EMDR Therapy
for Trauma in Montebello & Newport Beach, CA
What the mind cannot process, the body stores. EMDR helps you release and heal.
EMDR Therapy in Montebello for Trauma That Won’t Let Go
Some memories don’t fade.
They loop. They trigger. They show up in your sleep, in your relationships, in the way you brace for the worst—even when everything seems fine.
If you’ve tried traditional talk therapy but still feel stuck in survival mode, EMDR therapy may be the path forward. At The Couples Therapy and Reunification Counseling, we offer trauma-informed EMDR therapy in Montebello and Los Angeles to help individuals safely process painful memories, regulate their nervous system, and finally move out of the past.
Whether you’re carrying trauma from childhood, a toxic relationship, parental estrangement, or a life-altering event, EMDR helps the brain do what it was designed to do—heal.
Why People Go to EMDR Therapy
You’ve done the work.
You’ve journaled, opened up in therapy, tried to stay mindful—but the past still shows up uninvited.
Maybe it’s a moment, a person, or a feeling you can’t explain. You freeze. You shut down. You react bigger than the situation calls for.
You’re not broken.
Your nervous system just hasn’t had a chance to fully process what happened.
Here’s what we often hear from clients seeking EMDR therapy in Montebello and Los Angeles:
"I know the trauma is over, but my body still feels unsafe."
Hypervigilance, panic attacks, and chronic anxiety are signs your system is stuck in survival mode—even if your brain knows you're not in danger anymore.
"I keep repeating the same patterns, even when I don’t want to."
Whether it’s toxic relationships, emotional shutdowns, or explosive reactions, trauma often wires us into patterns we didn’t choose—but feel powerless to break.
"I feel numb, checked out, or disconnected."
When you’ve experienced too much for too long, your body might respond by shutting down. EMDR helps you reconnect safely—without getting overwhelmed.
"Small things trigger big reactions, and I hate how that feels."
Trauma isn’t just about what happened—it’s about what your body remembers. EMDR can help reduce the intensity of your triggers so they no longer run your life.
Trauma doesn’t always look like what you think.
Whether it’s childhood neglect, a messy breakup, estrangement, or one moment that changed everything—EMDR therapy can help you finally feel safe again.
How EMDR Therapy Works
When something painful or traumatic happens, your brain doesn’t always know how to process it.
Instead of filing it away like a normal memory, it gets “stuck” in raw form—along with all the fear, shame, body sensations, and beliefs you felt in that moment.
That’s why years later, you might still feel triggered, panicked, or numb—as if it’s still happening.
What EMDR Does
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps your brain finally process and release those stuck memories.
It doesn’t erase what happened, but it helps your body and nervous system recognize that it’s over.
After EMDR, many clients say things like:
“I still remember it—but it doesn’t control me anymore.”
How EMDR Works
You’ll work with your therapist to identify a distressing memory or experience. While focusing on that memory, the therapist will guide you through bilateral stimulation—often eye movements, gentle tapping, or sound tones that activate both sides of your brain.
This mimics what your brain naturally does during REM sleep, the stage when you dream and process emotional experiences.
As the process unfolds, your brain starts to reorganize the memory. It becomes less emotionally intense. You gain new insight, and old negative beliefs begin to shift.
Why EMDR Therapy Works
When trauma gets stuck, your nervous system stays in survival mode.
EMDR helps move that trauma from your body to your memory, where it belongs.
Instead of feeling paralyzed by “I’m not safe” or “It was my fault,”
you may start to believe, “I did the best I could,” or “I’m safe now.”
You don’t have to relive your trauma to heal from it.
EMDR therapy in Montebello gives your brain what it needs to finally move forward—on your terms, at your pace.
Who EMDR Therapy Helps—and What It’s For
EMDR therapy isn’t just for one kind of trauma or one kind of person.
It’s for anyone—adults or children—whose body and mind are still holding on to pain, fear, or experiences they haven’t been able to fully process.
At The Couples Therapy and Reunification Counseling, we provide EMDR therapy in Montebello and Los Angeles to support healing across generations—whether the trauma is recent, buried deep, or quietly shaping your daily life.
EMDR Therapy Can Help With These Issues:
PTSD and Complex Trauma
From single-event trauma (like an accident or assault) to years of emotional neglect or abuseAnxiety and Panic Attacks
Especially when fears feel irrational or hard to control, even in calm momentsGrief and Loss
Including sudden death, miscarriage, or unresolved loss that still feels rawAttachment and Relational Wounds
Such as estrangement, abandonment, betrayal, or emotional enmeshment
Childhood Trauma
We offer EMDR for children who’ve experienced abuse, bullying, parental separation, or neglect in a way that’s age-appropriate and safeEmotional Dysregulation
When small things trigger big reactions, or you often feel shut down, numb, or on edgeNegative Core Beliefs
Like “I’m not safe,” “I’m not good enough,” or “It’s my fault”—beliefs that formed from painful events but still feel true today
Who We Work With:
We offer EMDR therapy for adults, teens, and children in Montebello, Newport Beach and surrounding areas. Whether you’ve been in therapy before or this is your first step, we meet you with care, curiosity, and tools that actually work.
EMDR doesn’t require you to relive every detail.
It helps your brain and body finally release what it’s been holding, so you can move through life with more peace, presence, and possibility.
What Healing Can Look Like With EMDR Therapy
Right now, you might feel reactive, shut down, or like part of you is stuck in the past.
