EMDR Therapy
with Tomiko D. Mackey, LCSW
I’ve spent over 26 years helping people work through trauma.
If you’ve never experienced Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), it can seem “pretty bizarre.” But, if you go with it, and trust it, you can begin to heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences.
Has talk therapy only gotten you so far?
Do you understand what happened but continue to feel triggered?
Are you experiencing intrusive thoughts, anxiety, or having difficulty regulating emotions?
EMDR helps your brain and body heal.
People Come to Me When They’re:
Easily triggered
Feeling disconnected
Experiencing flashbacks
Anxious
Having intrusive thought
Having trouble sleeping
Experiencing panic attacks
Repeating unhealthy relationship patterns
Feeling stuck
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
How EMDR Therapy with Me Works
We always begin with a thorough assessment so I understand your history, your patterns, and what you want to change. From there, we follow a structured EMDR process designed to help you feel safe and in control.
We start by building stability. You will learn how to recognize when your body becomes activated and how to calm it before things escalate.
From there, we gently process experiences, one at a time, so they lose their emotional intensity. You will still remember what happened, but it will no longer feel like it’s happening right now.
This work is collaborative and paced to you. Some people notice relief quickly. Others move more gradually.
I integrate EMDR with other evidence-based approaches to support deeper, lasting change.
Modalities I Use
-
Helps your brain reprocess painful memories so they stop triggering intense reactions.
-
Reduces self-blame and reshapes unhelpful beliefs about yourself and others.
-
Helps process traumatic memories, manage difficult emotions, and develop healthy coping skills.
No matter the approach, we focus on helping you stay grounded so you can process without becoming overwhelmed.
Let Your Body Lead
If you’re ready for your past to stop showing up in your present, EMDR is a great place to start.
After EMDR Therapy with Me, Clients Report:
Lower baseline anxiety
Fewer triggers
Clearer thinking
More emotional control
Improved relationships
EMDR reprocesses how your brain stores a traumatic event. Over time, you are more grounded and your body responds from today, not the past
About Tomiko D. Mackey
My therapy is designed for people who want to better understand their emotional patterns and begin creating lasting change.
Clients often describe my approach as honest, compassionate, and grounding. Together, we work to better understand the patterns that may be keeping you stuck and develop new ways of responding to yourself and the world around you.
My background includes over 26 years working with children and adults in trauma-focused settings, which deeply shaped the way I understand and approach trauma therapy. I also bring lived experience into this work, allowing me to connect with clients in a genuine and human way.
Outside of therapy, I love spending time outdoors, hiking, exploring local farmers’ markets, cooking, and discovering great food while traveling. One of my favorite adventures was going on safari in Botswana. I also deeply value time with family and friends.
Availability: I work with individuals via telehealth across California and Mississippi.
Education, Credentials, and Trainings
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of California, Irvine
Master of Social Work, California State University, Long Beach
Certified TF-CBT Therapist
EMDR Trained Clinician
Cognitive Processing Therapy Provider
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia
Member, National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Member, Association of Professionals Solving the Abuse of Children (APSAC)
Champions of Children Award, 2019
Outstanding Frontline Professional Award, 2020
3 Steps to Get Started
-
If you’re curious about working together or would like to learn more about my approach, feel free to fill out the contact form.
-
We’ll have a short call to see if this feels like a good fit and answer your questions.
-
We’ll begin by exploring your history, understanding your goals, and building a foundation of stability and support as we create a plan for our EMDR work together.