How do I know if Lisa Chen & Associates is the right fit for me?

We offer a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation. It's a chance to get to know us, understand our approach, and see if we align with your needs. The purpose of an initial consultation is to determine if you are a good fit for working together. You can expect a 15–20 minute conversation where you will have the opportunity to share your concerns, goals, and what you hope to achieve through therapy. This is also a chance for you to ask questions and get a sense of the therapist's approach and personality.

Our fees range from $180 to $350 per 50-minute session based on the clinician's experience, specialized training, and services provided. Lisa Chen's fees are $350 per 50-minute session for both individual and couples counseling. Licensed Client Session fees are $200 for individual and $225 for couples counseling per 50-minute session. Associate Clinician fees are $180 for individual and $200 for couples counseling per 50-minute session. We also reserve spots for clients requesting a sliding-scale rate to accommodate financial needs.

Do you accept insurance?

Lisa Chen & Associates are out-of-network providers. We provide monthly insurance statements ('Superbills') for you to seek partial reimbursement from your insurance company according to your policy. For questions about your out-of-network benefits, please contact your insurance carrier before scheduling.

What is your cancellation policy?

Weekly clients are allowed 3 free cancellations every 6 months, and bi-weekly clients are allowed 2 free cancellations every 6 months, beginning from the date of your first session. You will be responsible for payment for your normally scheduled session time for all cancelled appointments beyond this. Please provide at least 48 hours' notice for cancellations. You may always choose to reschedule and/or take sessions virtually to accommodate occasional scheduling conflicts.

How often should I expect to meet?

We recommend weekly therapy sessions for optimal progress. However, there are times when clients prefer to meet twice a week for more complex challenges. During your initial phone consultation, let us know if you are interested in more frequent sessions.

Are you offering in-person sessions?

Yes, we are seeing clients in our South Bay office located at 2615 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 326, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. We also offer telehealth sessions for California residents.

How do I get started with counseling?

The first step is to schedule an initial consultation by calling our office or submitting the contact form on our website. This allows us to understand your needs and match you with the best therapist for your situation. From there, we'll work with you to schedule ongoing sessions.

EMDR Therapy in Hermosa Beach for High-Functioning Individuals

You understand what’s happening. It still doesn’t shift.

EMDR helps your system process what insight alone hasn’t been able to resolve.

Why EMDR Works When Other Therapy Hasn’t

Many of our clients come to EMDR after already doing therapy.

They understand their patterns.
They’ve talked through their experiences.
But something still feels stuck.

EMDR works differently.

Instead of relying only on insight, it helps your brain and body fully process experiences that haven’t resolved, allowing them to lose their emotional intensity.

You don’t have to keep managing what your system can actually resolve.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy that helps the brain process distressing memories so they no longer feel as intense or disruptive.

It allows your system to integrate experiences that feel stuck.

EMDR isn’t about talking more. It’s about helping your system finally process what it already knows.

What is EMDR Therapy, presented by Lisa Chen & Associates.

EMDR for High-Functioning Individuals

EMDR is particularly effective for individuals who:

Are high-performing but feel internally stuck
Have insight but still experience strong reactions
Notice patterns that don’t shift with logic alone
Feel like they are managing, rather than resolving

This includes professionals across Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and the South Bay who are used to functioning at a high level but want deeper change.

How EMDR Therapy Works

During EMDR sessions, we identify specific memories, triggers, or patterns connected to current distress. Using structured bilateral stimulation, the brain begins to reorganize how those memories are stored.

Clients often describe the process as:

• feeling less emotionally reactive
• gaining perspective on past events
• experiencing relief from long-held anxiety or fear
• noticing changes in how they respond to stress

The goal is not to erase memory, but to reduce its emotional intensity and impact.

EMDR has been shown to have a positive effect on symptoms, often leading to a decrease in symptoms after just a few sessions. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress EMDR was found to be effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD in 77-100% of patients after just 6-12 sessions. With its ability to help individuals process and integrate traumatic experiences, EMDR therapy is a powerful tool for healing and transformation.

Furthermore, EMDR therapy has also demonstrated its effectiveness in treating a wide range of other mental health conditions beyond PTSD. Research has indicated that EMDR can be beneficial in addressing anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, and even addiction. By utilizing bilateral stimulation techniques and guiding individuals through the reprocessing of distressing memories, EMDR enables patients to tap into their innate healing capacities.

The transformative nature of this therapy lies in its capacity to not only alleviate symptoms but also promote profound emotional and psychological growth. EMDR therapy stands as a beacon of hope, offering a path toward healing and resilience for those who have experienced trauma and other challenging life events. EMDR, there is a path toward renewed resilience and a brighter future.

What EMDR Helps With

When something feels stuck, it’s often not because you haven’t tried hard enough. It’s because your system hasn’t fully processed it.

What EMDR Feels Like

EMDR is not about reliving experiences in an overwhelming way.

Most clients describe it as:

Processing something while staying grounded
Noticing shifts in how memories feel over time
Gaining distance from experiences that once felt immediate

The work is structured and paced so that it feels manageable.

You don’t have to relive everything to heal it.

EMDR and Trauma, Anxiety, and Burnout

EMDR is often used as part of treatment for:

These patterns are often connected.

