Can I still do EMDR if I do not remember all the details of my trauma?

One of the most common concerns people have before starting trauma therapy is this:

“I know something painful happened, but I can’t remember all the details. Can EMDR still help me?”

The short answer is yes — absolutely.

Learn how EMDR helps the brain heal from incomplete or fragmented memories and how therapy supports lasting emotional recovery for clients in Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Danville, Pleasant Hill, Concord, San Ramon, and Alamo.

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Leslie Hemedes
5 EMDR-Inspired Exercises You Can Do at Home

If you’ve ever experienced anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or stress that feels difficult to shake, you know that healing isn’t always a purely mental process. Sometimes, your body holds on to distress even when your mind understands that you’re safe.

Discover 5 EMDR-inspired exercises you can do at home to calm your nervous system, ease anxiety, and build resilience. Learn how EMDR therapy and individual counseling support deeper healing for clients in Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Danville, Pleasant Hill, Concord, San Ramon, and Alamo.

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Leslie Hemedes
5 Breathing Techniques to Calm an Overactive Nervous System

When your mind won’t slow down, your heart races, or your body feels tense and restless, chances are your nervous system is working overtime. Modern life keeps most of us in a near-constant state of alert — juggling work demands, family obligations, and emotional stress. For people who have experienced trauma, anxiety, or chronic stress, the nervous system can become stuck in survival mode.

Learn 5 effective breathing techniques to calm an overactive nervous system. Discover how EMDR and therapy can help restore balance and emotional regulation for clients in Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Danville, Pleasant Hill, Concord, San Ramon, and Alamo.

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Leslie Hemedes
How EMDR Complements Medication for Anxiety and PTSD

Anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can take a profound toll on both mind and body. Many people seek relief through medication—and for good reason. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can ease symptoms, restore sleep, and make daily life more manageable.

Discover how EMDR complements medication for anxiety and PTSD. Learn how therapy and medication work together for effective, long-term healing for clients in Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Danville, Pleasant Hill, Concord, San Ramon, and Alamo.

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Leslie Hemedes
How Trauma Impacts Your Window of Tolerance (and How to Expand It)

Everyone has a natural capacity to handle stress, emotions, and challenges in life. This capacity—known as your Window of Tolerance—determines how calm, balanced, and connected you feel even in the face of stress.

When you’re within this window, you can think clearly, respond intentionally, and stay grounded. But when trauma or chronic stress affects your nervous system, that window often becomes much smaller.

Discover how trauma affects your Window of Tolerance and learn evidence-based strategies to expand it. Explore how EMDR therapy and trauma-informed counseling help restore calm, connection, and resilience for clients in Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Danville, Pleasant Hill, Concord, San Ramon, and Alamo.

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Leslie Hemedes
Why Healing Isn’t Just in the Mind: The Body’s Role in Processing Trauma

Even when your mind understands you’re safe, your body may still be carrying the residue of past experiences. Trauma leaves imprints not only in memories and emotions but also in the muscles, breath, and nervous system. Trauma doesn’t just live in your thoughts — it lives in your body.

Learn how the nervous system holds on to past pain, and how EMDR therapy helps you release, reprocess, and reclaim safety from within. Serving clients in Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Danville, Pleasant Hill, Concord, San Ramon, and Alamo.

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Leslie Hemedes
Is EMDR Effective for Grief and Loss?

Grieving the loss of someone or something deeply meaningful can feel like your entire world has shifted. While time and support can help, some forms of grief stay “stuck,” making it hard to move forward. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy offers a powerful, evidence-based way to process the emotional and physical pain of loss. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR helps your brain and body release distressing memories, reduce guilt, and rediscover peace. Learn how EMDR can support you through grief, trauma, or complicated loss—helping you honor your memories while reconnecting with life. Serving clients in Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Danville, Pleasant Hill, Concord, San Ramon, and Alamo.

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Leslie Hemedes
Navigating Divorce: Finding Healing and Renewal After Marriage

Divorce represents one of life's most challenging transitions—a process that reshapes your identity, relationships, and daily routines. While statistics suggest that approximately 40-50% of marriages end in dissolution, these numbers fail to capture the deeply personal nature of this experience. Each person's divorce journey is uniquely influenced by factors like marriage duration, presence of children, financial circumstances, and the nature of the separation itself.

