Deepening Trauma Healing with Psychedelic-Assisted EMDR (PsyA-EMDR)
As a trauma therapist here in Pasadena, CA, I have had the honor of working with clients on their most intimate healing journeys — journeys often marked by courage, vulnerability, and a desire to move beyond the weight of unresolved trauma. Over the years, I have specialized in trauma-focused therapies, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). More recently, an emerging modality has been taking root in the field: Psychedelic-Assisted EMDR, also known as PsyA-EMDR.
This unique approach combines two powerful healing modalities — EMDR and psychedelic medicine — to help clients reprocess trauma more deeply, gently, and often more rapidly than with traditional approaches alone. As interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy grows, so does the potential to unlock more profound healing for those who have struggled with trauma that traditional methods alone could not fully resolve.
Why Combine EMDR and Psychedelics?
Both EMDR and psychedelics, when used therapeutically and legally, share a common goal: to open pathways to parts of the brain and nervous system that are often locked down due to trauma. Trauma creates protective barriers that help us survive in the short term but keep us stuck in the long term. These barriers can make it difficult to access, process, and integrate traumatic memories fully.
EMDR is already a powerful tool for unlocking these memories by leveraging bilateral stimulation to help reprocess stored traumatic material. Psychedelics, such as psilocybin, MDMA, or ketamine (when used safely and ethically in a clinical setting), can temporarily soften the brain’s defense mechanisms and promote neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to form new connections and perspectives.
When combined thoughtfully, PsyA-EMDR creates a synergy that facilitates access to deep emotional material while helping clients stay present, supported, and open to healing.
How PsyA-EMDR Works
At its core, PsyA-EMDR integrates the structure and intentionality of EMDR therapy with the non-ordinary states of consciousness produced by psychedelic medicine. This is not just “doing EMDR while on a psychedelic” — it is a carefully guided therapeutic experience.
In my work here in Pasadena, PsyA-EMDR typically involves several stages:
Preparation Phase
Before introducing psychedelic medicine, clients work closely with their therapist to build a strong therapeutic alliance, identify target memories, and develop coping and grounding strategies. This phase ensures that clients are well-prepared emotionally and psychologically for the altered states they may experience.
Psychedelic Session with EMDR
During the medicine session, the therapist facilitates EMDR within the psychedelic space. Bilateral stimulation is adapted to fit the client’s needs — sometimes using tactile pulsers, tones, or even gentle eye movements. The psychedelic medicine often deepens emotional access, allowing clients to connect with traumatic material they may not have been able to access otherwise. Clients frequently report that the medicine allows them to experience memories with a new perspective, increased self-compassion, and a sense of spaciousness.
Integration Phase
Following the PsyA-EMDR session, integration is key. The client works with the therapist to make sense of the insights and emotional shifts that occurred during the session. This helps translate the experience into lasting change and emotional relief.
The Benefits of PsyA-EMDR for Trauma Healing
I have seen clients who previously struggled to access or process trauma find themselves more open and receptive through this combined approach. PsyA-EMDR offers several unique benefits:
Increased Access to Emotions and Memories
Psychedelic medicine often allows clients to gently bypass defense mechanisms, accessing traumatic memories with less fear or avoidance.
Reduced Overwhelm
Many clients fear that accessing trauma will be too much to handle. Paradoxically, the presence of psychedelics (especially MDMA or psilocybin) can reduce emotional overwhelm and promote a sense of safety, even while exploring difficult material.
Enhanced Insight and Meaning-Making
Clients often find that insights arise organically during PsyA-EMDR — connections between past experiences and present-day challenges become clearer, and new, more compassionate narratives emerge.
Strengthened Neuroplasticity
Psychedelics are known to promote neuroplasticity, making the brain more receptive to change. This amplifies the reprocessing effect of EMDR, often leading to faster and deeper integration of trauma.
Healing Beyond Words
Like EMDR, PsyA-EMDR does not require clients to narrate every detail of their trauma. Instead, it works directly with the emotional and somatic experience, making it particularly beneficial for those who struggle to verbalize their past.
PsyA-EMDR and the Importance of Ethical Practice
While the promise of PsyA-EMDR is exciting, it is equally important to acknowledge that this modality must be conducted responsibly. Psychedelic-assisted therapy should only be done under the guidance of trained professionals and within legal and ethical frameworks. Not every psychedelic substance is appropriate for every person or every situation. Here in Pasadena and throughout California, the landscape of legal psychedelic-assisted therapy is still evolving, but interest in safe, therapeutic use is growing.
As a trauma therapist, I am committed to the highest ethical standards. I work collaboratively with clients to assess readiness, select appropriate interventions, and ensure ongoing integration and support.
PsyA-EMDR in Pasadena — A Natural Fit for Transformation
Pasadena’s natural beauty, from the San Gabriel Mountains to the quiet spaces of the Huntington Gardens, makes it an ideal place to undertake deep healing work. Many clients incorporate mindful walks, time in nature, or creative pursuits into their integration process. PsyA-EMDR is not just about what happens in the therapy room — it is about weaving healing into your daily life.
In Pasadena, I have seen PsyA-EMDR help clients who felt hopeless after years of talk therapy finally experience breakthroughs — not because they worked harder, but because they were given access to the emotional space where healing could truly happen.
A Real-Life Example
One client, who I will call “J,” came to me after feeling stuck for years. Traditional EMDR had helped to some extent, but certain memories still carried unbearable emotional weight. Through PsyA-EMDR, J was able to access these memories with a new sense of curiosity rather than fear. Within several sessions, J reported a profound shift — not just in the memory itself but in how they related to themselves and their story. The memory remained, but the charge was gone. What was once unbearable became integrated.
Is PsyA-EMDR Right for You?
PsyA-EMDR is not for everyone, but for those who feel stuck in trauma healing, it may open new doors. If you are curious, I encourage you to speak with a trained trauma therapist who understands both EMDR and the principles of psychedelic-assisted therapy. I would be more than happy to consult and answer any questions you may have.
Start Working with An EMDR Therapist in Pasadena, CA
In my Pasadena-based practice, I am passionate about providing clients with a safe and supportive space to explore these powerful tools. Healing is not just possible — it is available. Sometimes, we simply need a bridge to cross into new possibilities. PsyA-EMDR can be that bridge. You can start your therapy journey with Thomas Blake Therapy by following these simple steps:
Schedule a free, 15-minute consultation to see if EMDR Therapy is right for you
Begin meeting with Thomas Blake, skilled EMDR Therapist
Find lasting healing from past trauma!
Other Services Offered at Thomas Blake Therapy
At Thomas Blake Therapy, I understand that you may be struggling to overcome more than one issue. So, in addition to EMDR Therapy, I’m happy to also offer LGBTQ Affirming Therapy to support and advocate for the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, Narrative Therapy where I will work collaboratively with you to dissect the problematic story of your life and reshape that dialogue, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy to accelerate healing in patients who have struggled to heal from chronic emotional pain due to treatment resistance. If any of these services resonate with you, please reach out. My online therapy services are offered in California and New Jersey. For more about me and my services, check out my Bio and Blog today!
