Frequently asked questions

The first session is a conversation. We'll talk about what brought you in, what you've already tried, what you're hoping to work on, and anything you want to know about how I work. We won't start EMDR processing in the first session. There's a history-gathering and stabilization phase that comes first, which is part of how EMDR is designed to work safely. By the end of the conversation, we'll both have a sense of whether this is the right fit.

I work with adults and couples navigating trauma, adverse childhood experiences, anxiety, mood disorders, addiction and substance use, grief, relationship challenges, shame, life transitions, and day-to-day stress. The full list is on the services page, but the short version is: if something is affecting your quality of life and you haven't been able to shift it on your own, that's a reason to reach out.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It's an evidence-based therapy designed to help the brain process experiences that didn't fully resolve when they happened. In a session, you focus briefly on a difficult memory or feeling while following a back-and-forth movement, usually eye movements or alternating taps. That combination helps the original experience lose its emotional charge, so it stops driving the same reactions in the present. It isn't hypnosis. It doesn't erase memories. For many people, it moves things that years of talking about the problem didn't move.

No. EMDR is well known for treating PTSD, but it works just as well for anxiety, shame, grief, and difficult experiences that don't carry a formal diagnosis but still affect how you live. You don't need to prove your pain is serious enough to deserve help.

Yes. Sobriety is not a requirement for starting therapy. A significant part of my work is with people navigating substance use and addiction, along with the trauma, shame, and anxiety that often sit underneath it. I work with people in active use, early recovery, long-term recovery, and the uncertain middle. I ask for honesty, because that gives us something real to work with.

Yes. EMDR has been adapted for telehealth and there's a growing body of research supporting its effectiveness in that format. The methods work over video. For many people, doing this work from a familiar and private space actually helps.

Most people start with weekly sessions. EMDR work in particular benefits from that consistency. As the work progresses and goals are met, frequency may shift to every other week or as needed. The cadence is based on what's actually serving the work.

Yes. This is a fully virtual practice and I'm licensed throughout California. If you're outside of California, I'm not able to provide therapy directly, but I'm happy to offer referral suggestions.

Yes. What you bring into therapy stays there. Confidentiality is protected by law and professional ethics, with limited exceptions, primarily situations involving imminent danger to yourself or others, suspected abuse of a minor or dependent adult, and certain court orders. I'll go over these clearly at the start of our work together.

Talk therapy sessions are $180 per 50-minute session. EMDR sessions are $200. Couples sessions are $225. I'm an out-of-network provider and offer monthly superbills for clients seeking insurance reimbursement. To get started, use the contact form, email info@craigbissell.com, or book directly through the scheduling link on the contact page.