories, thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations connected to it.
This can make EMDR an appealing option if you feel like talking about your experiences hasn’t been enough, or don’t want to spend sessions repeatedly describing what happened.
Perfectionism shows up in relationships
Perfectionism isn’t always about work or achievement. It can show up in relationships, too. This is especially true if you find yourself people-pleasing, avoiding conflict, or struggling to set boundaries. EMDR can help you explore the experiences and beliefs that may be keeping these patterns in place, so you can choose how to respond.
People may seek EMDR for a variety of reasons, but they are usually all looking for the same outcome: to feel better in themselves. This is where EMDR therapy in San Diego can help.
Meet Allison Barton, your EMDR therapist in San Diego
Hi, I’m Allison Barton, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and certified EMDR therapist. I specialize in working with high-achievers and perfectionists who are ready to loosen the reins on anxiety and perfectionism without losing their drive.
I’m a warm, straightforward therapist, and I believe therapy works best when we work together. I’ll bring my expertise and experience, while you remain the expert on your own life. Together, we’ll create a space where you can explore what’s underneath your anxiety, perfectionism, or other patterns without judgment and figure out what you want to do about it.
I have over nine years of experience working with people experiencing anxiety, depression, perfectionism, low self-esteem, relationship concerns, and trauma.
I first trained in EMDR in 2018 and was struck by the difference this approach could make. I chose to continue my EMDR education, completing the additional training and supervision required for certification. I particularly value EMDR for the way it can help us work with negative beliefs that can sit underneath perfectionism, anxiety, and other patterns: Beliefs like I’m unlovable or I’m not good enough.
Through my work, I’ve helped people reduce trauma triggers and develop more helpful beliefs about themselves. If you're looking for an EMDR therapist in San Diego, schedule a free consultation call today, and together we can discuss your goals.
My approach to EMDR
Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all, so I work with each person to identify their goals and tailor our work to what they need that day.
When I provide EMDR therapy in San Diego, I take a trauma-informed approach to understanding what may be keeping you stuck. Rather than focusing only on the symptoms you’re experiencing, I'm interested in what’s underneath them, including the experiences, beliefs, and patterns that may be contributing to anxiety, perfectionism, or other unwanted behaviors.
My approach to EMDR focuses on the core beliefs underneath your patterns, rather than only targeting individual traumatic incidents. If several experiences have contributed to the same belief about yourself, such as I’m not good enough or I’m not safe, we can work through those experiences together.
I also integrate acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, coping skills, and practical techniques where they fit your needs. These approaches can complement EMDR and give you tools to manage difficult emotions both inside and outside of our sessions.
I offer online EMDR therapy for clients across California. If you’re searching for an EMDR therapist near you, online sessions can give you another option when location, work, or a busy schedule makes in-person therapy difficult.
How to get started
If you’re considering EMDR therapy, getting started is straightforward. There are three easy steps:
Schedule a consultation call
You can schedule a free consultation call directly on my contact page for a time that works for you. I offer online EMDR therapy in San Diego and throughout California. During our call, we’ll discuss your specific needs for therapy, any history you've had in therapy, and your goals. I'll also answer any questions you have about the process and my approach.
Decide on a time slot that works for your schedule
On the consultation call, we’ll discuss your schedule and find a time that works for you to attend therapy regularly. I offer appointments from Monday - Thursday, so you can find a time that fits into your busy schedule. After we find a suitable slot that works for us both, I'll send you a virtual packet of forms to fill out prior to our first session.
Start therapy
Once we’ve agreed that EMDR is a good fit for your goals, we’ll begin the process at a pace that works for you.
Start EMDR therapy in San Diego today
I work with high-achievers and perfectionists who are ready to understand what’s keeping them stuck, reduce unwanted symptoms, and feel more at ease in the lives they’ve worked so hard to build. I also teach practical coping skills you can use to manage difficult emotions outside of our sessions.
If you’re ready to stop hustling through a life you’ve worked so hard to build, and start enjoying it
FAQs about EMDR therapy
Below are the answers to some of the most common questions I get asked about EMDR therapy.
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“Eye movement therapy” is sometimes used to describe EMDR. EMDR is a structured form of psychotherapy that helps the brain process traumatic memories by using bilateral stimulation.
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The EMDR process uses bilateral stimulation to help you reprocess memories and reduce the impact they have. This process involves:
Bilateral stimulation: You are asked to recall a painful memory while following back-and-forth eye movements, guided by your therapist. If you’re not comfortable with bilateral eye movements, other forms of bilateral stimulation may be used, such as bilateral tapping, bilateral audio, or bilateral drawing.
Memory reprocessing: EMDR helps you process a distressing memory so that it feels more like something that happened in the past, rather than something that’s still happening now.
Desensitization: As you process the memory, the emotional and physical reactions connected to it may become less intense, so it doesn’t feel as powerful or triggering in daily life.
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During EMDR therapy, your therapist will help you identify what you’d like to work on, guide you through the appropriate phases of treatment, and support you during bilateral stimulation. Depending on your circumstances, you may work with an EMDR therapist online or in-person.
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EMDR isn’t the right fit for everyone at every point in therapy. If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, significant dissociation, or difficulties with emotional regulation, your therapist may recommend spending more time building stability and coping skills before beginning trauma processing.
This doesn’t necessarily mean EMDR is off the table. Your therapist can help you decide what approach makes sense for where you are right now. -
When you’re looking for a therapist near you, training and experience are important starting points. If you’re considering EMDR therapy in San Diego, look for a therapist who has completed recognized EMDR training and has experience working with concerns similar to yours.
But the best EMDR therapist for you isn’t necessarily the same therapist who is the best fit for someone else. Think about what you want help with, whether you prefer in-person or online sessions, and whether the therapist’s approach feels like one you can connect with.
If you’re looking for EMDR treatment in San Diego, I offer virtual EMDR therapy across California. A free consultation is a chance to ask questions, learn more about my approach, and decide whether we’re a good fit.