EMDR helps address what is underlying them.

EMDR is one of several depth-oriented approaches we use to support meaningful and lasting change. To understand how this work fits within our broader treatment philosophy, visit How We Treat.

The Science Behind EMDR

EMDR works by utilizing bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, taps, or sounds, to activate the brain and allow for the processing of traumatic memories. By assisting the brain in processing traumatic memories in a safe and controlled environment, EMDR can lead to lasting change and improvement in mental health.

The science behind EMDR revolves around the brain's remarkable capacity to reorganize and heal itself. The bilateral stimulation used in EMDR, whether through eye movements, taps, or sounds, activates both sides of the brain, facilitating the processing of traumatic memories. This bilateral stimulation is thought to mimic the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep, during which the brain naturally processes and integrates experiences.

Research suggests that bilateral stimulation engages the brain's adaptive information processing mechanisms, allowing traumatic memories to be effectively reprocessed. This process involves the desensitization of distressing memories, the reevaluation of negative beliefs associated with the trauma, and the development of more adaptive and positive perspectives.

Additionally, during EMDR sessions, the therapist guides the individual through a structured approach, ensuring a safe and controlled environment for memory processing. By providing support and helping the individual maintain a balanced state of arousal, EMDR fosters the integration of traumatic memories with more adaptive and positive information. This integration can lead to a reduction in the emotional distress associated with the trauma, as well as a shift in how the individual perceives themselves and the world.

Moreover, neuroscientific studies have shown that EMDR has a measurable impact on the brain. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have revealed changes in brain activity, indicating a reprocessing of traumatic memories and a shift towards more adaptive neural networks.

Your brain already knows how to heal. EMDR helps it complete a process that was interrupted.

Close-up of a black compass showing cardinal directions

4 Tips for Choosing an EMDR Therapist in Hermosa Beach

In a city as vast as Los Angeles, finding the right EMDR therapist can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you navigate the search process:

Research and gather information about EMDR therapists in Hermosa Beach
Read reviews and testimonials from previous clients to get an idea of the therapist's approach and effectiveness.
Consider the therapist's specialization and experience in treating your specific concerns.
Schedule an initial consultation to assess the therapist's compatibility with your needs and goals.

The method matters, but so does the person guiding it. The work is only as effective as the relationship holding it.

Close-up of a person's eye with blue iris and detailed skin texture.

EMDR Therapy: What to Expect in a Session

During an EMDR therapy session, you can expect to:

Discuss your goals and concerns with the therapist.
Identify specific traumatic memories or distressing experiences to target.
Engage in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or other forms of stimulation.
Share and process any thoughts or emotions that arise during the session.

Mountain landscape at sunrise with clouds and mist.

EMDR Trauma Therapy Near Me: Finding Support in Your Area

Finding support in your area is crucial when seeking trauma therapy. There are various resources available to help you locate EMDR trauma therapists near you. Online directories, such as the EMDR International Association, allow you to search for certified EMDR therapists based on your location. You can also seek recommendations from your primary care physician or inquire at local mental health clinics.

Are you ready to break free from past traumas, anxiety, and negative patterns? Lisa Chen & Associates invites residents of California to discover the power of EMDR Therapy with our experienced team of therapists. Contact Lisa Chen & Associates to schedule your EMDR Therapy session at hello@lisachentherapy.com or 213.537.9672.

EMDR Therapy in Hermosa Beach and the South Bay

We provide EMDR therapy in Los Angeles, including Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and the South Bay.

We also offer virtual therapy throughout California.

Quick Summary

EMDR therapy in Hermosa Beach helps individuals process unresolved experiences that continue to affect their emotions, reactions, and patterns. It is especially effective for high-functioning individuals who feel stuck despite insight. Our approach integrates EMDR with IFS and psychodynamic therapy to create lasting change. Services are available in Hermosa Beach and throughout California via telehealth.

What Is EMDR Therapy, and How Does It Work?"

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is a type of therapy that utilizes bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, taps or sounds to help individuals process traumatic memories and reduce symptoms of emotional distress.
Yes, EMDR therapy has been extensively researched and is recognized as an evidence-based therapy for the treatment of trauma and related conditions by numerous professional organizations, including the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association.
EMDR therapy has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of mental health conditions, including but not limited to anxiety, depression PTSD, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). EMDR has been effective at increasing motivation and performance.
An EMDR session typically lasts between 50 to 90 minutes. The number of EMDR therapy sessions needed can vary depending on the individual and their specific needs. Some individuals may require only a few sessions, while others may need more.
Unlike talk therapy or other forms of therapy, EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation to activate both hemispheres of the brain and allow for the processing of traumatic memories. This sets it apart and makes it a unique approach to treating mental health conditions.
During EMDR therapy, the therapist guides the client through the recall of a traumatic memory while providing bilateral stimulation, allowing the brain to process the experience and integrate it. This helps reduce the symptoms associated with the traumatic experience and promotes healing.
While traditional talk therapy focuses on exploring and discussing the client's thoughts and emotions, EMDR therapy takes a more targeted and structured approach. EMDR therapy specifically targets traumatic memories and aims to reprocess them to alleviate distressing symptoms and promote healing. Both approaches can be effective, and the choice between them depends on the individual's preferences and needs.