5 Highly Recommended San Francisco & Bay Area EMDR Therapists
Finding the right therapist to help you heal from trauma, anxiety, or painful memories can feel overwhelming—especially when past experiences make it hard to trust the process. If you're searching for an EMDR therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area who understands your struggles and offers evidence-based care, you're in the right place.
At California Couples Counseling, we specialize in helping individuals and couples heal. Below, you’ll meet our EMDR therapists, and we’ll also provide additional resources so you can find the right match for your situation.
Practice highlight: California Couples Counseling
California Couples Counseling is a virtual practice serving San Francisco, the Bay Area, and the entire state through online sessions. Our EMDR-trained therapists specialize in relationship healing, trauma recovery, and individual mental health support.
Jennie Lopez, LMFT
Recommended for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples
Offers EMDR therapy ✓
Credentials: Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Clientele: Adults & couples
Location: San Francisco, CA 94102
Virtual therapy? Yes
Tammie Makely, LMFT
Recommended for relationship trauma and affair recovery
Offers EMDR therapy ✓
Credentials: Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Clientele: Adults & couples
Location: San Francisco, CA 94102
Virtual therapy? Yes
Additional Bay Area EMDR therapists
We understand that finding the right therapeutic fit is essential to your healing journey. If our practice doesn't feel like the right match, we've compiled additional resources below to help you find the support you deserve.
Dr. Amy Waldron
Recommended for in-person EMDR
Offers EMDR therapy ✓
Credentials: Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Clientele: Teens & adults
Location: San Francisco, CA 94115
Virtual therapy? Yes, in addition to in-person
Erik Paul Anton Deiters
Recommended for those seeking a male EMDR therapist
Offers EMDR therapy ✓
Credentials: Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Clientele: Adults & couples
Location: San Francisco, CA 94114
Virtual therapy? Yes, in addition to in-person
Carmelle Ellison
Recommended for those seeking a Black EMDR therapist
Offers EMDR therapy ✓
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Clientele: Adults, couples, & families
Location: San Francisco, CA 94115
Virtual therapy? Yes
What to expect from the therapy process
Step 1. Initial consultation & history-taking
Your therapist will spend time understanding your experiences, symptoms, and treatment goals. This foundation helps create a personalized approach tailored to your specific needs and ensures you feel safe throughout the process.
Step 2. Preparation & resource building
Before processing traumatic memories, your therapist will teach you grounding techniques and coping skills. This phase establishes emotional stability and ensures you have tools to manage distress both during and between sessions.
Step 3. Memory reprocessing with bilateral stimulation
Through guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation, you'll revisit distressing memories while your brain processes and integrates them differently. This helps reduce the emotional charge attached to painful experiences.
Step 4. Integration & future planning
As memories are reprocessed, you'll work with your therapist to reinforce positive beliefs and develop strategies for handling future challenges. This phase focuses on sustained healing and building resilience to support you beyond therapy.
Common reasons why people seek EMDR therapy
Struggling with flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts about past traumatic events
Feeling stuck in patterns of anxiety or panic that seem to come out of nowhere
Experiencing ongoing emotional distress from childhood abuse, neglect, or family dysfunction
Difficulty trusting others or forming close relationships due to past betrayals
Carrying deep shame, guilt, or self-blame related to sexual trauma or assault
Living with hypervigilance, irritability, or feeling constantly on edge after a frightening experience
Unable to move forward after the loss of a loved one or significant life change
Dealing with the emotional aftermath of infidelity or relationship trauma
Managing PTSD symptoms that interfere with daily functioning and quality of life
Seeking relief from depression or low self-esteem rooted in unresolved past experiences
How EMDR therapy can help
Reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories
EMDR helps your brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer trigger the same overwhelming emotional and physical reactions. While you'll still remember what happened, the memory loses its power to control your present-day emotions. Many clients report feeling a sense of relief and distance from experiences that once felt unbearably painful, allowing them to engage more fully in their daily lives.
Improve symptoms of anxiety & depression
By addressing the root causes of emotional distress rather than just managing symptoms, EMDR can lead to lasting improvements in mood and anxiety levels. As traumatic memories are processed and integrated, many people notice reduced hypervigilance, fewer panic attacks, improved sleep, and a greater sense of emotional stability. This foundation of healing allows you to experience more joy and peace in everyday moments.
Rebuild trust & connection in relationships
Unresolved trauma often creates barriers to intimacy, making it difficult to trust others or feel emotionally safe in relationships. EMDR helps you work through the past wounds that interfere with present-day connection, whether that's fear of abandonment, difficulty being vulnerable, or patterns of defensiveness. As you heal, you may find it easier to open up, communicate your needs, and create the healthy, fulfilling relationships you deserve.
Strengthen your sense of self-worth and confidence
Traumatic experiences often leave behind damaging beliefs like "I'm not good enough," "It was my fault," or "I'm unsafe in the world." EMDR helps you challenge and replace these negative core beliefs with healthier, more accurate perspectives. As limiting beliefs shift, you may notice increased self-compassion, greater confidence in your abilities, and a renewed sense of agency over your life and choices.
FAQs about EMDR therapy
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EMDR may be a good fit if you've experienced trauma—whether a single event or ongoing experiences—and traditional talk therapy hasn't fully resolved your symptoms. It's particularly helpful if you notice strong physical or emotional reactions when reminded of past events. A free consultation with one of our EMDR-trained therapists is the best way to discover whether EMDR may be appropriate for you.
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EMDR may not be appropriate for individuals currently experiencing psychosis, active suicidal ideation, or severe dissociative disorders without proper stabilization first. People with certain neurological conditions, recent traumatic brain injuries, or uncontrolled substance use may also need alternative approaches. During your free consultation, we can assess whether EMDR is right for you and discuss alternative options if not.
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Research shows EMDR is highly effective for treating PTSD and trauma-related symptoms, with many studies reporting significant improvement in 80% of participants. The American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization recognize EMDR as an evidence-based treatment for trauma. While individual results vary, many clients report a meaningful reduction in symptoms and improved quality of life after completing EMDR therapy.
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Like many forms of therapy, EMDR can temporarily increase distress as you process difficult memories. The therapy requires a commitment to facing painful experiences, which can feel overwhelming at times. Some people also experience vivid dreams or emotional sensitivity between sessions. However, these effects are typically short-lived, and your therapist will work with you to manage any discomfort throughout the process.
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Yes, EMDR therapy is typically covered by insurance. California Couples Counseling operates as an out-of-network provider, meaning we don't bill insurance directly. However, many clients successfully use their out-of-network benefits for partial reimbursement. We can provide you with a superbill—a detailed receipt you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. We're happy to discuss your options during your free consultation call.
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The length of EMDR therapy varies depending on your specific history and goals. Some clients experience significant relief within 6-12 sessions when addressing a single traumatic event, while those working through complex or childhood trauma may benefit from several months to a year of treatment. Your therapist will work collaboratively with you to assess progress and adjust the treatment timeline as needed.