I offer adjunctive EMDR therapy for clients who are already in therapy with another clinician and want focused support for a specific memory, event, or pattern that feels stuck. Your relationship with the person you’re referring remains the foundation of the work throughout the process.
I add a layer of targeted EMDR processing, coordinated with you, for a specific memory, event, or pattern that hasn’t shifted through talk alone. I coordinate directly with referring therapists to keep the work connected and consistent.
Understanding what happened doesn't always stop it from pulling you back.
Some people have done real, meaningful work in therapy and still feel certain experiences pulling them back. The insight is there. The words are there. But something in the nervous system hasn’t gotten the message yet. There can be a difference between understanding something intellectually and feeling differently in everyday life. That’s where adjunct EMDR often becomes useful.
Adjunct EMDR is short-term and focused. It doesn’t replace the depth work happening in the primary therapy relationship. It adds a targeted layer of EMDR therapy processing, coordinated with you, to help move through what’s been blocking progress. Your therapeutic relationship stays central throughout.
Everything about the process is designed to stay connected to your ongoing work together.
Who Adjunct EMDR Services Are For
Adjunct EMDR may be a good fit if the person you’re referring:
The way I approach adjunct EMDR starts with coordination. Before we begin, I connect with the referring therapist to understand the client’s history, treatment goals, and what we’re targeting together. Clients continue working with their primary therapist throughout, while I provide a limited number of EMDR sessions focused on a specific memory, event, or belief. I pay close attention to pacing and what someone can realistically integrate emotionally, not just what a protocol says should happen next.
EMDR works by guiding you to recall a distressing memory or experience while engaging in bilateral stimulation, typically side-to-side eye movements or tapping. This helps the brain reprocess the memory and reduce its emotional charge. The memory doesn’t disappear, but it no longer pulls you back into it the way it did before. Painful experiences lose their intensity. More accurate, adaptive beliefs about yourself and the experience take root in their place.
Here's how the process typically unfolds:
Better you. Better world.
I’m Lucy Klein, LMFT, licensed in California and Arizona. I pay close attention to pacing and what someone can tolerate emotionally. Some people need more grounding or more space before going deeper. I adjust as we go, not because the protocol says to, but because that’s what the work actually requires.
When I work adjunctively, I treat you as the expert on the person you’re referring. My job is a specific, defined piece of the work. I take that coordination seriously.
What I offer:
Sometimes, focused EMDR reaches what talking alone hasn't.
Adjunct EMDR is structured differently from an open-ended therapy relationship. There’s a defined scope, a clear target, and a limited number of sessions. Here’s how the different components of the work fit together.
Adjunct EMDR is EMDR delivered as a focused addition to an existing therapy relationship. The person keeps seeing their therapist as usual. I work with them separately on a specific memory, event, or belief. Nothing replaces or interrupts the primary therapy. The two tracks run in parallel, coordinated from the start.
Collaboration with you is built into how I work. Before we begin, I speak with you to understand the person and what we’re targeting. I check in when something significant shifts. When the work is complete, I communicate how things were resolved so you can integrate that going forward. The person stays connected to you throughout.
Most adjunct EMDR runs for 8-12 weekly sessions, 50 minutes each. We set defined goals at the start. The pace is measured, not rushed. Regular primary therapy sessions continue throughout, so the support structure stays in place while the focused processing happens.
For those who want to condense the work, an intensive format is available. EMDR intensives involve longer sessions held over a few days rather than spread across weeks. This works well for single-incident trauma or specific adverse life experiences with a clearly defined target. Complex trauma with a layered history usually fits better in the standard weekly format. We figure out which approach makes sense during the initial consultation.
The work starts by identifying the specific target.
The experience of the EMDR therapist matters, especially in adjunct work. I track the window of tolerance carefully. I adjust pacing, method, and target based on what’s actually happening in the room, not just what the protocol says should happen next. That attunement is what keeps the work safe when emotional intensity is high.
