“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
Rumi

Understanding Trauma and the Healing Journey

Trauma can deeply impact both our physical and mental health, often leading to difficulty in relationships, managing emotions, and overall well-being. Fortunately, therapies like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) offer effective healing paths for trauma survivors.

Depression and anxiety are two common concerns that bring people into therapy. Nearly 20% of the population struggles with anxiety, and about half of those diagnosed with depression also face anxiety. Many individuals who face these challenges don’t receive the support they need. And yet, here you are today, taking the courageous step to explore the possibility of healing and growth through therapy.

Grief, whether from the death of a loved one or from the many forms of symbolic loss life sometimes brings, can feel like an overwhelming burden. When we are given a safe, compassionate space to process that grief, we can begin to carry it in a way that allows us to move forward, reconnecting with our lives and living more fully, deeply, and mindfully.

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  • Trauma

    Trauma happens when we experience or witness an event that is frightening, dangerous, or violent—something that overwhelms our body’s natural ability to cope. This can include exposure to death or injury, as well as physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual abuse. However, trauma can also stem from more common life events, such as losing a job, the end of a relationship, grief, loss, or even collective events like a global pandemic.


    The effects of trauma can show up in many ways. People may experience depression, isolation, and heightened alertness, often feeling as though danger is near—even when we know we are physically safe. It's common to feel more irritable, angry, anxious, or weighed down by shame and guilt. Life may feel numb, and you might struggle with nightmares, flashbacks, or avoiding situations that remind you of the traumatic event. Some may turn to substances to cope, or simply feel overwhelmed by day-to-day life.


    We believe that, like your body’s ability to heal a broken bone, your mind has a natural inclination to heal itself. However, sometimes traumatic memories aren’t processed fully and can become “stuck.” Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a well-researched therapy with over two decades of evidence, offers a powerful way to help release these memories and bring relief to many people.

  • Depression

    Depression can deeply affect the way we think, feel, and act. It can disrupt our sense of well-being, happiness, and even strain our relationships with others. But there is hope—depression is treatable, and with the right support, things can improve.


    Life isn’t always filled with joy, and feeling down at times is a normal part of the human experience. But when sadness becomes persistent, when it feels like your main emotion, it could be a sign that depression is taking hold.


    Symptoms of depression can vary from mild to severe and may include feelings of hopelessness, a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, changes in appetite and weight, trouble sleeping, constant fatigue, irritability, slowed or fast movements, overwhelming feelings of guilt or worthlessness, difficulty focusing or making decisions, and sometimes thoughts of death or self-harm.


    Depression is tough—it can feel like you’re sinking into a heavy fog. Sadly, many people who struggle with depression never receive the treatment they need, including effective therapies like EMDR. But you're here now, and that’s a powerful first step. Reach out today. Help is available, and things can get better.

  • Anxiety

    Anxiety is the most commonly diagnosed mental health condition, affecting nearly 20% of the population. It’s also often seen alongside depression—about half of those diagnosed with depression also experience anxiety. Like depression, anxiety can take over our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, but the good news is that treatment can make a significant difference.


    Anxiety isn't always negative. In fact, a small amount of stress can alert us to danger, help us weigh risks when making decisions, and motivate us to take action. In healthy doses, anxiety can be beneficial. But when worry, fear, and apprehension become overwhelming and constant, the balance shifts. Our nervous system, designed to respond to stress in short bursts, can become stuck in a prolonged state of activation, leaving us feeling drained and exhausted.


    The good news is that there is so much that can be done to restore balance—EMDR is one of the many therapies that can help reset your nervous system and bring calm back into your life. You have the power to heal. Reach out today to schedule a consultation.

  • Grief

    Grief can take many forms. While we most often associate it with the mourning that follows the death of a loved one, grief extends beyond that. It is present when we face the reality of our own or a loved one’s mortality. When we receive a life-altering medical diagnosis. When a pregnancy ends or fertility fades. When our identity shifts, or when we lose something we deeply care about—whether it’s the death of a beloved pet, the end of a relationship, or a missed opportunity. Grief can also arise when our vision for the future changes unexpectedly, such as through infidelity, divorce, bankruptcy, loss of health, or mobility. It appears when we lose our job or when our children grow up and step into their own lives.


    Grief can touch every aspect of our being—mental, physical, spiritual, and social. It can infiltrate even the smallest spaces within us, disrupting our sense of balance and making it harder to live fully. Allowing yourself the time and space to process grief through therapy can be incredibly healing. It offers a chance to connect more deeply with yourself and others, helping you navigate through the pain and intentionally refocus on what matters most to you.

