Image of a woman using her fingers to symbolize EMDR. Overcome your anxiety, depression, and more with the help of EMDR therapy in Las Vegas, NV can help you work through your symptoms.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): At Integrative Path Thearpy

Are you feeling frozen with anxiety and not able to do the things you would like to do, stuck with negative thoughts about yourself or others, or feeling trapped by the past that interferes with your life today? Are you experiencing difficulties with sleeping, have ups and downs with your emotions, or have lower energy than you would like?

If this sounds familiar, Kari Barker at the DBT Center of the South Bay can help. Kari offers Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR is an integrative, structured psychotherapy that can provide quick relief and healing so you can be free to live the life you want to live today.

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, evidence-based therapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro. It’s designed to help people heal from trauma and other distressing life experiences by supporting the brain’s built-in ability to sort through and heal from painful experiences.

Life can be overwhelming—whether you’ve experienced a single traumatic event, ongoing emotional pain, or patterns that won’t loosen their grip. Sometimes, those experiences get stuck in the mind and body. You might know you’re safe now, but still find yourself reacting as if you’re not. EMDR helps change that.

EMDR offers a structured yet gentle approach to working through what feels stuck, so the past doesn’t keep crashing into the present. It’s not about erasing memories. It’s about changing how those memories live in you and helping you move forward with more stability, clarity, and emotional freedom.

What does EMDR treat?

EMDR is based on the idea that your brain has a natural ability to heal. But when something overwhelming or traumatic happens, the brain sometimes can’t process it fully—and the memory gets stuck. You might notice it coming up in flashbacks, body tension, emotional outbursts, or beliefs that feel hard to shake.

In EMDR, we work together to access those stuck memories in a safe, structured way. As you bring them to mind, I’ll guide you through bilateral stimulation—gentle back-and-forth movements like eye movements, tapping, or sound. This back-and-forth activates both sides of the brain, helping the memory reprocess and “unhook” from the distress it’s been carrying.

Over time, the memory becomes less charged. It’s still there, but it no longer overwhelms your system. Many clients say the waves of the experience get smaller and calmer, and they can finally feel more present, steady, and free.

How does EMDR work?

EMDR is based on the idea that your brain has a natural ability to heal. But when something overwhelming or traumatic happens, the brain sometimes can’t process it fully—and the memory gets stuck. You might notice it coming up in flashbacks, body tension, emotional outbursts, or beliefs that feel hard to shake.

In EMDR, we work together to access those stuck memories in a safe, structured way. As you bring them to mind, I’ll guide you through bilateral stimulation—gentle back-and-forth movements like eye movements, tapping, or sound. This back-and-forth activates both sides of the brain, helping the memory reprocess and “unhook” from the distress it’s been carrying.

Over time, the memory becomes less charged. It’s still there, but it no longer overwhelms your system. Many clients say the waves of the experience get smaller and calmer, and they can finally feel more present, steady, and free.

Image of a smiling woman hugging herself. If you struggle with anxiety, learn how EMDR therapy in Las Vegas, NV can help you work to overcome your symptoms.

What Can EMDR Help With?

EMDR isn’t just for trauma—it can be a powerful approach for many emotional challenges, especially when the effects of past experiences feel stuck in the body or show up in patterns you can’t seem to shake. For some, EMDR helps with overwhelming anxiety or panic. For others, it supports healing after childhood abuse or unresolved grief. It’s also used with issues like low self-worth, compulsive behaviors, or depression that lingers even after years of trying to ‘think your way out of it.’

EMDR may be helpful if you’re feeling weighed down by things like persistent anxiety, fears, or phobias that interfere with daily life or a deep sense of loss that still feels unresolved. It can also support people living with PTSD or long-standing trauma, guilt or shame that seems to stick around no matter what they do, and even compulsive behaviors or self-defeating patterns that feel impossible to break. Many people turn to EMDR when stuck in a loop—thinking, ‘I know better, but I still react this way.’ If that feels familiar, you’re not alone.

What to Expect in EMDR Therapy

EMDR therapy follows a structured eight-phase model developed through years of clinical research. Each phase has a specific goal, and together, they provide a consistent, evidence-based path for healing. At the same time, the process is adapted to your needs—we won’t rush, and your readiness guides the pace.

EMDR therapy unfolds in eight phases, each building gently on the last.

First, we’ll spend time getting to know your story and the ways you’re feeling stuck. That helps us figure out what memories or patterns we might work on later.
After that, we take a closer look at one specific memory and how it affects you—your thoughts, emotions, and what you feel in your body when it comes up.
When we begin reprocessing, I’ll guide you through bilateral stimulation (like eye movements or tapping) as you hold the memory in mind. This helps the brain begin to unstick the memory and reduce its emotional charge.
As the distress fades, we work on strengthening a more helpful belief—something you want to hold onto instead of the old, painful story.
We also pause to check in with your body, noticing and working through any tension or leftover sensations.

Is EMDR Right for You?

Even when you’ve done a lot of personal work—talked things through, gained insight, or made progress—it can still feel like something hasn’t fully shifted. You may understand what’s causing the distress but still find yourself reacting in ways that don’t match your present life. EMDR helps process those gaps between knowing something and feeling relief.

EMDR is often helpful when you feel hijacked by intense emotional reactions. It is also helpful when one struggles with memories or sensations that won’t fade, even with time, or when there is a strong inner critic or sense of shame that may be rooted in the past.

Begin EMDR Therapy in Las Vegas, NV and Torrance, CA

Are you ready to regain control of your life and find healing from trauma, anxiety, depression, and more? Take the first step towards emotional well-being and transformation with EMDR therapy at the DBT Center of the South Bay. Embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing, and let us help you unlock the path to a brighter and more resilient future. Your journey to a happier and healthier you begins now. Follow these three simple steps to get started:

Reach out to us using the contact form.
Meet with a skilled EMDR therapist.
Begin overcoming your symptoms in a positive way!

Other Services at DBT Center of South Bay

DBT Center of the South Bay has helped many people find the motivation to live fuller, more connected lives. In addition to providing EMDR Therapy, I provide treatment options using DBT Therapy for adults to help with managing anger, social isolation, and loneliness. I also specialize in helping those experiencing suicidal thoughts and self-harm behaviors. I also provide Borderline Personality Disorder Therapy for those struggling to manage their BPD symptoms. Located in Las Vegas, NV, and Torrance, CA, you can access my services from anywhere in the states of California and Nevada using online therapy.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: EMDR Therapy