EMDRIA, the EMDR International Association, is the professional body that sets the standard for EMDR therapy training and certification. When providing adjunct EMDR therapy, it matters that the provider has met those training standards and is committed to continuing education in EMDR. Referring therapists can be confident that the adjunct EMDR treatment stays coordinated with the primary therapist and fits within the context of what’s already being worked on, rather than pulling in a different direction.
Adjunct EMDR is most useful when there’s a specific target: a memory, an event, a belief, or a pattern that keeps getting activated even after significant therapy work. Here are the most common areas I work with.
The most common reason a therapist makes a referral for adjunct EMDR is a specific area of unresolved activation: a memory or set of memories that continues to carry emotional weight despite real progress in the primary therapy. Narrowly targeting specific traumatic memories allows EMDR to address the emotional charge at the level where it’s stored, not just where it’s understood. Clients often report that after adjunct EMDR, the material they’ve been working on for months finally has less grip. Therapy can move forward more smoothly from there.
Adjunct EMDR works particularly well for single-incident trauma or a specific adverse life experience with a clear beginning and end: an accident, a medical event, a loss, a betrayal, a professional crisis. When the target is defined and the person has good coping resources and a strong primary therapy relationship, focused EMDR processing can significantly reduce emotional distress and help someone integrate the experience in a way that talk alone has not been able to achieve.
Many people carry distressing memories alongside deeply held negative beliefs about themselves: that they are not enough, not safe, not lovable, or at fault for what happened. These limiting beliefs often persist even when someone intellectually understands they’re not true. EMDR targets both the memory and the belief simultaneously, working to reduce the emotional charge of the memory while installing a more accurate, adaptive belief. Over time, the new belief becomes what the nervous system reaches for rather than the old one.
When anxiety, panic, or chronic stress responses are tied to specific memories or experiences, EMDR can address those roots directly. This is different from treating generalized anxiety: adjunct EMDR is most effective when there’s an identifiable experience or set of experiences that the anxiety seems to trace back to. By processing those experiences, the emotional and physical reactions they generate often reduce in intensity over time, allowing the nervous system to regulate more easily in situations that previously triggered strong reactivity.
Some people reach a place in therapy where forward movement slows despite genuine engagement and insight. Some experiences need a different kind of processing alongside ongoing therapy. This isn’t about talk therapy failing. It’s that certain material is stored at a level that narrative processing alone doesn’t fully reach. Adjunct EMDR can provide renewed momentum by working at the level of the memory and the nervous system rather than the narrative alone. Many clients and their therapists report that primary therapy moves forward more smoothly and efficiently after a focused course of EMDR processing.
If you're looking for someone to trust with this referral, let's talk.
Referring someone for adjunct EMDR is straightforward. Here’s what the process looks like from your end.
A referral is generally a good fit when the person has a stable primary therapy relationship, adequate coping capacity, a clearly identifiable target, and genuine motivation for focused processing work. Clients who are actively suicidal, in crisis, or without sufficient stabilization resources are typically not appropriate for adjunct EMDR until those foundations are in place. If you’re uncertain whether this is a good fit, I’m happy to have a brief consultation call to talk it through before making a referral.
The primary therapeutic relationship remains central throughout adjunct EMDR work. Adjunct EMDR does not replace or interrupt ongoing therapy. Regular sessions with the primary therapist continue throughout. My role is to handle a specific, defined piece of the work in a way that supports rather than competes with what’s already happening. I treat the primary therapist as the expert on the person they’re referring and check in at key points during the adjunct work to ensure everything remains coordinated and aligned.
My approach to adjunct EMDR is thoughtful and holistic. I don’t treat the adjunct work as isolated from the full context of the person’s care. I bring in what I know about the person’s history, their primary therapy focus, and their nervous system response as I work. I adjust pacing based on what’s actually happening rather than following a rigid protocol. And I stay in communication with the referring therapist so the work stays integrated rather than fragmented. The goal is for the person to feel like their care is connected and coherent, not like they’re managing two separate treatment relationships.