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The Complete Guide to Breaking Down Self-Care: Essential Practices for East Bay Residents

In today's fast-paced world, especially in the bustling communities of the East Bay Area, "self-care" has become a popular buzzword. But what does genuine self-care actually entail beyond bubble baths and scented candles? For residents of Walnut Creek, Orinda, and surrounding communities, understanding the deeper dimensions of self-care is essential for maintaining mental wellness in our high-pressure environment.

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Leslie Hemedes
High-Functioning Anxiety: Hidden Struggle and Healing with EMDR Therapy in the East Bay Area

Do you appear to have it all together on the outside while battling a constant storm of worry within? High-functioning anxiety affects countless individuals throughout the East Bay Area. This common yet often unrecognized condition keeps many trapped in a cycle of perfectionism, overachievement, and internal distress that few others can see. High-functioning anxiety isn't an official clinical diagnosis, but it describes a very real experience: functioning well in daily life while experiencing significant anxiety symptoms.

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Leslie Hemedes
EMDR Therapy: A Breakthrough Treatment for Social Anxiety

Social anxiety can feel like an invisible prison, trapping you in a cycle of fear, avoidance, and self-doubt. For many residents of Concord, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Danville, San Ramon, Alamo, and Pleasant Hill, social anxiety limits career opportunities, strains relationships, and prevents full participation in community life. While traditional treatments offer some relief, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has emerged as a breakthrough treatment for social anxiety, offering hope to those who have struggled to find effective help through conventional approaches.

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EMDRLeslie Hemedes
Using EMDR to Transform Perfectionist Thinking Patterns

Perfectionism can feel like both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it drives achievement and excellence. On the other, it can lead to anxiety, burnout, and never feeling quite good enough. Perfectionism has become an exhausting way of life that impacts their mental health, relationships, and overall well-being. EMDR therapy offers a powerful approach to transforming these perfectionist thinking patterns at their core, providing lasting relief and a healthier relationship with achievement and self-worth.

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EMDRLeslie Hemedes
How EMDR Therapy Can Help Break the Cycle of Depression

Depression can feel like being trapped in a relentless cycle of negative thoughts, painful emotions, and physical exhaustion. For many people in Contra Costa County—whether in Concord, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Danville, San Ramon, Alamo, or Pleasant Hill—finding effective treatment can be challenging. While traditional approaches like medication and talk therapy help many individuals, some continue to struggle despite these interventions.

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EMDRLeslie Hemedes
EMDR for Women: Overcoming Trauma and Self-Doubt

Women often face unique challenges when it comes to trauma and self-doubt. Whether due to childhood experiences, abusive relationships, workplace discrimination, or other life stressors, unresolved trauma can manifest as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and difficulties in personal and professional life. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a highly effective, evidence-based approach that helps women process past trauma and rebuild confidence in themselves and their future.

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EMDRLeslie Hemedes
EMDR for First Responders: Healing Trauma from the Frontlines

First responders—firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and emergency personnel—are on the frontlines of crisis and disaster. Their jobs require them to witness life-threatening situations, accidents, and human suffering on a daily basis. Over time, these experiences can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion.

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EMDRLeslie Hemedes
Integrating EMDR with Traditional Therapy: A Comprehensive Approach to Healing

Healing from trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress is not a one-size-fits-all journey. Different therapeutic approaches address various aspects of mental health, and integrating multiple methods can lead to more profound and lasting change. One highly effective combination is the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) alongside traditional talk therapy.

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EMDRLeslie Hemedes
Constantly Feeling Stuck

Have you ever found yourself struggling to feel fulfilled, engaged, or content? Do you sometimes struggle to find joy or happiness? Do you find yourself uncomfortable and tense as the days start to blend together, and you often find yourself feeling like a machine that tolerates the monotony of daily life? In this article, we will explore some of the reasons why many of us feel stuck, and discuss how identifying core values can offer a pivot point for change and allow movement through areas that feel stuck.

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Leslie Hemedes
Tips on How to Work From Home as a Parent

If you’re a parent working from home, you are most likely familiar with the challenges of juggling different roles. Some people may have already figured out their groove, while some may continue to feel overwhelmed and overworked by this transition. This article will give you some creative ideas about how to work from home while managing how to take care of you and your children throughout the process.

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