Evidence-Based Trauma Therapy for PTSD, Anxiety, Stress, and Emotional Healing
Every journey begins with understanding.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, commonly known as EMDR, is a structured, evidence-based therapy designed to help people heal from traumatic or distressing life experiences. EMDR encourages clients to briefly focus on painful memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds. This process can help reduce the vividness and emotional intensity of painful memories over time.
At Pivot Counseling, we offer EMDR in a safe, thoughtful, and relationally grounded environment. Our goal is not simply to help you “get through” painful memories, but to help you experience deeper healing, greater emotional freedom, and a renewed sense of confidence in your life and relationships.
EMDR may be especially helpful for people who feel stuck in patterns of fear, shame, hypervigilance, anxiety, grief, or emotional reactivity connected to past experiences.
Below is more information to help you decide whether EMDR therapy may be a good fit for you.
At Pivot Counseling, EMDR therapy is provided by trained therapists who prioritize your emotional safety, pacing, and trust. We understand that trauma work can feel intimidating, especially if you have spent years trying to avoid painful memories or manage overwhelming emotions on your own.
Our therapists provide a steady, compassionate presence so you do not have to process difficult experiences alone. We take time to understand your story, build coping skills, and move at a pace that feels respectful and clinically appropriate.
Healing requires the right environment. Our calm, private therapy spaces in Walnut Creek and Pleasanton are designed to help you feel safe, supported, and cared for.
At Pivot Counseling, we treat you like family. That means your story is handled with respect, your concerns are taken seriously, and your treatment plan is tailored to your unique needs. Whether you are processing a single traumatic event, a difficult season of life, or years of accumulated stress, we provide care that is personal, professional, and grounded in evidence-based treatment.
EMDR is not just about revisiting painful memories. It is about helping your brain and body process experiences that may still feel emotionally “stuck.”
Many people intellectually know that a painful event is over, but their nervous system still reacts as if the danger is present. EMDR helps target those stored emotional responses so that the memory can become less activating and less defining.
Our goal is to help you experience meaningful change that carries into everyday life: more calm, greater confidence, healthier relationships, and a stronger sense of freedom from the past.
At Pivot Counseling, EMDR therapy is provided by trained therapists who prioritize your emotional safety, pacing, and trust. We understand that trauma work can feel intimidating, especially if you have spent years trying to avoid painful memories or manage overwhelming emotions on your own.
Our therapists provide a steady, compassionate presence so you do not have to process difficult experiences alone. We take time to understand your story, build coping skills, and move at a pace that feels respectful and clinically appropriate.
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I was seeking a therapist, counselor, psychologist (not sure you call them to be honest, they just help) 🙂 around the Pleasanton/Dublin and I wanted to make sure they were patient, listening, showing empathy and compassion. Dr. Yen did just that. My family was having some challenging family dynamics and he was able to main my high regard and setup the next steps towards a thriving family.
Dr. Yen has been the primary clinician working with my son. Through his transparency and honesty my son and I have developed a trusting bond. Dr. Yen possess a unique ability to connect with individuals on their level. His approach to therapy made him a perfect fit for my son and I. As a parent it was helpful that he possessed the ability to highlight both the desires of my son and myself. Dr. Yen helped us find peace and helped us to rebuild a damaged relationship. I recommend Dr. Yen to all who seek support, guidance, and understanding of all relationships in life.
I have nothing but great things to say about having Tim as my therapist. As a female, I was hesitant to work with a male psychologist but I'm glad that I took the chance to do so. Tim is unlike any therapist I have worked with. He is more relatable and someone who is easy to talk to. He has a more outgoing personality and doesn't just listen. Having a therapist who just listens works well when needed, but I was looking for someone who would push me to think differently and challenge me to make changes and grow as a person. Tim gave me homework and always had ideas on how I could try to change or look at things differently. He has great insight, is kind and is organized in terms of scheduling, email responses, sending superbills etc. I recommend Tim to those looking to make a positive change in their lives. Thanks Tim!
Dr. Yen is wise, intuitive, insightful, and compassionate beyond words. As an elementary school teacher, I am faced with a myriad of challenges regarding children behavior and psychology. Dr. Yen has been a "go to" doctor for council and wisdom as I navigated children's behaviors in a classroom setting. When parents ask for references, I refer them to Dr. Yen, because I know they will be well taken care of emotionally, spiritually, mentally, psychologically, and physically.
I had a lifesaving experience with Tim. We met so many different counselors before for my son but none of them was working but he treated my son like a brother with great counselling, and he got so much better within a year. Now he has stopped taking depression medicine and almost back to normal life. If you have a child with depression, I highly recommend him.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a structured psychotherapy approach that helps people process traumatic or distressing memories.
During EMDR, you may be asked to briefly focus on a memory, image, belief, emotion, or body sensation while also engaging in bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation may include eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds.
The goal is not to erase the memory. Instead, EMDR helps the brain process the memory in a healthier way so that it feels less vivid, less emotionally charged, and less disruptive in daily life.
