EMDR Therapy for Trauma & Anxiety in Orange County
EMDR Therapy San Clemente - Specialized Trauma Treatment
If you've been carrying something for a long time — something that talk therapy hasn't quite reached — EMDR might be exactly what you've been looking for. At The Bloom Room Therapy Group in San Clemente, we specialize in EMDR therapy for trauma, anxiety, and the kinds of experiences that feel stuck no matter how hard you try to move past them. Our EMDR therapists work with clients in person in San Clemente and virtually throughout California — meeting you wherever you are in your healing.
EMDR Therapist: Celynna Harnetiaux, LMFT
EMDR Therapy FAQs — San Clemente
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.
EMDR therapy is an extensively researched, effective treatment approach that aids in the healing of past trauma and other distressing experiences. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements) to help reduce distress and reorganize how the memory is filed in the brain.
What does EMDR look like in therapy? What can I expect?
Your EMDR therapist will take you through the 8 phases of treatment in structured sessions. Throughout the phases you will learn coping skills and grounding techniques.
Your therapist will guide you to notice images, body sensations, self beliefs, and emotions related to the distressing event until you reach a positive belief and positive sense of self.
What are the 8 phases of EMDR?
History Taking: The therapist gathers background information and identifies target memories for treatment.
Preparation: The client is introduced to EMDR, and coping strategies are taught for emotional regulation.
Assessment: Specific traumatic memories and related beliefs are identified and rated for distress.
Desensitization: Bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movements) is used to reduce the emotional intensity of the target memory.
Installation: A positive belief is reinforced with bilateral stimulation to replace the negative one.
Body Scan: The client checks for any remaining physical tension or sensations related to the memory.
Closure: The therapist ensures the client feels calm and provides techniques for self-soothing between sessions.
Reevaluation: Progress is reviewed in later sessions, and any unresolved issues are addressed.
How does EMDR work?
Traumatic memories can feel stuck or not fully processed in the brain and when triggered they can feel as if they are happening in the present.
EMDR works together with your brain to heal from stuck or not fully processed memories of trauma. The bilateral stimulation helps slow or calm the heightened emotions while simultaneously moving the memory from the past to the present allowing you to gain insight, feel relief and organize the memory as less traumatic.
How is EMDR different from typical therapy?
EMDR sessions are different from typical talk therapy sessions. EMDR sessions are typically more structured and don’t require you to talk about the details of the distressing issues or your trauma. EMDR aids in your brain’s natural ability to heal.
For many clients, EMDR helps them heal from trauma in fewer sessions than typical therapy.
To learn more visit, www.emdria.org.
Is EMDR just for PTSD?
EMDR was initially developed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), its applications have expanded significantly to address a wide range of mental health conditions such as:
Anxiety: EMDR can help people who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, or panic disorders by targeting the traumatic memories or negative experiences that may underlie these conditions.
Depression: EMDR can be effective in treating depression, especially when it is linked to unresolved trauma or distressing life events.
Phobias: EMDR is useful for people struggling with phobias, as it helps reduce the emotional distress associated with feared objects or situations.
Addictions: EMDR has been applied in addiction treatment by addressing the traumatic events or emotional pain that may drive addictive behaviors.
Grief and Loss: Individuals dealing with grief can benefit from EMDR, which helps them process the pain and find healthier ways to cope with their loss.
Chronic Pain and Somatic Issues: EMDR has also shown promise in helping individuals manage chronic pain that is linked to emotional trauma or stress.
EMDR Therapy in San Clemente: Start Your Path to Healing
Benefits of EMDR Therapy in Orange County: Trauma Recovery Therapy
Effective for PTSD and trauma recovery: EMDR is particularly effective for individuals who have experienced trauma, including childhood abuse, accidents, violence, and more.
Reduces anxiety and depression: Many clients find that EMDR helps alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.
Fast and lasting results: Compared to traditional therapy, EMDR often provides faster relief from symptoms, and the effects are long-lasting.
Holistic healing: EMDR not only addresses emotional and mental symptoms but can also lead to physical healing as your body releases stored trauma.
Effectiveness of EMDR:
Numerous studies have supported EMDR’s efficacy in reducing symptoms of PTSD. The American Psychological Association (APA), World Health Organization (WHO), and the Department of Veterans Affairs endorse it as an effective trauma treatment. Research also indicates that EMDR can produce faster results than traditional talk therapy, sometimes requiring fewer sessions to achieve significant symptom reduction.