The first session isn’t EMDR yet. It’s an assessment and orientation. We talk about what brought the person here, what they’re hoping to work on, their history with therapy, and their experience with strong emotions. I want to understand their coping resources, their nervous system, and whether adjunct EMDR is the right fit before we begin any processing. We also talk through the scope of the work so they know what to expect and what the plan looks like from start to finish.
What the first session actually covers:
Most people leave the first session with a clear sense of the plan and what the work will involve. There’s no pressure. If it doesn’t feel like the right fit on either side, we say so. The referral process exists to make sure we’re both confident before we begin.
There's usually a way around what's been blocking. Like flowing water.
Adjunct EMDR is time-limited EMDR added to an existing therapy relationship. The person keeps seeing their regular therapist. They also work with me separately for a defined number of sessions targeting a specific memory, event, or belief. It doesn’t replace or interrupt what’s already happening. It adds a coordinated layer of focused processing.
What Is Adjunct EMDR Therapy and How Does It Differ From Standalone EMDR?
Standalone EMDR is a full course of EMDR therapy where the EMDR therapist serves as the primary clinician. Adjunctive EMDR is scoped differently. There is a defined target, a limited number of sessions, and an explicit collaborative relationship with the person’s primary therapist. The primary therapy relationship remains the anchor throughout the process.
The Collaborative Nature of This Model
Collaboration with the primary therapist is built into how adjunct EMDR works. I speak with the referring clinician before we begin, stay in communication during the process, and update them when the work is complete. The person and the primary therapist stay connected throughout, which is what keeps this model safe and effective.
The process starts with a referral and a brief call between us to discuss the person and the target.
How the Adjunct EMDR Process Works Step by Step
The process begins with identifying the target: the memory, event, body sensation, or limiting belief creating the stuck point. We assess what’s connected to it, including images, emotions, body sensations, and negative beliefs. Bilateral stimulation helps the brain reprocess the experience and reduce its emotional charge. Nervous system regulation is woven throughout. Ongoing sessions build on what has been processed until the target has sufficiently resolved.
Life Experiences, Body Sensations, and Limiting Beliefs in EMDR
EMDR addresses distressing life experiences at the level where they are stored. Most unresolved experiences are held not just as memories but as body sensations and limiting beliefs about the self. EMDR works with all three simultaneously, which is why it can reach material that talk therapy, which primarily addresses the narrative, sometimes cannot.
Yes. Reach out directly, and we’ll talk through whether this is a good fit before any referral is made. If we go forward, I will stay in coordination with you throughout.
Guidelines for Referring Therapists
A referral fits well when the person has a stable therapy relationship, adequate coping resources, a clear target, and genuine motivation. Those in active crisis or without stabilization resources aren’t appropriate candidates until those foundations are in place.
How I Communicate With Referring Clinicians
Before we begin, I speak with the referring therapist to understand the person and what we’re targeting. During the adjunct work, I check in at key points, particularly when something shifts significantly. When the work is complete, I communicate how things were resolved so you can integrate that into your ongoing work. The level of communication is collaborative treatment planning, not just a handoff.
Yes. The existing therapy relationship stays intact throughout the process, which helps people feel grounded while doing focused trauma work. Clients continue seeing their primary therapist weekly. The ongoing work remains grounded in that relationship. I handle a specific, defined piece of the processing in coordination with you.
Maintaining the Primary Therapeutic Relationship During Adjunct Care
The relationship the person already trusts stays in place throughout. My scope is narrow and agreed upon from the start. I don’t redirect the larger treatment direction or work outside what we’ve agreed on together. I check in with you at key points and communicate what’s shifted when the adjunct work resolves. The care stays coherent rather than fragmented.
Sometimes people know exactly why they feel the way they do and still feel emotionally pulled back in certain situations. There can be a difference between understanding something intellectually and experiencing it differently in daily life. Integrating EMDR adjunctively creates space for that deeper processing without disrupting the primary therapy relationship.
EMDR Within Ongoing Psychotherapy
When EMDR is integrated into ongoing psychotherapy through adjunctive services, the primary therapist continues the relational and identity work. I handle the focused trauma processing. The two tracks work alongside each other. People often notice that the work in their primary therapy feels different after EMDR processing, like something that had been blocking movement is no longer as present.
