Your Top EMDR Questions Answered, By a San Diego EMDR Therapist
By Kelli Lane Redfield, LMFT | EMDR with Kelli | Del Mar & Escondido, San Diego, California
If you've been searching for answers about EMDR therapy — whether it works, what a session actually feels like, or whether intensives are worth it — you're in the right place. These are the questions I hear most often from people considering EMDR in San Diego, and I've answered each one as clearly and honestly as I can.
Can EMDR Therapy Be Effective for Managing Anxiety and PTSD?
Yes — and the research is strong. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the most well-researched treatments available for both PTSD and anxiety.
The American Psychological Association, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs all recognize EMDR as an evidence-based treatment for PTSD. Studies consistently show that EMDR can produce significant reductions in trauma symptoms — often in fewer sessions than traditional talk therapy.
For anxiety specifically, EMDR works by targeting the underlying memories and experiences that keep the nervous system in a state of threat. Rather than managing anxiety symptoms on the surface, EMDR helps resolve what's driving them. Many clients notice that anxiety they've carried for years begins to lose its grip after just a handful of sessions.
At EMDR with Kelli, we use a Somatic EMDR approach — which layers body-based awareness into the process — making it especially effective for people whose anxiety lives in their body (tight chest, shallow breathing, chronic tension) and not just in their thoughts.
What Should I Expect During My First EMDR Therapy Session?
Your first session is not reprocessing. It's a conversation.
Before any bilateral stimulation happens, your therapist needs to understand your history, your goals, and how your nervous system currently responds to stress. That groundwork matters — it's what makes the actual trauma processing safe and effective.
Here's a general outline of what to expect in early EMDR sessions:
Session 1 — History and Assessment You'll talk about what brings you in, your background, and what you're hoping to change. Your therapist will assess how ready your nervous system is for trauma reprocessing and explain the EMDR process in plain language.
Sessions 2–3 — Preparation and Resourcing Before targeting any difficult memories, you'll learn grounding and stabilization tools — ways to calm your nervous system quickly if things feel overwhelming. This phase is often underestimated, but it's foundational.
Sessions 4+ — Reprocessing This is where bilateral stimulation begins. Your therapist will guide you to hold a target memory or belief lightly in mind while following a moving light, tapping, or another form of bilateral stimulation. You don't have to describe the memory in detail or relive it. Most people describe the experience as watching something from a distance — present, but not overwhelmed.
In a Somatic EMDR session, you'll also be guided to notice what's happening in your body throughout — sensations, impulses, shifts in tension — because the body often holds what the mind can't yet articulate.
Sessions typically run 60–90 minutes. You may feel tired afterward, and some people experience vivid dreams or emotional processing between sessions — this is normal and usually a sign the work is continuing.
Are EMDR Intensives a Good Way to Do Therapy?
For the right person, yes — EMDR intensives can be genuinely transformative.
A standard EMDR schedule (one hour per week) means a lot of time between sessions. You spend the first 15–20 minutes re-orienting, the middle reprocessing, and then you have to stop — often before a memory or belief has fully resolved. The next week, you start again. It works, but it's slow.
An intensive format compresses that timeline. Instead of weekly one-hour sessions, you work in extended blocks — typically 2–4 hours per session, over one or several consecutive days. This allows the nervous system to stay in processing mode longer, which often leads to deeper shifts in less time overall.
EMDR intensives tend to work especially well for:
Busy professionals who can't commit to weekly appointments for months
People who've done years of talk therapy and feel stuck
Those dealing with a specific event or targeted trauma (not complex developmental trauma)
People who want focused, accelerated progress
What to look for when booking an intensive:
A therapist trained specifically in delivering EMDR in an intensive format (intensives require different pacing than weekly sessions)
An intake and stabilization phase before the intensive begins
Scheduled follow-up sessions after — closure and integration matter
At EMDR with Kelli, Somatic EMDR Intensives are available in San Diego. They're structured to include preparation, focused reprocessing, and integration support — not just extended sessions stacked together.
How Do I Find a Qualified EMDR Therapist in San Diego?
There are a few things worth checking before you book with anyone.
1. Look for EMDRIA credentials The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) is the professional body that sets training standards. A therapist who is EMDRIA-Certified or Approved has completed a structured training program and consultation hours beyond basic certification. You can search the EMDRIA therapist directory at emdria.org.
2. Ask about their specific training EMDR training varies widely. Some therapists have completed a basic weekend training. Others have pursued advanced training in specific populations (perinatal clients, complex trauma, somatic approaches). Ask directly: What EMDR training have you completed, and do you have experience with cases like mine?
3. Make sure they offer a consultation A good EMDR therapist will offer a free consultation before you commit. Use it. The therapeutic relationship is a major factor in how effective EMDR will be — you want to feel safe, not just impressed.
4. Consider their specialization EMDR is used across a wide range of presentations, but some therapists specialize. If you're dealing with complex PTSD, burnout, attachment wounds, or nervous system dysregulation, look for someone who specifically names those areas.
Kelli Lane Redfield, LMFT is a Somatic EMDR therapist based in Del Mar and North County San Diego, working with high-functioning adults navigating PTSD, CPTSD, burnout, anxiety, and chronic stress. Free consultations are available — you can get started here.
Are There Intensive EMDR Therapy Options Available for Busy Professionals?
Yes — and this is exactly who intensives were designed for.
If your schedule doesn't allow for consistent weekly appointments, or if you've been putting off therapy because you can't see how to fit it in, an intensive might be the answer. Many professionals find that blocking two or three days for focused EMDR work accomplishes more than six months of weekly sessions — and fits better into a demanding life.
Common intensive formats include:
Half-day intensives (2–3 hours) — a good starting point for those new to EMDR
Full-day intensives (4–6 hours with breaks) — suited for targeted trauma processing
Multi-day programs — typically used for complex trauma or those who've traveled specifically for treatment
EMDR with Kelli offers Somatic EMDR Intensives in San Diego for professionals, parents, and adults who want results without a year-long commitment. Sessions are structured with intake, stabilization, reprocessing, and integration — so you're supported before, during, and after the intensive work.
If you're curious whether an intensive is the right fit for you, a free consultation is the best place to start.
Ready to Get Started with EMDR in San Diego?
Whether you're looking for weekly Somatic EMDR sessions or an intensive format that fits your schedule, EMDR with Kelli offers both — in person in Del Mar and North County San Diego, and virtually throughout California.
Kelli Lane Redfield, LMFT (#158231) is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in Somatic EMDR, complex trauma, and nervous system regulation. She works with high-functioning adults in Escondido, Del Mar, and North County San Diego.
Sources:
American Psychological Association — EMDR for PTSD
EMDR International Association — What is EMDR?
World Health Organization — Guidelines on Mental Health (2013)
Somaticemdr.org — Somatic EMDR research overview
