EMDR Therapy for Trauma
In-Person and Online EMDR Therapy in Irvine, California
When wounds linger, it’s hard to move forward.
Hi! I’m Amanda McDaniel, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and founder of Therapy in Faith. I offer EMDR Therapy to support adults, couples, and teens in Irvine, California, and its surroundings.
Let’s work together to ease the pain of trauma, embrace healthier perspectives, and pave the way for a happier life.
What Is Trauma?
Painful or frightening events can spark a lasting, debilitating response, also known as trauma.
Common traumatic experiences include:
- Abuse
- Accident or injury
- Childhood neglect
- Criminal act
- Emergency or natural disaster
- Loss of a loved one
- Military activity
- Seeing someone else endure trauma
What Is EMDR Therapy?
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is designed to alleviate distress from painful experiences.
While you can recover from a disturbing situation, sometimes the incident remains unresolved, causing devastating symptoms. The goal of EMDR therapy is to help you process these “stuck” memories so you can move forward.
EMDR consists of focusing on the traumatic event while receiving bilateral stimulation—which may not require you to talk about the event in detail. Bilateral stimulation engages both sides of your brain via eye movements, tones, vibrations, or other rhythmic activities to reprocess the target memory. Treatment also involves replacing related negative beliefs or images with positive ones and scanning your body’s sensations until the memory is fully resolved.
Do I Need EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy is typically used to relieve post-traumatic symptoms, such as:
- Avoidance of people, places, or objects related to trauma
- Constant worry or fear
- Guilt or shame
- Hopelessness
- Intrusive thoughts
- Irritability
- Flashbacks
- Lack of motivation or focus
- Nightmares and trouble sleeping
- Restlessness
EMDR is also an effective treatment for:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Chronic pain
- Panic attacks
- Phobias
- Self-esteem problems
If you or your loved ones are experiencing any of these symptoms or conditions, EMDR therapy can help you.
EMDR Therapy With Amanda McDaniel | LMFT and EMDR Therapist in Irvine, California
I’m Amanda, a licensed marriage and family therapist supporting adults, teens, couples, and families in Irvine, California, and its nearby areas (Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Lake Forest, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Nigel, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, Aliso Viejo, and beyond!).
I offer EMDR therapy to help you heal from trauma and trust your voice again. I’m also trained in psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). I can provide a Christian framework, only if you request it, and I would never push my faith or beliefs into treatment. I will match your needs with the approach that best suits you.
Watching my mother change lives as a psychologist inspired me to leave the entertainment industry and pursue a career in mental health. My motto: People matter! I serve all cultures and faith backgrounds and am passionate about working with adopted individuals or adoptive parents—I was adopted myself.
You are welcome to show up as you are, pets included! I’ll meet you with kindness, sincerity, and a touch of southern charm to guide you through this journey.
Let’s Start Healing!
Therapist holding her hand on her client’s helping her process painful memories