Adjunct EMDR addresses material that talk therapy alone isn’t fully reaching. When progress slows, it’s often because the experience is stored at a level that narrative processing doesn’t access on its own. EMDR works on the memory, the body sensation, and the belief simultaneously. When those shift, primary therapy often moves differently.
Benefits of Adjunctive EMDR for Stuck Points in Treatment
People often report:
Targeting Specific Traumatic Memories to Resolve Stagnation
Narrowly targeting specific traumatic memories allows EMDR to address the emotional charge at its source. Rather than talking around the experience or managing its effects, EMDR goes to the memory itself and works to reduce its intensity and change the beliefs it has generated. When the target is resolved, the stuck point in therapy often resolves with it.
Yes. Traditional EMDR has a broader scope and typically runs longer. Adjunctive EMDR has a defined scope, a clear target, a limited number of sessions, and a collaborative relationship with the existing primary therapist. The methodology is the same. The structure and role are different.
Adjunctive EMDR Versus Standalone EMDR
In standalone EMDR, the therapist handles the full clinical relationship. In adjunctive EMDR, I handle a specific, defined piece of the work while the primary therapist remains the anchor for the overall care. The scope is narrower, the time frame is shorter, and the coordination with the referring clinician is built into the model from the start.
Most adjunct EMDR work runs for 8-12 weekly sessions, depending on the complexity of the target and the person’s capacity for processing. Single-incident trauma or a specific adverse life experience with a clearly defined target often resolves in fewer sessions. Complex trauma with a layered history typically takes longer and may require a different treatment structure than a standard adjunct model.
Standard Session Format for Adjunct EMDR
Standard adjunct EMDR sessions are 50 minutes, held weekly, with defined goals agreed upon at the start. Primary therapy sessions continue throughout. The adjunct work has a clear beginning and end, which helps both the person and the referring therapist track progress and know what to expect.
EMDR Intensives as a Shorter Treatment Format
For those who want to compress the adjunct EMDR work into a shorter time frame, an intensive format is available. EMDR intensives involve longer, concentrated sessions held over a few days rather than spread across weeks. This works well for single-incident trauma or specific adverse life experiences with a clearly defined target. Complex trauma is typically better served by the standard weekly format.
Yes. There’s a defined scope, a defined number of sessions, and a clear endpoint. That structure is intentional. It keeps the work focused and the overall care integrated.
What Happens When Adjunct EMDR Is Complete
When the adjunct work is complete, I communicate with the referring therapist about how the processing resolved and what the person is carrying back into their ongoing work. Primary therapy continues with the processed material integrated. If another target emerges down the line, that’s always a conversation that happens in coordination with the primary therapist, not something I initiate unilaterally.
Yes, when the person has adequate stabilization, a strong primary therapy relationship, coping resources, and a clearly defined target. It fits people who are mid-treatment, have made progress, and have a specific area of unresolved activation. It’s not appropriate for those in active crisis or without the resources to tolerate focused processing.
When Adjunct EMDR Fits Well Into Ongoing Treatment
Adjunct EMDR fits well when the primary therapist and the person have identified a specific area that isn’t moving through talk therapy alone. It also fits well when the primary therapist wants to stay focused on relational or identity work while the EMDR provider handles the trauma processing. The two tracks complement each other rather than competing.
Adjunct EMDR requires clinical judgment beyond following a protocol. I track the window of tolerance, adjust pace and method based on what’s actually happening, and stay in communication with you in a way that supports rather than disrupts the primary therapy relationship. Experience in delivering EMDR adjunctively is specifically what matters here.
Emotional Intensity and Pacing in Adjunct EMDR
Emotional intensity during EMDR processing can be significant. An experienced EMDR therapist monitors this carefully and adjusts accordingly. Processing that moves faster than someone can integrate is not safe or effective. The ability to recognize when to slow down, shift approach, or pause entirely is a clinical skill that comes from experience, not just training. This is especially important in adjunct EMDR, where overall care is shared with another clinician.
