Altadena · EMDR
EMDR Therapy in Altadena, CA
A protocol with a clear structure, for material that has refused to file itself away.
Book a free consultSay It Plainly
There is no Altadena office.
I practice out of one room, and that room is in Pasadena. Altadena sits close enough that people come down for a session and are home before dinner, though I would rather you hear the limitation from me than infer a second location that does not exist.
Video covers the rest of it, and EMDR translates to video well. What the protocol needs is attention and a reliable connection, not a particular chair.
Reasonable Questions
Asked on most consult calls.
- Do I have to describe everything out loud. No. You report briefly, in your own words.
- Will it make things worse for a while. It can stir things up between sessions, and we plan for that.
- How many sessions. Unknown, and anyone quoting a number is guessing.
- Does it work over video. Yes, and a good portion of my EMDR happens that way.
Why This Method
Insight is not always what is missing.
Many people arrive already understanding their history in detail. They can explain the whole thing calmly and it has changed nothing, because the part still reacting was never persuaded by an explanation. EMDR works on that other layer, using bilateral stimulation while a target is held in mind.
It is often uncomfortable and it is not a hypnosis trick. You stay awake, oriented, and in charge of when we stop.
Pacing
Slower is frequently faster with this work.
I do not open reprocessing on session one. We build stabilization first, and with people carrying a long or layered history that preparation can take weeks. Rushing produces a hard night and a canceled appointment, which helps nobody.
Some people prefer intensives instead, at $2,300 for one 60-minute intake plus three 3-hour sessions. Suitability is a conversation, not a purchase.
Practical Details
Fees and the first call.
EMDR is $225 per 50-minute session, the same rate as individual therapy. Superbills are provided for out-of-network reimbursement. Alexa Aversano, LMFT, license CA 140766, working only with clients located in California.
A free 10-minute call comes first, and it is a conversation rather than a sales pitch.
More on this:EMDR Therapy · EMDR Intensives · Therapy in Altadena
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