EMDR Therapy in Walnut Creek
Cari Browning, RN, LCSW
Mind-body healing to help you move beyond anxiety, difficult experiences, and patterns that keep you feeling stuck.
When Anxiety, Stress, or Past Experiences Are Holding You Back
You may feel anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, or notice that something from the past still brings up a strong emotional or physical reaction. You may notice patterns in relationships that don’t make sense, feel on edge without knowing why, or find yourself having stress reactions that feel bigger than the moment in front of you.
EMDR can help your brain process stressful or painful experiences so they no longer have the same hold on you.
EMDR therapy can help with anxiety, fears and phobias, difficult medical experiences, and unresolved experiences that continue to affect how you feel today.
Here’s the truth: none of these experiences means something is wrong with you.
These are often your nervous system’s responses to overwhelming stress — a reflection of what you’ve been through, not who you are.
There is hope. EMDR therapy provides a safe, supportive space to process what’s been weighing you down and rediscover a sense of balance, relief, and inner calm.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a well-researched therapy used to help with anxiety, trauma, phobias, and other distressing experiences. During EMDR sessions, you’ll focus on gentle back-and-forth movements or tapping while briefly recalling an upsetting memory or experience. This process helps your brain reprocess the memory, reducing its emotional intensity so it feels less distressing and allowing you to feel calmer and more in control.
Stressful, painful, or overwhelming experiences can sometimes continue to trigger strong emotional or physical reactions long after they’re over. EMDR works to reduce the intensity of these reactions, helping you reconnect with your natural resilience and strength. It doesn’t require you to go into detail about the event, making it a more accessible and gentle option for processing difficult emotions and memories.
In my practice, I use EMDR for anxiety, panic, phobias, traumatic stress, difficult medical experiences, and other painful or unresolved experiences. I often pair it with the Flash technique, a science-backed approach where you focus on a positive distraction or memory as we process the painful experience. Both methods help your brain activate its natural healing process, relieving symptoms and helping you move forward with greater ease.
A Personalized Approach to EMDR Therapy
Every person’s story is unique, and you are the expert on your own life. My goal is to meet you where you are, with your comfort level guiding every step of our work together.
With my combined background in nursing and therapy, I bring a whole-person, mind-body perspective to our work. I provide practical tools to help you manage stress, build resilience, and focus on what truly matters to you. We can also explore how sleep, social connection, rest, or movement may be affecting how you feel and your overall well-being. If you'd like, you can learn more about my background and how I work on my About page.
Because no two people are the same, I draw from a variety of approaches—including EMDR, Flash Technique, DBT, ACT, PRT, Polyvagal Theory, and Attachment-based methods—to tailor therapy to your unique needs. Together, we’ll create a personalized path forward that feels right for you.
Imagine a life where you…
Feel calmer and more at ease
Trust yourself and confidently overcome challenges
Feel less controlled by anxiety, fear, or past experiences
Build healthier relationships with yourself and others
Move forward without painful or unresolved experiences having the same hold on you
I offer in-person EMDR therapy in downtown Walnut Creek, along with virtual therapy throughout California.
Have questions about how EMDR works or what sessions are like? I’ve answered common questions here:
FAQs
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EMDR therapy can help with anxiety, panic, fears and phobias, traumatic stress, and unresolved experiences that continue to affect how you feel today. By helping the brain process these experiences, EMDR can reduce emotional distress and support greater confidence and well-being.
EMDR may also be helpful in addressing emotional factors that contribute to or intensify chronic pain and other neuroplastic symptoms.
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Yes. EMDR therapy can help reduce anxiety by addressing stressful or unresolved experiences that may be contributing to anxious thoughts, feelings, or physical reactions. By helping the brain process these experiences, EMDR can reduce their emotional intensity and help you feel calmer and more confident in situations that previously triggered anxiety.
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No. One of the benefits of EMDR therapy is that you don't have to describe painful experiences in detail. EMDR focuses on helping your brain process these experiences rather than talking through what happened.
I also incorporate gentle approaches, including the Flash Technique, which can help reduce the emotional intensity of distressing memories without requiring you to focus directly on them. We always work at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
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EMDR therapy begins with getting to know you, understanding your concerns, and identifying what you'd like to work on. Before processing difficult experiences, we'll make sure you have the tools you need to help you feel comfortable and supported.
During EMDR, you'll briefly focus on a memory, thought, or feeling while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or alternating taps. This helps your brain process the experience so it becomes less emotionally distressing over time.
Sessions are collaborative, and we'll move at a pace that feels right for you.
