At the Center for Growth and Connection, we offer EMDR therapy in Pasadena for individuals who feel stuck in patterns shaped by past experiences — even when they understand those experiences intellectually.
Many people searching for EMDR therapy Los Angeles are looking for something deeper than traditional talk therapy. They want relief that reaches the nervous system, not just insight. Our Pasadena office serves clients locally, and we also provide secure telehealth sessions across California, making EMDR therapy online an accessible option when in-person sessions are not possible.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer feel overwhelming or intrusive. Rather than focusing only on insight or discussion, EMDR works directly with the nervous system to support deeper, lasting healing.
Our EMDR-trained clinicians integrate this approach thoughtfully, at a pace that feels safe, collaborative, and grounded in your lived experience.
EMDR is a structured, trauma-informed therapy originally developed to treat post-traumatic stress, but it has since been shown to be effective for a wide range of concerns, including EMDR therapy for anxiety and EMDR therapy for depression.
When something overwhelming happens — especially when it happens repeatedly or without adequate support — the brain may store that experience in a fragmented, unprocessed way. You may understand what happened logically, yet your body still reacts as if it’s happening now.
EMDR helps the brain do what it naturally wants to do: process and integrate.Through bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements, tapping, or alternating tones), EMDR supports the nervous system in reprocessing painful memories so they lose their emotional intensity and no longer dictate present-day reactions.
Many people describe feeling:
One of the most common questions we hear is, what happens in an EMDR therapy session?EMDR is not about being pushed to relive trauma or recount painful memories in overwhelming detail. Instead, sessions follow a structured, phased approach.
First, your therapist spends time getting to know you — your history, your goals, your strengths, and your current coping resources. We focus on emotional regulation and internal stabilization before any memory processing begins.
When you’re ready, you and your therapist identify a specific memory, belief, or emotional trigger to target. While holding that experience in mind, you’ll engage in bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements or tapping). Your therapist checks in regularly as your brain begins to process the memory in new ways.
Over time, distress decreases. Negative beliefs (such as “I’m not safe” or “I’m not good enough”) often shift toward more adaptive beliefs like “I can handle this” or “I am worthy.”
Throughout the process, you remain in control. We move at a pace that respects your nervous system.
Many clients seek EMDR therapy for anxiety after years of managing symptoms that never fully resolve. Anxiety often has roots in earlier experiences — moments where the nervous system learned that the world was unsafe or unpredictable.
Even if those experiences weren’t dramatic or obviously traumatic, they may still shape how your body responds today.
EMDR therapy for anxiety can help reduce:
By reprocessing the earlier experiences fueling the anxiety, EMDR allows the nervous system to recalibrate rather than simply cope.
Similarly, EMDR therapy for depression can be powerful when depressive patterns are linked to unresolved grief, relational wounds, or deeply held negative beliefs about the self.
Depression often carries themes like:
EMDR works not just with the symptoms, but with the memories and experiences that reinforced those beliefs. As painful experiences are processed, emotional numbness may soften, and self-worth can begin to rebuild from a more integrated place.
For some clients, EMDR therapy for depression reduces the intensity of hopelessness and self-criticism in ways that insight-oriented therapy alone has not achieved.
Another common question is: how long does EMDR therapy take?
The answer depends on several factors, including:
Some clients notice meaningful shifts within a few sessions of active processing. Others benefit from longer-term work, especially when addressing attachment wounds or complex trauma.
EMDR therapy is not a one-size-fits-all timeline. At CGC, we collaborate with you to determine pacing. The goal is not speed — it’s sustainable change.
At CGC, EMDR is not used in isolation.
We approach EMDR through an attachment-informed lens, meaning we pay close attention to:
For some clients, EMDR reduces the intensity of old wounds so relational work becomes more possible. For others, attachment-focused therapy provides the foundation that makes EMDR effective.
Whether you are seeking EMDR therapy Los Angeles in person or exploring EMDR therapy online, we ensure that the relational container feels steady before moving into deeper processing.
EMDR can be a good fit if:
EMDR may not be the first step for everyone. If you’re currently feeling highly destabilized or unsupported, we may recommend beginning with stabilization and attachment-based work before transitioning into EMDR.
We’ll help you decide together.
EMDR therapy at CGC is offered by EMDR-trained clinicians, including Michelle Cantrell, LPCC, and Ben Tolpin, Registered Associate MFT, as part of a relational, trauma-informed treatment approach.
We offer:
Our approach is grounded, collaborative, and deeply respectful of your pace.
If you’re curious about EMDR therapy, wondering what happens in an EMDR therapy session, or asking yourself how long does EMDR therapy take, we invite you to reach out for a consultation.
You don’t need to have all the answers — just a sense that something from the past may still be shaping the present.
Whether you’re seeking EMDR therapy for anxiety, EMDR therapy for depression, or a trauma-informed approach in the Pasadena or Los Angeles area, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
We’re here to help you heal, process, and move forward — at a pace that feels safe and sustainable.
The Center for Growth & Connection, was born out of founder Michelle’s core values, and the belief that we grow through connection.