References: https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/
San Clemente EMDR Therapists
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Celynna Harnetiaux, LMFT
Licensed Marriage + Family Therapist
Founder & Supervisor
Specializes in high-achieving, anxious women — including moms, pregnancy, and the postpartum season — and couples who want to feel close again
In Person: San Clemente
Online across CA
EMDR trained
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Tanya Hauer, ACSW
Associate Clinical Social Worker
Supervised by Celynna Harnetiaux, LMFT
Specializes in supporting moms of neurodivergent kids, substance use, divorce/co-parenting and couples counseling
In person: San Clemente
Online across CA
EMDR trained
In-Person & Virtual EMDR Therapy in Orange County
Our San Clemente office is located inside Flourish: The Bloom Room — a warm, private space designed to help you feel settled the moment you walk in. We serve clients throughout South Orange County, including Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, Ladera Ranch, Rancho Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo, and the surrounding communities.
Can't make it into the office? We also offer virtual EMDR sessions for clients throughout California — same quality of care, from wherever you are.
Questions about Insurance?
Using out of network benefits to help cover the cost of therapy can be complicated, frustrating and honestly quite discouraging-but it doesn’t have to be. To make the process seamless, we use Mentaya, a platform that helps clients get money back on therapy—without the hassle of filing claims themselves.
How does it work?
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Fill out the “Mentaya check your insurance benefits form” and we will confirm your out of network benefits for you.
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Schedule your complimentary consultation with your preferred therapist. During the consultation call we will go over your benefits and an estimated cost of your reimbursement for our services.
Not sure who your preferred therapist is? No problem! Fill out the contact form and let us know a little bit about you and what you are looking for. From there, we’ll guide you in finding the therapist who’s the best fit for your needs.
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That’s it! Begin therapy and after your session:
✔ We submit claims for you—you don’t have to do a thing.
✔ Mentaya handles the reimbursement process with your insurance.
✔ If your insurance offers out-of-network benefits, you’ll receive reimbursement directly.(Note: Mentaya charges a small fee for claim processing, handling any paperwork required, dealing with denials, and calling insurance companies, but only if you receive reimbursement.) It's risk-free: They guarantee claims are successfully submitted, or a full refund of their fees.
EMDR Therapy in San Clemente
EMDR works best for people who feel like something is stuck — and no matter how much they understand it intellectually, the body and the emotions haven't caught up yet. You might find yourself overreacting to things that logically shouldn't bother you that much. Or avoiding situations, people, or memories without fully understanding why. Or carrying anxiety that seems to have no clear source but shows up everywhere.
Our San Clemente EMDR therapists work with clients navigating:
Single-incident trauma — accidents, medical events, loss
Childhood trauma and adverse early experiences
Complex or relational trauma
PTSD and post-traumatic stress
Anxiety, panic, and chronic worry
Perfectionism and people-pleasing rooted in early experiences
Grief and loss
Trauma related to pregnancy, birth, or postpartum experiences
Performance anxiety and phobias
Trauma stored in the body — chronic tension, pain, or nervous system dysregulation
If you've tried talk therapy and felt like you couldn't quite get there — EMDR often goes somewhere different. It works with the brain's natural healing process rather than against it, and many clients find it reaches things that words alone couldn't touch.
EMDR Therapy in San Clemente FAQ
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Yes. We offer in-person EMDR therapy at our San Clemente office located at 324 Avenida de la Estrella, Unit B, San Clemente, CA 92672. We also offer virtual EMDR sessions for clients throughout California.
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We serve clients in-person from San Clemente and surrounding South Orange County communities including Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, Ladera Ranch, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, and beyond. Virtual EMDR therapy is available statewide.
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We have three EMDR-trained therapists on our team — Celynna Harnetiaux, LMFT, Tanya Hauer, ACSW, and Molly Mickey, ACSW. Each brings specialized training and a warm, personalized approach to EMDR work.
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We are an out-of-network practice and do not bill insurance directly. However, we partner with Mentaya to help clients access their out-of-network benefits easily — no paperwork, no phone calls with insurance companies. Many clients receive significant reimbursement.
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The first step is a free 15–20 minute phone consultation. We'll talk through what you're navigating and match you with the EMDR therapist who feels like the best fit. You can book directly online or fill out our contact form and we'll guide you from there.
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It varies depending on what you're working through. Some clients notice significant shifts in as few as 6–12 sessions. Others with more complex trauma histories work over a longer period. We'll give you a clearer picture during your consultation once we understand what you're bringing to the work.
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EMDR tends to be a great fit for people who feel like something is stuck — experiences that keep affecting them even when they understand them intellectually, or anxiety and trauma responses that talk therapy hasn't fully resolved. If you're not sure whether EMDR is the right approach, our consultation call is a great place to start that conversation.
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Yes — we offer virtual EMDR sessions for clients throughout California. Online EMDR is just as effective as in-person for most clients and makes it easy to access quality trauma therapy from wherever you are.