EMDR Therapy in Culver City, CA
Trauma lives in the body long after the events that caused it are over. You might know intellectually that you're safe now, but your nervous system hasn't gotten that message. A sound, a tone of voice, a date on the calendar, and suddenly you're back there, flooded, frozen, or numb. That's not weakness. That's an unprocessed memory that your brain never finished filing away. EMDR therapy is designed to change that. I'm Robyn Sheiniuk, LCSW, at Restorative Counseling Center in Culver City, CA, offering polyvagal-informed EMDR online throughout California and Florida.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It's an evidence-based psychotherapy approach, recognized by the American Psychological Association, the World Health Organization, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, that helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they lose their emotional charge.During EMDR, we use bilateral stimulation (typically guided eye movements, though audio tones or tapping can also be used) while you briefly hold a target memory in mind. This bilateral stimulation mimics what happens during REM sleep, the brain's natural mechanism for consolidating and filing experience. When a memory has been traumatically encoded, the brain's processing was interrupted. EMDR creates conditions for that processing to resume and complete.What sets EMDR apart from traditional talk therapy is that you don't need to narrate your trauma in detail for healing to occur. You're not required to describe what happened scene by scene. The processing happens at a neurological level that doesn't depend on verbal articulation, which is one reason EMDR can work effectively even for experiences that feel too difficult or fragmentary to put into words.
A Polyvagal-Informed Approach to EMDR
Not every therapist approaches EMDR the same way. My practice is informed by Polyvagal Theory, the neurological framework developed by Dr. Stephen Porges that describes how our autonomic nervous system governs our states of safety, mobilization (fight/flight), and shutdown (freeze/collapse).Trauma dysregulates the nervous system. When someone has experienced repeated or early trauma, they may have a chronically activated threat response, whether that looks like hypervigilance, anxiety, and emotional flooding, or numbness, disconnection, and depression. Before effective EMDR processing can occur, the nervous system needs to be in a window of tolerance: regulated enough to approach the material without being overwhelmed by it.In my work, preparation is not a formality. It's a core therapeutic phase. We spend as much time as you need building the nervous system capacity to process safely. This is particularly important if you've experienced developmental trauma, early childhood adversity, or complex PTSD where the window of tolerance is narrow and easily exceeded.EMDR follows a structured eight-phase protocol developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro: history-taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. Each phase serves a specific purpose in ensuring that processing is titrated, carefully paced, and never simply re-traumatizing. The preparation and reevaluation phases are where the polyvagal lens matters most, because they determine whether your nervous system is ready to engage with the material and whether it has fully integrated what was processed.
Who I Work With
I work with adults navigating a range of experiences where EMDR has demonstrated clinical effectiveness, including:PTSD and complex trauma, including childhood abuse, neglect, or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).Developmental and relational trauma, attachment wounds, family dynamics, and patterns formed early in life that continue to shape current relationships.Grief and loss, including complicated grief and the traumatic dimensions of loss experiences.Medical and health-related trauma. I have specialized experience supporting people facing cancer diagnoses and those navigating the psychological impact of serious illness.Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic, and phobias with traumatic origins.Life transitions and identity disruptions, events that shatter previous assumptions about safety, meaning, or self.EMDR is not appropriate for every situation without modification. If you are currently in crisis, actively using substances, or experiencing psychosis, EMDR processing would be deferred until stabilization is achieved. If you've experienced developmental trauma or have a narrow window of tolerance, the preparation phase may be extended to build the capacity needed for safe processing. I see this as clinical honesty, not a limitation. Pacing the work to your nervous system is how EMDR stays effective.If you've wondered whether EMDR could help your specific situation, that's exactly the kind of question to bring to a consultation.
What to Expect in EMDR Sessions
EMDR sessions are typically 50 to 90 minutes. Longer sessions are often preferred for processing phases, as shorter sessions can leave the processing incomplete.You should expect that sessions vary in how they feel. Some sessions are activating: emotions surface, memories shift. Others feel quieter. After processing sessions, most people experience a period of continued internal movement. Dreams may shift, new memories or insights may surface, or the original memory may feel different than it did before. This is a normal part of the process, not a sign that something is wrong.Not every session will involve active trauma processing. Some sessions focus on stabilization, resource-building, or integrating what has already processed. This is not a setback. It's the work.EMDR is collaborative. You always have control over the pace. You can stop, pause, or shift direction at any point. My practice also draws on psychodynamic and somatic approaches alongside EMDR, meaning we are not locked into a rigid protocol. The protocol serves you, not the other way around.
