EMDR Therapy in
Orange County & Riverside, CA
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is one of the most researched and effective treatments available for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Heidi Francine is an EMDR trained therapist serving clients across Orange County and Riverside County — in person and via secure online sessions.
How EMDR Therapy Actually Works
EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps your brain do something it couldn't do on its own: fully process traumatic memories that got stuck.
When something overwhelming happens, the brain sometimes can't process the experience the way it normally would during sleep. The memory gets stored in a raw, unprocessed form — along with all the emotions, body sensations, and beliefs that came with it. Every time something reminds you of that experience, your nervous system reacts as if the danger is happening right now.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones — to activate both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously while you briefly hold a traumatic memory in mind. This allows the brain to reprocess the memory, reducing its emotional charge and integrating it as a past event rather than an ongoing threat.
The result is that the memory still exists — but it no longer hijacks your nervous system. Clients often describe it as the memory feeling "further away" or "like it happened to someone else."
Book a ConsultationRecognized by Leading Health Organizations
EMDR therapy is endorsed as an effective treatment for PTSD and trauma by the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychological Association (APA), the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense.
Conditions EMDR Therapy Helps With
EMDR was originally developed for PTSD — but decades of research have shown it to be highly effective for a wide range of conditions.
🛡️ PTSD & Trauma
EMDR's most well-researched application. Effective for single-incident trauma, complex PTSD, childhood trauma, sexual trauma, accident trauma, and military/combat PTSD.
🌊 Anxiety & Panic
Many anxiety disorders have roots in past experiences that sensitized the nervous system. EMDR addresses those roots — not just the symptoms — for more lasting relief.
🌱 Depression
When depression is connected to unresolved loss, trauma, or deeply held negative beliefs about oneself, EMDR can help reprocess those experiences and shift core beliefs.
😔 Grief & Loss
Traumatic or complicated grief — especially after sudden loss — often responds well to EMDR, helping clients move through grief without becoming stuck in it.
🔁 Phobias
Specific phobias often develop from a single frightening experience. EMDR can desensitize the triggering memory quickly and effectively.
💔 Relationship Trauma
Painful relationship experiences, attachment wounds from childhood, and the aftermath of toxic or abusive relationships are all areas where EMDR can provide deep healing.
Trauma Lives in the Body & Nervous System
One of the most important shifts in trauma therapy over the past two decades is understanding that trauma isn't just a psychological experience — it's a physiological one. Trauma gets stored in the nervous system, not just the mind.
Heidi's approach to EMDR is informed by Polyvagal Theory — Dr. Stephen Porges' groundbreaking framework for understanding how the autonomic nervous system responds to perceived threat. When trauma occurs, the nervous system can get stuck in states of chronic fight-or-flight (hyperarousal) or shutdown and disconnection (hypoarousal) — sometimes cycling between both.
This is why so many trauma survivors feel like they're "overreacting" to everyday situations, or why they feel emotionally numb and disconnected even when they want to feel. It's not a character flaw — it's the nervous system doing exactly what it was designed to do, but unable to return to a regulated baseline.
EMDR, paired with a trauma-informed, nervous-system-aware approach, works with the body's natural healing capacity — helping the nervous system complete the threat response cycle and return to a state of safety and regulation. Clients don't just think differently about their trauma. They feel different in their body.
What Is Polyvagal Theory?
Polyvagal Theory explains how our autonomic nervous system has three states: the ventral vagal state (safe and social), the sympathetic state (fight or flight), and the dorsal vagal state (shutdown/freeze). Trauma can dysregulate these states, keeping us stuck in survival mode long after the danger has passed. A trauma-informed therapist like Heidi works to help clients recognize these states and build the nervous system capacity to return to safety.
Why Nervous System Work Matters
Traditional talk therapy alone often can't reach trauma stored in the body and nervous system. EMDR combined with somatic awareness and Polyvagal-informed techniques creates a more complete healing process — addressing trauma at the level where it actually lives.
What to Expect in EMDR Treatment
EMDR is a structured 8-phase protocol. Heidi guides you through each phase at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you.