  • Dissociation

    Dissociation occurs when trauma disrupts the natural integration of different “ego states” that make up our personality. In childhood, these states typically merge into a cohesive self by ages 6 to 9. However, trauma can prevent this process, causing parts of the self to remain disconnected. This is especially true when caregivers are inconsistent, leading to disorganized attachment and fragmented self-identity.


    Dissociation is also a defense mechanism, protecting the mind from overwhelming trauma by causing parts of the self to “split off.” Over time, these disconnected parts can lead to memory gaps, emotional numbness, and shifts in identity.


    People with dissociation often struggle with feelings of disconnection, memory loss, or emotional instability. Therapy, particularly EMDR, Parts Work, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, can help heal these fragmented parts. These approaches support integration by processing trauma, restoring emotional balance, and helping you reconnect with your whole self with greater self-compassion.

EMDR A Path to Healing

EMDR  (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidenced-based, therapeutic technique, backed by over two decades of research, that helps individuals process and reframe traumatic memories. By engaging both sides of the brain through guided eye movements, EMDR facilitates the natural healing process, often providing significant relief and helping clients regain a sense of peace, safety, and control. Through bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, EMDR helps rewire the brain’s response to trauma, reducing the emotional charge and allowing for healthier coping strategies. It’s a gentle yet transformative method that can lead to profound healing.


The benefits of EMDR therapy are transformative and far-reaching. By targeting the root causes of trauma, EMDR helps to reprocess distressing memories, reducing their emotional charge and allowing you to heal at a deep level. Clients often experience relief from symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, as well as a reduction in negative thought patterns. The therapy can also enhance emotional resilience, improve self-esteem, and increase overall well-being. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR offers a more direct and efficient path to healing, helping you to move forward with greater clarity, peace, and emotional balance.

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Learn more about EMDR here 

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Learn more about experiencing EMDR here 

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Learn more about frequently asked questions here 

EMDR Intensive

EMDR Therapy Intensives are carefully structured, extended sessions designed to fast-track your healing process. By offering longer sessions and more frequent meetings, this approach allows for focused, effective therapy that’s customized to your unique needs and goals.

While called “Intensives,” these sessions are designed to feel calm, supportive, and empowering—not overwhelming. The format ensures that your pace and comfort come first, helping you feel safe and supported as you work toward meaningful change.

With EMDR Therapy Intensives, you'll receive a personalized treatment plan aligned with your goals, and you’ll have the flexibility to meet multiple times per week. 

 

Sessions are available in 80-minute up to 6-hour durations and can be scheduled in two formats:

“Intensively”: Ongoing sessions at a frequency that suits your needs, providing continuous support throughout your journey.

“Intensive”: A set number of sessions over a concentrated period (typically 3 to 5 days), offering an immersive experience to dive deep into your healing in a structured, supportive environment.

What is Adjunct EMDR Therapy

Adjunct EMDR is a targeted therapy designed to complement and enhance the work you're already doing with your primary therapist. Typically offered in an intensive format, it focuses on specific treatment goals—such as traumatic memories or intrusive symptoms—to accelerate healing and progress.

By addressing key areas of difficulty, adjunct EMDR helps you move past "stuck" points, deepening emotional healing and supporting your ongoing therapeutic journey. This approach is supplemental to, not a replacement for, your existing therapy relationship.

I work closely with both you and your primary therapist to ensure a seamless, collaborative experience throughout the adjunct EMDR process. Typically, this therapy lasts between 4 to 8 sessions and is designed to resolve particular memories or symptoms that may be slowing down your overall progress in therapy.

Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)

Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) is designed to access the core of traumatic experiences by following the brainstem’s original physiological response to danger or attachment disruption. The brainstem, which activates quickly in moments of threat, plays a key role in how we process trauma. For instance, early experiences of abandonment may trigger survival fears that are age-appropriate at the time but become deeply ingrained.


The superior colliculus (SC), a structure in the brainstem, is the first to initiate a movement response by directing eye movements and preparing the head for turning. This movement often begins with subtle tension in the neck muscles—an unconscious response that plays a central role in DBR. During a DBR session, the focus on face and neck tension as the client recalls the traumatic memory or current triggers helps anchor them to a part of the memory that occurred before the shock or emotional overwhelm. This grounding prevents the person from becoming overwhelmed by intense emotions or stuck in a dissociative state, disconnected from the present.


While the concept behind DBR is straightforward, the practice can be challenging. It may not be effective for everyone. The most successful use of DBR comes from therapists who incorporate body-based, transformational trauma therapies, which work "bottom-up" rather than relying on cognitive restructuring or exposure techniques. These approaches aim to shift the trauma response through physical awareness and grounding, rather than focusing on changing thoughts or meanings at a cognitive level.