EMDR Therapy in Culver City and Online in California and Florida
Research has consistently found that EMDR delivered via telehealth is as effective as in-person EMDR for most clients. Bilateral stimulation can be facilitated online using screen-based eye movement guidance or audio bilateral tones, and the therapeutic relationship, which is central to any trauma treatment, translates fully to the online format.I offer online therapy sessions for clients throughout California and Florida. Sessions are conducted via a HIPAA-compliant video platform, and the process from intake to ongoing sessions is designed to be straightforward and accessible.Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR Therapy
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EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach that uses bilateral stimulation, typically guided eye movements, to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories. This mimics the brain's natural processing during REM sleep. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require you to narrate your trauma in detail for healing to occur.
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EMDR has demonstrated clinical effectiveness for PTSD and complex trauma, developmental and relational trauma, grief and loss (including complicated grief), medical and health-related trauma such as cancer diagnoses, anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety and phobias with traumatic origins, and life transitions that shatter previous assumptions about safety or self.
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EMDR uses a structured eight-phase protocol with bilateral stimulation to process traumatic memories at a neurological level. You do not need to describe what happened scene by scene. The processing happens in a way that does not depend on verbal articulation, which is one reason EMDR can work effectively even for experiences that feel too difficult or fragmentary to put into words.
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The number of sessions varies depending on the complexity of what you are processing. Some clients notice meaningful shifts within 6 to 12 sessions. Complex trauma, developmental trauma, or longstanding patterns typically require a longer course. The preparation phase alone may take several sessions, and that is not a delay. It is part of the work that makes processing safe and effective.
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Yes. I offer online EMDR therapy sessions for clients throughout California and Florida. Research has consistently found that EMDR delivered via telehealth is as effective as in-person EMDR for most clients. Bilateral stimulation can be facilitated online using screen-based eye movement guidance or audio bilateral tones, and the therapeutic relationship translates fully to the online format.
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The first session focuses on history-taking and getting to know your experience, not trauma processing. We map your history, identify target memories, and discuss how your nervous system responds to stress. No bilateral stimulation or active processing happens in the first session. You will leave with a clear understanding of the protocol and what the next steps look like.
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Before any trauma processing begins, we build your internal resources: grounding techniques, safe-place visualizations, and an understanding of your nervous system's patterns. In my polyvagal-informed approach, this preparation phase is not rushed. Your capacity to stay regulated during processing is what makes EMDR safe and effective. For clients with developmental trauma or a narrow window of tolerance, preparation may take several sessions.
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Yes. EMDR can be effective for grief and loss, including complicated grief and the traumatic dimensions of loss experiences. I have specialized experience supporting people through grief related to serious illness. EMDR helps the brain process the painful memories and emotional charge associated with loss so they no longer overwhelm your daily functioning.
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Polyvagal-informed EMDR integrates the neurological framework developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, which describes how the autonomic nervous system governs states of safety, mobilization, and shutdown. In practice, this means I focus on the physiological state your nervous system needs to be in to safely process traumatic material. We spend as much time as needed building nervous system capacity before and during processing.
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EMDR follows a structured eight-phase protocol specifically designed to prevent re-traumatization. Each session includes stabilization techniques, and you always have control over the pace. You can stop, pause, or shift direction at any point. The preparation phase builds the internal resources you need so that processing is tolerable and ultimately transformative.
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Yes. My practice draws on psychodynamic and somatic approaches alongside EMDR, meaning we are not locked into a rigid protocol. EMDR can be integrated with other modalities based on what your situation requires. The protocol serves you, not the other way around.
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Bilateral stimulation typically involves following guided eye movements with your eyes, though audio tones delivered through headphones or gentle tapping can also be used. Most clients describe the experience as rhythmic and focusing. It activates the brain's natural processing system, similar to what happens during REM sleep. The sensation is not intense or jarring.
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The best way to find out is to have a conversation. I offer a free 20-minute consultation to discuss your situation, your goals, and whether my approach is a good match. EMDR requires a foundation of sufficient stabilization before processing begins. If you are currently in crisis, actively using substances, or experiencing psychosis, EMDR processing would be deferred until stabilization is achieved.
Ready to Begin?
Trauma treatment asks something significant of you: the willingness to move toward the experiences you've been moving away from. That's not a small thing. What EMDR offers in return is a process designed to make that movement bearable, and ultimately, to make it transformative. If you're ready to begin, or simply want to understand whether EMDR could help, I'd welcome the conversation.
Restorative Counseling Center is a trauma therapy practice in Culver City, CA, founded by Robyn Sheiniuk, LCSW. The practice specializes in EMDR therapy, grief counseling, and cancer counseling, with a clinical approach grounded in polyvagal theory and somatic awareness. Robyn works with adults navigating PTSD, complex trauma, developmental trauma, anxiety, and the psychological impact of serious illness. Online therapy sessions are available throughout California and Florida.
This content is for informational purposes. EMDR therapy is a clinical treatment and should be pursued with a licensed mental health professional. If you are in crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.