History & Treatment Planning
Heidi gets to know your background, your history, and what you want to work on. Together you identify the memories and experiences to target.
Preparation & Resourcing
Before any processing begins, Heidi ensures you have the coping tools and nervous system resources to handle the work safely. No one is thrown into the deep end.
Assessment
You identify the specific memory to target, the negative belief it created, what you'd rather believe, and where you feel it in your body.
Desensitization
This is the core EMDR processing phase — using bilateral stimulation while holding the memory, allowing the brain to reprocess it and reduce its disturbance level.
Installation
The positive belief you identified is strengthened and installed to replace the negative belief the trauma created.
Body Scan
You scan your body for any remaining tension or disturbance related to the memory. The body's experience is treated as important as the mind's.
Closure
Each session ends with grounding and stabilization — you always leave feeling settled, never activated or unresolved.
Re-evaluation
At the start of each new session, Heidi checks in on the previous week and the work done — ensuring progress is consolidating and lasting.
Meet Heidi Francine, LMFT
Heidi Francine is an EMDR trained, trauma-informed Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist serving Orange County and Riverside County, CA. With thousands of hours of clinical experience and a specialty in treating PTSD and difficult trauma cases, Heidi brings deep expertise and genuine compassion to every session.
Her approach integrates EMDR with a trauma-informed, nervous-system-aware framework — drawing on Polyvagal Theory to help clients not just understand their trauma intellectually, but actually feel safer in their own bodies. Heidi works at your pace, with your safety as the foundation of every session.
Sessions are available in person at her Riverside, Huntington Beach, and Costa Mesa offices — or via secure HIPAA-compliant Zoom for any California resident.
What Clients Say About EMDR with Heidi
Heidi is an amazing EMDR therapist. She completely transformed my life. She met me where I was at in life, she always showed up for me and made me feel safe throughout the whole process.
Heidi is an excellent therapist, especially if you are looking for someone who specializes in EMDR. I originally began seeing her for trauma-related issues and she has been incredibly skilled at guiding me through the process.
I was looking for a certified EMDR therapist in the area but had no luck until I found Heidi — and I'm so glad I did. She is incredibly skilled, compassionate, and professional.
EMDR Therapy — Frequently Asked Questions
In traditional talk therapy, you talk about your experiences and gain insight into them. EMDR goes a step further — it actually helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories at a neurological level, reducing their emotional charge. Many clients who spent years in talk therapy without significant relief experience major breakthroughs with EMDR because it works with the way trauma is actually stored in the brain and nervous system.
No — and this is one of the things clients find most relieving about EMDR. You don't need to verbally describe traumatic events in detail for EMDR to be effective. You hold the memory in mind while Heidi guides you through bilateral stimulation. The processing happens internally, and you share what comes up at your own comfort level.
It depends on what you're working on. Single-incident trauma (one specific event) can often be substantially resolved in 3–6 sessions. Complex or childhood trauma, or PTSD with multiple traumatic experiences, typically takes longer. Heidi will discuss realistic expectations with you after your first session.
Yes — EMDR can be effectively delivered via secure online Zoom sessions. Heidi offers telehealth EMDR to any California resident. Online EMDR uses audio bilateral stimulation or self-tapping techniques in place of in-person eye movements.
$180 per session. A sliding scale is available based on income and consistent attendance. Super Bills are provided for PPO Insurance holders for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
EMDR is very safe when conducted by a trained therapist. A key part of the protocol — Phase 2, Preparation — ensures you have the coping resources and nervous system stability to handle the processing work before it begins. Heidi is careful to pace treatment appropriately so clients always feel in control and never leave a session feeling destabilized.
Four Ways to Get Support
In-person therapy in Riverside, Huntington Beach, and Costa Mesa — plus secure online sessions throughout California.
Huntington Beach Office
16052 Beach Blvd Suite 214Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Costa Mesa Office
2900 Bristol St Suite G-101Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Online & Zoom Sessions
Available statewideCalifornia residents only