EMDR Therapy & Counseling in San Diego, CA
At Thrive Wellness, Mandy Pfaff, LMFT brings 30 years of clinical experience and an integrative, evidence-based toolkit — including EMDR, somatic therapy, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy — to mental health care that meets patients at the depth their conditions require. Sessions are available in-person in San Diego, CA , via telehealth throughout California, and in-home for eligible patients. Call (619) 984-4317 or contact Mandy directly at (310) 428-2193 to schedule.
Book OnlineAn Integrative, Evidence-Based Approach to Mental Health
Mental health and physical health are not separate systems — they are deeply interwoven. At Thrive Wellness, Mandy Pfaff’s counseling services are designed from the outset to work alongside our acupuncture, functional medicine, and bodywork offerings. This is not incidental — it reflects a fundamental understanding that lasting mental health improvement, particularly for trauma, chronic stress, and treatment-resistant conditions, often requires addressing both the psychological and physiological dimensions of the nervous system simultaneously.
Mandy’s therapeutic toolkit is one of the most comprehensive available in San Diego, CA . It includes EMDR therapy for trauma and PTSD processing, somatic interventions that address how trauma and stress are stored physically in the nervous system, mindfulness and meditation-based approaches, biofeedback, energy psychology, expressive arts therapy, movement strategies, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for patients whose conditions have not responded adequately to conventional treatment.
Her philosophy — “There is something that can work for everyone; it’s just a matter of finding it” — drives an approach that never defaults to a single modality when another might serve the patient better.
What EMDR Therapy & Counseling Helps
- PTSD & Trauma — including complex PTSD, developmental trauma, and acute stress response
- Anxiety & Depression — GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety, major depression, treatment-resistant depression
- OCD — evidence-based interventions for obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Insomnia & Sleep Issues — anxiety-driven sleep disruption, PTSD nightmares, hypervigilance
- Addiction & Recovery — trauma-informed recovery support
- Grief and loss
- Life transitions and adjustment challenges
- Chronic pain and illness with psychological components
- End-of-life distress
Service Details
Session Length: Standard sessions 50–60 minutes. EMDR and KAP sessions 75–90 minutes.
Age Range: Clients ages 4–90, with developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive approaches.
Delivery: In-person at Thrive Wellness in Mission Valley, San Diego, CA ; telehealth throughout California; in-home for KAP and eligible patients.
Insurance: Mandy does not accept insurance but provides superbills for out-of-network reimbursement. All services covered by HSA and FSA.
Contact: Reach Mandy directly at (310) 428-2193 or mandy.pfaff@icloud.com, or call our main line at (619) 984-4317.
EMDR Therapy & Counseling FAQs
What is EMDR and how does it work?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) uses bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements — to access and reprocess traumatic or distressing memories that have become stuck in the nervous system. It is endorsed for PTSD by the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. At Thrive Wellness, Mandy Pfaff offers EMDR within a comprehensive therapeutic framework that includes careful preparation, stabilization, and integration phases.
What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and who is it for?
KAP combines ketamine’s neuroplastic effects with structured psychotherapy to produce breakthroughs for patients with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, severe anxiety, OCD, and end-of-life distress. Mandy Pfaff completed a comprehensive three-year training in psychedelic-facilitated therapies in 2024 — making her one of the most prepared KAP providers in San Diego, CA . Sessions are available in-office and in-home for eligible patients.
Does EMDR require talking about trauma in detail?
No — EMDR processes traumatic memories through bilateral stimulation without requiring detailed verbal recounting. Many patients who have struggled with traditional talk therapy find EMDR more accessible because it works with the nervous system’s natural processing mechanisms rather than requiring repeated narration of painful experiences.
Can I receive counseling via telehealth at Thrive Wellness?
Yes — Mandy Pfaff offers secure telehealth sessions throughout California. Standard sessions are 50–60 minutes; EMDR and KAP sessions are 75–90 minutes. To schedule, contact Mandy at (310) 428-2193 or call (619) 984-4317.
How does counseling at Thrive Wellness integrate with other services?
Mental health care at Thrive Wellness is designed to work alongside acupuncture and functional medicine. Acupuncture supports the physiological nervous system regulation that makes trauma processing more effective. Functional medicine addresses the biological contributors — gut health, blood sugar, hormonal balance — that sustain anxiety and depression. Patients working with multiple Thrive Wellness practitioners consistently report faster and more comprehensive results than those receiving any single treatment alone.
Does Mandy Pfaff accept insurance?
Mandy does not accept insurance directly but provides superbills for patients with out-of-network mental health benefits. All services at Thrive Wellness are also covered by HSA and FSA accounts. Contact Mandy at (310) 428-2193 or call (619) 984-4317 to discuss payment options in San Diego, CA .