You’re trying to function—but inside, there’s still fear, grief, or self-blame that won’t let go.
EMDR doesn’t erase what happened.
But it helps you feel safe again in your own body.
It helps your child sleep through the night.
It helps you respond instead of explode, and breathe instead of brace.
Here’s what becomes possible through EMDR therapy in Montebello and Los Angeles:
From Hypervigilance → To a Regulated Nervous System
You’ll begin to notice what calm feels like—not because life is perfect, but because your body finally believes it’s safe.
From Triggers That Take Over → To a Sense of Choice
You’ll still have memories. But they won’t hijack your thoughts, your reactions, or your relationships.
From Feeling Disconnected → To Real Connection
With yourself, your kids, your partner, or your past. EMDR helps you let go of the emotional walls trauma built.
From Behavioral Outbursts → To Emotional Safety (for Children)
Children who go through EMDR often feel more grounded, less reactive, and more connected to themselves and the adults who care for them.
Healing doesn’t mean forgetting.
It means your past stops driving your present.
And for the first time in a long time—you can exhale.
Therapists in Montebello, & Newport Beach, CA
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![headshot of maria jessica quiroz a couples therapist in la at the couples therapy and reunification counseling, therapist in montebello ca, therapy in la]()
Maria Jessica Quiroz, LMFT
Clinical Director Reunification and Couples Expert
Relationship Expert
Montebello and Newport Beach, CA
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![headshot of sandylu guerrero a mental health coach in montebello ca at the couples therapy and reunification counseling]()
Sandylu Guerrero
Co-Parenting & Reunification Coach
Montebello, CA
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![Michelle Cortez]()
Michelle Cortez, AMFT
Reunification & Couples Specialist
Newport Beach, CA
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![headshot of angelique st jean an addiction counselor in newport beach ca at the couples therapy and reunification counseling]()
Angelique St. Jean
Addiction Recovery, Trauma, and Family Systems Therapy
Newport Beach, CA
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![headshot of matzalen navarro a blended family therapist in montebello ca at the couples therapy and reunification counseling]()
Matzalen Navarro
Blended Family and Premarital Counseling
Montebello, CA
Get Started With EMDR Therapy in Montebello, CA
Browse our team of trauma-informed therapists in Montebello and find the right fit for your journey.
Pick Your Therapist
Book a no-pressure call to talk about your needs, ask questions, and see if we’re the right match.
Schedule Your Free Consult
Begin Living Life On Your Terms
Start healing old wounds, building stronger relationships, and creating the life you deserve—with therapy designed around you.
Words from the Owner: Why EMDR Is So Powerful—for Kids and Adults
As a therapist, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the profound transformation EMDR therapy can bring to both children and adults. Whether it’s a child who doesn’t yet have the words for their pain, or an adult who’s spent years trying to manage trauma alone, EMDR offers a way to release what the body has been carrying—without having to relive it all.
Trauma doesn’t always look like a single big event. Sometimes, it’s the slow drip of neglect, emotional invalidation, or years of walking on eggshells. And whether you’re 8 or 48, that kind of pain gets stored in your nervous system. It can shape how you see yourself, how you connect with others, and how safe you feel in your own body.
What I love about EMDR is how natural and empowering it is.
I’ve watched children regain their sense of playfulness and calm.
I’ve seen adults find relief from patterns they thought would never change.
I’ve witnessed families reconnect—not because everything is perfect, but because someone in the system finally had the space to heal.
Whether you’re a parent seeking support for your child, or an individual ready to process your own story, EMDR offers a gentle but powerful path toward feeling whole again.
This work is sacred, and it works. And it would be an honor to walk that path with you.
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR Therapy
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Not at all. One of the most powerful aspects of EMDR is that you don’t have to describe everything out loud to your therapist. We focus on helping your brain and body reprocess the memory internally, without forcing you to relive or retell every painful detail.
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If you’ve experienced trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, or ongoing emotional triggers that haven’t shifted through traditional talk therapy, EMDR may be a good fit. During your first few sessions, we’ll explore your history and goals to determine if EMDR therapy in Montebello, CA is the best approach for your needs.
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Yes—EMDR is both safe and effective for children when guided by a trained, trauma-informed therapist. At our practice in Montebello, we adapt the EMDR process to be age-appropriate and emotionally supportive for children who’ve experienced trauma, loss, or high-conflict family dynamics.
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Every person’s healing timeline is different. Some clients experience significant shifts in just a few sessions, while others need longer to process complex trauma. We’ll move at your pace and regularly check in to ensure the work is feeling helpful, not overwhelming.
Follow Us On Instagram @COUPLESANDREUNIFICATIONTHERAPY
Visit Our Mental Health Clinic
Office Address: 3524 W Beverly Blvd Montebello, CA 90640 (Los Angeles)
1001 Dove Street, Suite 270, Newport Beach, CA 92660 (NewPort Beach)
Hours
Monday 9am–6pm Tuesday 9am–6pm Thursday 9am–6pm Friday 9am–6pm Saturday: 8am - 4pm
Phone
(562)-774-6787
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🚨 Important Notice: Emergency Situations 🚨
If you are experiencing a crisis, feeling unsafe, or need immediate assistance, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
For mental health emergencies, you can also contact:
📞 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Dial 988 (Available 24/7)
📞 National Domestic Violence Hotline – 1-800-799-7233
📞 Crisis Text Line – Text HELLO to 741741
Our practice does not provide emergency services. If you need immediate help, please seek emergency support.
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