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EMDR Provides A Proven Path To Healing From Trauma

Many people experience trauma, but EMDR Therapy can help you heal. With professional guidance, meaningful improvement is within reach.

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EMDR helps you move forward with peace.

Some experiences and memories are so painful that your brain doesn’t quite know how to properly file them. These experiences or memories are unprocessed or blocked. As a result, they get stuck and replay in your body and brain over and over again. 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured psychotherapy approach that helps your brain work through and properly file these difficult or distressing memories. 

During EMDR, your therapist will guide you through sets of eye movements, sounds, or taps. This allows your brain to enter a “learning state,” similar to what happens during REM sleep. In this state, your brain can safely revisit traumatic memories, sort through what happened, and file them properly where they belong — in the past. 

EMDR helps your brain heal. It does not erase the memory. Rather than being immediate and overwhelming, the memory moves to the past. This allows you to focus on the present and live in the moment. 

Slowly, the fear, shame, and anger that are connected to the memory slowly fade. The powerful emotions you once felt, like anger and shame, lose their intensity. Your past no longer controls your future. 

Why It Can Be Hard To Reach Out

Reaching out for help can be really hard, even when you are struggling. Negative thoughts have a way of convincing you that therapy won’t help — that you will continue to suffer no matter what you do.

Please know that these thoughts are not true. They are the result of fear and pain. EMDR is designed to help your brain do what it already knows how to do: process painful experiences and memories and heal.

A Professional Approach to EMDR Therapy

Melissa Andujar, MS, LPC-S

Clinical Director

I am laid back and easy to talk to while still being very goal oriented. I want to help you not just talk about, but eliminate thoughts and behaviors that cause you trouble in your life. I currently work with adolescents, teens, adults, and families struggling to recover from trauma (physical/sexual/emotional), anxiety, depression and PTSD.

I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which has been proven to treat a multitude of different concerns including trauma/PTSD, anxiety, and addiction.

My goal is to work quickly to help individuals identify treatment goals and come up with a plan to successfully achieve positive change. I will always check in with you on your progress and if you are happy with the way things are progressing in therapy.

How Therapy Can Help

At Deep Centered Mental Health, many clients come to us feeling weighed down by fear, shame, and emotional reactivity. Emotions feel unpredictable, and they often feel a sense of unease. They aren’t sure if real change is possible.

We’re here to tell you that change is possible. Healing unfolds gently and slowly. It doesn’t happen all at once. But, over time, you will notice meaningful shifts. We’ve witnessed this process over and over again in clients.

EMDR therapy is about more than revisiting painful memories — it’s about helping your brain file them away so they no longer control the present. When painful memories are unprocessed, they stay in the background and influence your thoughts, behaviors, and feelings.

EMDR helps your brain do what it is supposed to do — process and integrate painful memories. Your therapist will use gentle guidance and support you every step of the way during this process. They will also teach you grounding techniques to help manage any anxiety that may come up.

Life after EMDR therapy looks different for most people. It’s quieter, calmer, and more peaceful. It’s easier to trust in others. And, relationships are more fulfilling. Situations that were once overwhelming are now easy to manage.

Therapeutic Approaches

When it comes to therapy, there is no single approach that works for everyone. EMDR can be integrated with other therapies to meet your needs. Some of the other therapies that we offer include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This is an evidence-based strategy that helps you identify negative thoughts and replace them with more empowered and positive thoughts.
Trauma-informed therapy: This approach can be used with (or without) EMDR to address how past trauma may be contributing to current symptoms.
Mindfulness practices: Gentle techniques to regulate your nervous system.
EMDR Intensives: This is a form of EMDR that is accelerated. It can be delivered over several hours per day for multiple days in a row, producing faster results.
Attachment-based therapy: Explores how early relationships affect your present-day life. Enhances emotional regulation and strengthens relationships.

Why Choose Deep Centered Mental Health

We understand that choosing a therapist is a deeply personal decision. It is not something that you take lightly, especially when it comes to working on trauma responses. At Deep Centered Mental Health, we understand how vulnerable this can feel.

We have created a therapy space where safety and respect come first. That is because true healing only occurs when you feel safe. That’s why it’s important that trauma therapy involve a combination of skill and heart. That’s what our therapists offer.

At Deep Centered Mental Health, our team includes therapists with advanced training in EMDR. They have years of experience in working with individuals facing the emotional effects of trauma.

During sessions, you will be met with warmth and understanding, never judgment. You be seen and heard. Your therapist will offer you tools to help soothe anxiety and calm your mind and body.

Every therapy session will be tailored to your unique needs. Therapy with us is a collaborative process. It’s built on respect and trust. The work we do together honors your story and the pace you set. Our role is to guide you gently through the EMDR process.

We are ready when you are

Convenient locations + telehealth

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Journeys to Healing

Real experiences shared by patients who turned therapy into transformation.

“

It started with a smile and I was greeted with warming energy. Tralynza created a safe place and easy going atmosphere to communicate. Kudos to this veteran for continuing to make a difference in our communities.

“

I am so grateful for Gina! I know I wouldn’t be on this earth today if God hadn’t put her in my path. I am so grateful. I may not be where I want to be, but thank God I am not where I used to be. I am beyond grateful!!!!

“

Kaitlyn is absolutely WONDERFUL. In the 3 months I have been working with her I have had tremendous personal and professional growth. I could not be more happy.

Understanding the Process

Learn more about what to expect as you take the next step in your journey.

What Does An EMDR Session Look Like?

After you and your therapist agree that EMDR therapy is a good fit and begin to work together, you’ll focus on a specific event. First, you’ll focus on a negative image, belief, and body sensations related to this event. Then, associate a positive belief that would indicate a resolution. While focusing on the event, your therapist will guide you through sets of side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or taps, prompting you to notice what comes to mind. You may experience shifts in insight or changes in images, feelings, and beliefs regarding the event. You have full control to stop at any point if needed. Eye movements, sounds, or taps are repeated until the event becomes less disturbing.

How many sessions will I need to attend?

The number of sessions you’ll need varies greatly depending on the type and complexity of the event. Your therapist may also use EMDR therapy in combination with other modalities.

Does insurance cover EMDR Therapy?

Yes, as an evidence-based form of treatment, it is covered by insurance.

What ages are appropriate for EMDR?

The standard EMDR protocol is effective with teens and adults. There are additional protocols for therapists to integrate EMDR into Play Therapy, which allows them to treat children as young as three years old.

How do I qualify for EMDR?

Your therapist will assess your need for EMDR based on various factors, including your ability to tolerate distressing emotions, current substance use, symptoms, and coping skills. If your therapist believes you need more time before you are ready to engage in trauma-processing with EMDR, they will support you in learning ways to regulate emotions and cope with distressing events.

How long does treatment last?

Once the entire EMDR process is complete, you should experience permanent symptom reduction. Some individuals require additional EMDR later in life as more life events occur and need reprocessing.

What can I expect after an EMDR session?

EMDR therapy can impact people quite differently. Some individuals report no noticeable change immediately after an EMDR session, while others report an increase in dreams, thoughts, and emotions about the event they are reprocessing. You may experience feeling physically and emotionally “drained” at the end of an EMDR processing session. Your therapist will ask you to note any new thoughts, memories, dreams, emotions, or body sensations you experience between sessions to guide your next time together.

How often will I need EMDR?

EMDR is typically every week. However, it can still be effective every other week, with slower progress. Emerging research establishes the effectiveness of “EMDR Intensives” that involve administering EMDR therapy several hours a day for multiple days in a row.

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