Reviewed by Vinsent Franke, MBA, AMFT, CADC-II, RA, Founder of iRely Recovery. Updated September 2026.
Intro
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in Los Angeles is a structured approach that helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they lose their hold on you, without requiring you to retell the event in detail.
At iRely Recovery in Los Angeles, EMDR treatment is a core part of our trauma and dual diagnosis care for PTSD and co-occurring addiction, delivered by EMDR-trained clinicians once you have the stabilization skills to engage safely.
Key Points
- Strong evidence for PTSDEMDR is recommended in guidelines from the WHO and the VA and Department of Defense.
- No detailed retelling neededBilateral stimulation lets the brain reprocess memories without a full verbal account.
- Adapted for addictionProtocols target the memories and emotional states that drive cravings and relapse.
- Most PPO plans acceptedWe verify your benefits at no cost. Call 818-869-2112.
In Short
EMDR treatment in Los Angeles at iRely Recovery uses guided bilateral stimulation and a structured eight-phase protocol to reprocess traumatic memories for PTSD and co-occurring addiction, alongside stabilization skills, DBT and CBT. Most PPO plans accepted. Call 818-869-2112 to schedule a consultation.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured psychotherapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It helps the brain reprocess traumatic and distressing memories so they lose their emotional charge. Instead of asking you to retell an event in detail, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, most commonly guided eye movements, while you briefly hold a memory in mind.
EMDR carries strong evidence for PTSD and is recommended in major treatment guidelines, including those of the World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense.
Bilateral Stimulation
Guided eye movements, tones or taps alternate between the left and right sides while you focus on a memory. This appears to engage processes similar to those active during REM sleep, when the brain naturally works through emotionally charged material.
No Detailed Retelling
You do not have to narrate the traumatic event in full. That makes EMDR accessible to people who find conventional talk therapy overwhelming or re-traumatizing.
A Structured Protocol
Sessions follow a standardized eight-phase model, moving from history and preparation through reprocessing to integration and review.
How EMDR Works
EMDR is built on the idea that distressing experiences can get stored in the brain in an unprocessed form. Later, a sound, smell, body sensation or relational cue can trigger the memory as if it were happening now, producing reactions that feel out of proportion to the present moment.
During reprocessing, bilateral stimulation helps the brain link the memory with more adaptive information. Most people find the memory becomes less vivid and less distressing, and the beliefs attached to it, such as I am not safe or it was my fault, shift toward more accurate ones.
The Eight Phases of EMDR
1. History and Treatment Planning
Your therapist gathers your history and identifies the memories, triggers and current situations to target.
2. Preparation
You learn how EMDR works and build calming and grounding skills so you can manage distress between and during sessions.
3. Assessment
You identify a target memory, the image and belief attached to it, the emotions it brings up and where you feel it in your body.
4. Desensitization
Bilateral stimulation is used in short sets while you notice whatever arises, until the memory becomes less distressing.
5. Installation
A positive, more adaptive belief is strengthened in place of the old negative one.
6. Body Scan
You check for lingering tension or sensation tied to the memory and process what remains.
7. Closure
Every session ends with grounding so you leave stable, whether or not the memory is fully processed.
8. Reevaluation
At the next session your therapist checks the gains, reviews progress against your goals and decides what to target next.
EMDR for PTSD
EMDR is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD and one of the most studied psychotherapies for the condition. The 2023 VA and Department of Defense clinical practice guideline recommends individual, manualized trauma-focused psychotherapy as the primary treatment for PTSD and names EMDR alongside Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure. The same guideline advises that a co-occurring substance use disorder should not rule out trauma-focused therapy.
Symptoms EMDR Targets
EMDR for PTSD addresses intrusive memories and flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, avoidance and the negative beliefs that form around the event, such as I am not safe or it was my fault.
EMDR and Exposure Therapy
Prolonged Exposure asks you to revisit the memory in detail and to practice approaching situations you avoid. EMDR relies on a brief focus on the memory during bilateral stimulation and does not require a detailed verbal account. Both are recommended options, and your clinician matches the approach to your history, preferences and stability.
EMDR for PTSD and Addiction at iRely Recovery
Many clients arrive with PTSD and a substance use disorder at the same time. At iRely Recovery, EMDR for PTSD begins once stabilization skills are in place and runs alongside DBT, CBT and group therapy. Learn more about our PTSD treatment program and our evidence-based treatment approach.
What EMDR Treats
PTSD
EMDR is one of the most established treatments for PTSD, helping reduce flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance and avoidance.
Complex and Childhood Trauma
For prolonged or developmental trauma, EMDR is used within a phase-based plan that puts stabilization first and reprocessing second.
Anxiety and Panic
Distressing memories often sit beneath persistent anxiety, panic and phobias. Reprocessing them can reduce the trigger response.
Grief and Loss
When a loss was sudden or traumatic, EMDR can help process the traumatic dimension of it, alongside our grief and loss care.
Self-Harm and Emotional Pain
Where self-harm is rooted in trauma, EMDR can be added once safety and skills are in place, alongside self-harm treatment.
Substance Use Disorders
EMDR can target the memories and emotional states that drive cravings and relapse. See the next section.