EMDRIA is the professional body that sets standards for EMDR training and certification. EMDRIA certification means a therapist has met those standards and is committed to ongoing quality in their EMDR work. On a referral, it’s a meaningful indicator that the treatment is in trained hands.
What EMDRIA Certification Means for Referring Therapists
For referring therapists, EMDRIA certification means the clinician providing adjunct EMDR therapy has met recognized training standards and is practicing EMDR within an established professional framework. This matters when the care of someone you’re referring is involved, and you want confidence that the adjunct work stays coordinated with your primary therapy relationship and doesn’t create fragmentation or confusion in the overall treatment.
I offer both. This page focuses on adjunct EMDR for people already working with a primary therapist. For those seeking EMDR as their primary treatment, my general EMDR services are available separately. If you’re unsure which structure fits, a brief call is the best place to figure that out.
How to Get Started With Adjunct EMDR Services
The easiest way to begin is a brief call or email from the referring therapist. We talk through the situation, whether adjunct EMDR makes sense, and what the coordination would look like. From there, I meet with the person for an initial consultation, and we decide together whether to proceed. There’s no commitment required before that conversation. The referral process is designed to be low-barrier and collaborative from the start.
Let’s Get Started
If you think someone you’re working with might benefit from adjunct EMDR support, reach out. I’m happy to answer questions, talk through whether this is a good fit, and figure out the right next step together. You can reach me at lucy@lucykleinlmft.com or 415-737-5829.
Yes. The person carries the processed material back into their primary therapy, and the work continues from a different place. The therapy relationship already built stays the foundation. What shifts is that certain experiences no longer carry the same emotional grip inside them.
Continuity of Care After Adjunct EMDR Treatment
Continuity of care is something I take seriously. When the adjunct work is complete, I communicate with the referring therapist about what was processed and how it landed. That communication supports a smooth reintegration back into the primary therapy and ensures the referring clinician has what they need to continue the work from an informed place. The goal is for the person to feel their care is connected and coherent throughout, not that they were managing two separate treatment relationships at once.
All sessions are online. I work throughout the SF Bay Area, including San Francisco, Palo Alto, Oakland, Berkeley, the Peninsula, South Bay, and Silicon Valley, as well as across California and Arizona. Online adjunct EMDR allows the same quality of focused processing as in-person work, with the flexibility that busy schedules require.
Accessing Adjunct EMDR Services in California
To begin, the referring therapist or the person themselves can reach out via email or phone. We schedule a brief consultation to determine fit and readiness. If adjunct EMDR is a good match, we agree on a target, a session structure, and a plan for coordinating with the referring therapist. Sessions take place via a secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform accessible from anywhere in California or Arizona.
Session Fees
My fee is $250 per 50-minute session. Some couples find they need more time, and longer sessions are available and prorated at the same rate.
Fees are discussed directly during the initial free consultation. I want that conversation to be straightforward, so there are no surprises.
Insurance
I do not accept insurance directly. Clients with PPO plans may be eligible for partial reimbursement through out-of-network benefits. I provide monthly superbills for insurance submission. HSA and FSA funds can typically be applied to session fees.
Online Adjunct EMDR Therapy Across the SF Bay Area and California
All adjunct EMDR sessions are online via a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. I work with referring therapists and people throughout the SF Bay Area and across California and Arizona. For clients navigating life transitions alongside trauma work, or for couples where one or both partners would benefit from adjunct EMDR support, I’m also happy to discuss how the adjunct model might work in those contexts.
Your relationship with them stays central. I handle a focused piece carefully.
The referral process is simple. Reach out by email or phone, tell me a bit about the person you’re referring and what you’re hoping to address, and we’ll figure out together whether adjunct EMDR is the right fit. If it is, I’ll handle the focused processing work and keep you in the loop throughout. If it isn’t, I’ll tell you that and help you think through other options. Either way, I approach your client’s care with the same thoughtfulness and respect I’d want for someone referred by a therapist I trusted.
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