EMDRIA describes EMDR as an extensively researched therapy designed to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. The American Psychological Association also describes EMDR as a structured therapy that uses an eight-phase approach and suggests EMDR for PTSD treatment.
EMDR is most commonly known for treating trauma and PTSD, but it may also help people struggling with:
Some people come to EMDR after a clearly traumatic event. Others come because they notice repeated patterns: overreacting to conflict, shutting down emotionally, feeling unsafe in relationships, or carrying a deep belief like “I’m not good enough,” “I’m not safe,” or “It was my fault.”
EMDR is based on the idea that painful experiences can sometimes become “stuck” in the nervous system. When this happens, the memory may continue to trigger strong emotional, physical, or relational reactions long after the original event has passed.
EMDR uses a structured process to help the brain reprocess these experiences. You remain awake and aware throughout the session, and your therapist helps you stay grounded while your mind makes new connections.
Many clients describe EMDR as helping them move from, “I know this happened, but it still controls me,” to, “I remember what happened, but it no longer feels like I am living inside it.”
EMDR typically follows an eight-phase approach, which may include:
The APA describes EMDR as a structured eight-phase approach for PTSD treatment.
EMDR can feel different for each person. Some clients experience memories becoming less vivid or emotionally intense. Others notice new insights, emotional release, body sensations, or a shift in how they see themselves.
You do not have to describe every detail of what happened for EMDR to be effective. For many clients, this is one of the benefits of EMDR: it can allow healing without requiring you to verbally retell every part of a painful experience in detail.
At times, EMDR can bring up strong emotions, which is why preparation and pacing are important. Your therapist will help you stay grounded and will not force you to move faster than you are ready for.
No. EMDR can be helpful for both “big T” trauma and “small t” trauma.
“Big T” trauma may include events such as assault, abuse, accidents, violence, medical crises, or sudden loss.
“Small t” trauma may include emotionally painful experiences that may not look dramatic from the outside but still deeply shape a person’s beliefs and nervous system. This might include rejection, bullying, criticism, relational betrayal, family conflict, spiritual wounds, or repeated experiences of not feeling safe, seen, or valued.
If something from the past still feels emotionally powerful in the present, EMDR may be worth considering.
Yes. EMDR is widely recognized as an evidence-based therapy for PTSD and trauma-related symptoms. EMDRIA describes EMDR as an extensively researched and effective psychotherapy method for trauma and PTSD symptoms, and the American Psychological Association suggests EMDR for PTSD treatment. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also describes EMDR as one of the most studied treatments for PTSD.
While EMDR is best established for PTSD and trauma, many therapists also use EMDR clinically for anxiety, grief, performance issues, and other distressing life experiences when appropriate.
The number of sessions depends on your history, goals, symptoms, and the complexity of what you want to process.
Some clients work on a single event and may experience meaningful relief in a shorter period of time. Others are working through complex trauma, attachment wounds, or long-standing patterns and may benefit from a longer course of therapy.
At Pivot Counseling, we do not rush trauma work. We collaborate with you to determine what feels safe, effective, and sustainable.
Yes, EMDR can often be provided through secure telehealth when clinically appropriate. Some clients prefer in-person EMDR because the therapy room feels more contained and supportive. Others appreciate the convenience and comfort of doing EMDR from home.
Your therapist will help determine whether in-person or virtual EMDR is the best fit based on your needs, symptoms, privacy, safety, and ability to stay grounded during sessions.
Feeling nervous is completely understandable. Many people worry that EMDR will be overwhelming, that they will lose control, or that they will have to relive painful memories.
At Pivot Counseling, we take a collaborative, step-by-step approach. We begin with understanding your story, identifying your goals, and building tools for emotional safety before moving into deeper processing.
You remain in control throughout the process. You can pause, slow down, or stop at any point. EMDR should feel challenging at times, but not unsafe.
EMDR therapy is billed as a psychotherapy service. The cost depends on the clinician you are working with, the length of the session, and whether you are using out-of-network benefits.
Many clients choose standard 50-minute or extended sessions for EMDR, depending on the treatment plan. Extended sessions may allow more time for preparation, processing, and grounding before the session ends.
Pivot Counseling is an out-of-network private-pay practice. If you have PPO insurance, you may be able to submit superbills for possible reimbursement, depending on your plan.
For current rates and therapist availability, please contact our intake team.
We support clients throughout the East Bay through both in-person sessions and secure virtual therapy. Our service area includes:
Walnut Creek, Pleasanton, Lafayette, Dublin, Danville, San Ramon, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Orinda, Moraga, Brentwood, Antioch, Pittsburg, Clayton, Alamo, El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, and Oakley.
Clients come to Pivot Counseling for individual therapy, couples counseling, family support, trauma recovery, and more. No matter where you live, we provide care that is personal, consistent, and grounded in evidence-based treatment.
Are you curious about EMDR but unsure if it is the right fit? At Pivot Counseling, your safety, comfort, and clarity come first.
A consultation gives you the opportunity to:
We believe informed decisions lead to better outcomes. If you are ready to explore whether EMDR therapy can help you move forward, we invite you to connect with us.
