EMDr therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)Therapy in South Pasadena, Los Angeles and throughout California

an introduction to emdr

EMDR: An evidence- based therapy to help you recover from disturbing experiences, PTSD & Complex-PTSD

EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a therapy developed to help people heal from the symptoms and distress caused by traumatic or disturbing life experiences. EMDR has been extensively researched and found to be effective for the treatment of PTSD and other effects of trauma. EMDR is recommended in the treatment guidelines of the World Health Organization, International Society for Traumatic Stress, the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association.

EMDR Therapy for Trauma and PTSD.

EMDR is used to treat many kinds of trauma and PTSD. In my practice I use EMDR therapy to:

  • Process and heal past traumas (childhood traumas, attachment wounds, abuse and neglect, sexual assault/rape, medical trauma)

  • Alleviate the distress/PTSD symptoms from previous pregnancy & birth related traumas

  • Help prepare you for labor, deliver, fertility treatment and postpartum life

  • Perinatal trauma is any traumatic or disturbing event that occurs around the time of conception, pregnancy, during childbirth and postpartum. Common experiences that families find traumatic including fertility challenges/treatment, pregnancy loss, termination and TFMR, NICU stays, medical complication during pregnancy/postpartum and the death of an infant. But the most important thing determining whether your experience was traumatic? If you feel your experience was traumatic then it was.

  • Yes, EMDR has been found to be effective in treating symptoms of depression. There is a link between perinatal/postpartum PTSD and postpartum depression, and EMDR can help provide relief from feelings of depression, hopelessness, and being stuck that can become overwhelming and interfere with your day-to-day functioning.

Healing Pregnancy and Birth Related Trauma with EMDR Therapy

Having a baby is supposed to be a wonderful experience, but for some, it can be a deeply traumatizing series of events that leave lasting emotional scars. The impact of birth trauma goes beyond the physical recovery, often leading to feelings of fear, anxiety, and depression.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) offers hope for those suffering from birth trauma. Research has found EMDR to be safe and effective in reducing the distress and symptoms of trauma during fertility journey, pregnancy and postpartum.

Common reasons to begin EMDR therapy for birth trauma include:

To process unresolved trauma so that you’re more present and able to enjoy your life

To be less triggered— by your body, other pregnant people, babies, ultrasounds or medical appointments, or in your parenting. To feel more in control of your emotions. And to feel like your trauma is really in the past.

To restore a sense of safety and trust

In your body, yourself and others so that you can move forward with more confidence, feeling more engaged and connected to what matters most to you.

Feel grounded in the decision to try again

To take the next step without the element of fear and enter a new pregnancy or cycle of fertility treatment with more confidence and optimism. EMDR can help you prepare for fertility treatments, labor and delivery, or the transition to parenthood.

To process old trauma that has resurfaced following a traumatic birth or perinatal loss.

Traumas around the time of conception, pregnancy and childbirth commonly activate old trauma that you thought you’d put behind you. EMDR can help to diminish the power of traumatic memories to hook you in so that you can stay present for the important things going on in your life right now.

Courtesy of EMDRIA.org

  • I’m a certified EMDR therapist and use EMDR to help people heal the effects of trauma related to a wide range of issues.

    In my practice I use EMDR to treat:

    • Childhood Abuse and Neglect

    • Sexual Assault

    • Reproductive trauma (traumatic experiences during conception, pregnancy and postpartum, issues related to infertility, pregnancy loss/miscarriage, birth trauma, NICU stays, Postpartum PTSD)

    • Stillbirth/Baby loss

    • To address fears/trauma in order to prepare for pregnancy/childbirth

    • Termination for medical reasons (TFMR)

    • Medical Trauma

    • Vicarious Traumas (witnessing or learning about a traumatic event)

    • Single incident traumas (car accidents, for example.)

    • Natural Disasters (fires, earthquakes, pandemic)

  • Many traumatic experiences are resolved without any help. However, some traumas can interfere with our brain’s natural ability to recover. When the stress of an event continues to cause you to feel overwhelmed with flight, fight or freeze responses, or if reminders of the events create the feeling that it’s happening all over again, EMDR can help to process through and decrease the distress associated with the memory.

  • I’m a certified EMDR therapist and have been trained in Attachment Focused EMDR(AF-EMDR). Attachment Focused EMDR was developed for the treatment of early and severe childhood trauma and recognizes the importance of attachment patterns in our relationships to self and others.

  • Watch video here

Perinatal EMDR Intensive Services, Online and In-Person

Extended Perinatal EMDR 90-minute & 3-hour sessions, Offered online
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1, 2 & 3 Day Perinatal EMDR Intensives, Offered online and in person

Hi there, I’m Holly Evans.

Has your journey into parenthood been complicated and hard? You’re in the right place.

I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), specializing in trauma recovery and perinatal mental health. I offer EMDR and trauma focused therapies to support people who’re facing struggles with depression, anxiety and the effects of trauma during the perinatal period (from trying to conceive and fertility journey, through pregnancy and postpartum).

Sessions are available online throughout California or in-person in my South Pasadena office. Babies are welcome.

LGBTQ+ affirming

Here when you’re ready to talk.

Reaching out for help is a big step and I want to make the process as comfortable and easy to understand as possible. To get started, just call or email me to schedule your free consultation. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

@hollyaevansmft