EMDR Therapy in Orange County CA
Trauma does not always stay in the past. A sound, a smell, or a passing comment can suddenly bring you back into a moment you thought you had left behind. If you live in or around Orange County and notice your body reacting as if the danger is happening again, EMDR therapy may help your nervous system finally stand down.
I am Jim Brillon, LMFT #100807 / LPCC #5081. I provide EMDR trauma therapy from my offices in Los Alamitos (90720) and Costa Mesa (92626), serving adults across Orange County and the state of California through telehealth.
EMDR: How it helps people cope with trauma and PTSD
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that helps your brain reprocess traumatic experiences so they no longer trigger the same intense physical and emotional reactions.
EMDR was originally developed in the late 1980s to help people living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including military veterans. Over time, it has been adapted to support people who have survived many kinds of trauma, such as abuse, accidents, medical events, and relational wounds.
Instead of asking you to retell your story in detail week after week, EMDR uses guided eye movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation to help your brain complete a natural healing process that was interrupted when the trauma occurred.
Reach Out When You're Ready.
How EMDR therapy helps you?
EMDR focuses on helping your nervous system return to a more regulated state so that your mind and body no longer react as if the trauma is still happening. For many clients, EMDR:
- Reduces the intensity of flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive images
- Decreases panic, hypervigilance, and startle responses
- Helps shift beliefs like “I am powerless” or “I am broken” toward more accurate and compassionate views of self
- Supports your ability to stay present in your relationships, work, and daily life
Compared with some other approaches, EMDR often requires less verbal detail about the trauma. Homework between sessions is also typically lighter, which can make this method more accessible when you already feel emotionally taxed.
EMDR therapy in a nutshell
During EMDR, we pair carefully paced attention to a specific memory, image, or body sensation with bilateral stimulation. This may involve guided eye movements or tools such as alternating hand buzzers or sounds.
As we work, you stay aware of what is happening in the present while we touch into the memory. The intention is not to erase what happened, but to help your brain store it as something that is over and survivable, rather than as an ongoing threat.
The approach is based on Adaptive Information Processing theory, which recognizes that some experiences are so overwhelming that the brain cannot process them fully at the time. EMDR uses a process similar to what happens during REM sleep to help integrate these memories so they become less charged and more manageable.
What you may feel during an EMDR therapy session
Our brains and bodies are wired to protect us. In the face of overwhelming events, we may go into fight, flight, or freeze and then get stuck there. When something in the present triggers that old alarm, your body can respond as if it is back in the original situation.
In EMDR sessions, you may notice:
- Waves of emotion that rise and fall as we work through a memory
- Body sensations such as tightness in the chest, heaviness in the stomach, or changes in breathing
- Shifts in images, thoughts, or beliefs as your brain begins to make new connections
My role is to help you stay within a tolerable window, notice what arises without getting lost in it, and return to a sense of steadiness by the end of each session. We move at a pace that respects your history and your nervous system.
Is EMDR right for you?
EMDR is designed for people who have unprocessed traumatic memories. You do not have to have a formal PTSD diagnosis for EMDR to be helpful. Many clients are surprised to discover how much “smaller” or more acceptable events from the past are still affecting them.
EMDR may be a good fit if you:
- Feel “stuck” on something that happened, even if it was years ago
- Have distressing images, sensations, or thoughts that replay without your consent
- Notice strong reactions to situations that seem minor to other people
- Avoid certain places, people, or topics because they bring up too much
- Struggle with shame or beliefs like “It was my fault” or “I should have done more”
EMDR can support people who have experienced events such as:
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Accidents, medical procedures, or sudden health events
- Loss of a significant relationship or loved one
- Childhood neglect, criticism, or ongoing instability
- Bullying, discrimination, or identity-based harm
EMDR is also used as part of treatment plans for conditions like anxiety, depression, panic attacks, addictions, and eating disorders when trauma is part of the picture.
EMDR therapy in Los Alamitos and Costa Mesa
We offer EMDR therapy by appointment at both of my Orange County offices:
- Los Alamitos Office: 5212 Katella Avenue Ste 103B, Los Alamitos, CA 90720
- Costa Mesa Office: 3001 Red Hill Ave #216, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Clients come from nearby communities including Irvine, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Anaheim, and Newport Beach. If you are elsewhere in California, we can work together through secure telehealth.
Call Jim Brillon for EMDR Therapy
I am a licensed professional clinical counselor and marriage and family therapist trained in EMDR trauma resolution. My approach is integrative, relational, and compassionate. I do not expect you to “just get over it,” and I do not rush the process. Instead, we work together to build enough safety, self-compassion, and understanding for real change to take root.
You will be supported as you learn to relate differently to your history and your present-day life. Over time, many clients notice that they can remember what happened without feeling like they are reliving it.
When you are ready, reach out. Call (714) 388-6457 or use the contact page to schedule a consultation.
From my offices in Los Alamitos and Costa Mesa, I provide EMDR therapy for adults throughout Orange County, CA and across California online.