Therapists in 94063
Akira Olsen
Psychologist, PsyD, MA
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Redwood City, CA 94063
Greetings! As a board-certified clinical psychologist licensed in both California and Nevada, I bring over 17 years of valuable experience to my practice. Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of assisting individuals across various age groups and backgrounds in the dynamic regions of San Francisco and the Bay Area. My approach is characterized by interactivity, cultural sensitivity, compassion, and a commitment to collaborative problem-solving. I specialize in providing a range of clinical and forensic services, including psychotherapy, consultation, coaching, and assessment/testing. It would be my pleasure to work with you,
Greetings! As a board-certified clinical psychologist licensed in both California and Nevada, I bring over 17 years of valuable experience to my practice. Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of assisting individuals across various age groups and backgrounds in the dynamic regions of San Francisco and the Bay Area. My approach is characterized by interactivity, cultural sensitivity, compassion, and a commitment to collaborative problem-solving. I specialize in providing a range of clinical and forensic services, including psychotherapy, consultation, coaching, and assessment/testing. It would be my pleasure to work with you,
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EMDR Therapists
Who is EMDR for?
EMDR was initially developed as a treatment for individuals with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), for whom memories of a deeply distressing experience can be inadvertently triggered by random everyday events. The procedure has since been applied in the treatment of many other conditions. For example, it is used by some therapists to treat anxiety disorders including panic and phobias, depression, dissociative disorders, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and some personality disorders. It is suitable for adolescents and adults.
Why do people need EMDR?
People need EMDR as a way to manage distressing memories that in some way hamper the ability to function in the present. The procedure is believed to target the way memories are stored in the brain. Evidence indicates that past disturbing experiences cause ongoing distress because they were not adequately processed, and when such memories are triggered in the present, they are accompanied by all the emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations as the initial experience.
What problems does EMDR treat?
First and foremost, EMDR is intended as a treatment for PTSD, to defuse distressing memories that intrude on and impair everyday functioning. It is also often used to help those who are subject to panic attacks, phobias, and other forms of anxiety. In addition, EMDR has been used to treat individuals with depression, eating disorders, and personality disorders.
What happens in EMDR therapy?
First the therapist takes an individual’s history, and then the therapist and client decide which distressing experience(s) will be the target(s) of the exercise, delivered via a side-to-side visual stimulus requiring lateral eye movements. The client will be asked to activate thoughts, feelings, and any body sensations related to the troubling experience. The eye movements are said to reduce the emotional charge of the memory, so that the experience can then be safely discussed with the therapist and digested, minimizing its ability to trigger anxiety.