EMDR Therapy for Addiction and Dual Diagnosis
Trauma and addiction are closely linked. Substances often become a way to numb hyperarousal, intrusive memories or emotional pain, so treating the addiction without the trauma leaves the driver of relapse intact. Our trauma treatment program treats both conditions at the same time.
EMDR has been adapted for co-occurring addiction through approaches such as the EMDR and Addiction protocol. These adaptations target three things: the trauma memories behind cravings, the emotional states that trigger use, and the positive associations with substances that resist standard addiction treatment. EMDR works best as an addition to a full dual diagnosis plan, not a replacement for it.
Research on EMDR for substance use disorders is still developing. A 2025 meta-analysis in Frontiers in Psychiatry found moderate or larger effects on craving and on co-occurring PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms. It did not find a significant effect on addiction severity, rated the quality of the included studies as generally low and noted limited evidence on long-term effects. For that reason, iRely Recovery uses EMDR for addiction as one part of an individualized dual diagnosis plan and never as a stand-alone treatment.
EMDR Treatment at iRely Recovery in Los Angeles
Stabilization First
Processing starts only when you have the footing for it. DBT distress tolerance and grounding skills are built first, and your therapist paces the work with you.
Integrated With Other Therapies
EMDR runs alongside CBT, somatic therapy, group therapy and psychiatric support, within a trauma-informed setting.
Residential Support
Our ASAM 3.5 residential program provides 24-hour supervised care, so trauma processing can proceed safely without the triggers of daily life interrupting the work.
What to Expect in an EMDR Session
Before You Start
Expect one or more sessions of history taking and preparation before any reprocessing. You will not be asked to jump straight into your hardest memory.
During Reprocessing
You briefly hold a memory in mind while following guided bilateral stimulation, then report what you notice. Your therapist guides the process, and you can pause at any time.
After a Session
Some people feel tired or notice vivid dreams or emotions for a day or two. Your therapist prepares you for this and teaches skills to manage it.
Timing varies. For single-incident trauma, many people see meaningful change within about 12 sessions, while complex trauma needs longer, phase-based treatment. Your therapist will set a timeline with you.
EMDR Side Effects and Considerations
Common short-term effects include tiredness, vivid dreams and strong emotions for a day or two after a session. A memory can feel more intense before it eases, which is why preparation and grounding skills come first. EMDR may not be the right starting point for everyone, for example when someone is in acute crisis or has not yet stabilized, so our clinicians assess readiness before reprocessing begins. Tell your therapist about any dissociation or medical conditions before you start.
Insurance Accepted for EMDR in Los Angeles
EMDR delivered by a licensed therapist is covered by most major PPO plans when it is clinically indicated and documented in a treatment plan. iRely Recovery accepts most major insurance, and our admissions team verifies your benefits at no cost before you begin.
Call 818-869-2112 to verify your benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR in Los Angeles
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured psychotherapy in which you briefly hold a distressing memory in mind while following guided bilateral stimulation, usually eye movements. It helps the brain reprocess the memory so it becomes less vivid and less distressing.
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
No. EMDR does not require a detailed verbal account of the event. You notice and report what comes up during each set of stimulation, which makes it accessible for people who find conventional talk therapy overwhelming.
Is EMDR therapy for addiction effective?
EMDR is not a stand-alone addiction treatment. Studies in people with substance use disorders show moderate effects on craving and on co-occurring PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms, although study quality is generally low and long-term evidence is limited. Adaptations such as the EMDR and Addiction protocol target the memories and emotional states that drive use, and EMDR works best inside an integrated dual diagnosis plan.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
It varies. Single-incident trauma often shows meaningful change within about 12 sessions, while complex or developmental trauma needs longer, phase-based treatment. Your therapist will set a timeline with you after your assessment.
Is EMDR safe in early recovery?
Yes, when it is paced correctly. We establish stabilization and grounding skills first, including DBT distress tolerance, and begin reprocessing only when you have the footing to engage safely. Our residential setting adds 24-hour support.
Is EMDR covered by insurance?
Yes. EMDR delivered by a licensed therapist is covered by most major PPO plans when it is clinically indicated and documented as part of a treatment plan. Call 818-869-2112 and our team will verify your benefits at no cost.
Is EMDR effective for PTSD?
Yes. EMDR is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD. It is one of three individual trauma-focused psychotherapies recommended in the 2023 VA and Department of Defense PTSD guideline, alongside Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure, and it is also recommended in World Health Organization guidance. At iRely Recovery, EMDR for PTSD begins once stabilization skills are in place.
Sources
[1] Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
[2] World Health Organization. (2013). Guidelines for the Management of Conditions Specifically Related to Stress. World Health Organization.
[3] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. (2023). VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder.
[4] Seok, J.-W., Kim, K., & Kim, J. U. (2025). Therapeutic effects of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for substance use disorders: a meta-analysis of addiction-related and emotional symptoms. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1660046
Start EMDR Therapy in Los Angeles
If trauma is part of what is driving your anxiety, your substance use or both, you deserve treatment that addresses it directly. Call 818-869-2112 or use our contact form to speak with our admissions team, verify your insurance and learn what the first steps look like.
