EMDR, Brainspotting, and ART
Trauma processing that works with your brain and body
Talk therapy can be helpful, but sometimes it feels like you understand your trauma with your mind and still feel stuck in your body. EMDR, Brainspotting, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) are approaches that help your brain and nervous system actually process what happened so it does not keep replaying on a loop.
These methods are not magic and they are not mind control. You stay present, aware, and in charge the entire time. We use eye movements, focused attention, and your own images and memories to help your brain file the experience in a different way so it feels less sharp and less overwhelming over time.
The goal is not to erase your story. The goal is for your body and brain to finally understand that the worst parts are over so you can have more space for the life you are living now.
Who this type of work is for
Adults who have been through difficult or overwhelming experiences and are still feeling the impact in their body and daily life. This can include complex trauma, childhood trauma, medical or birth trauma, accidents, violence, exploitation, first responder calls, or long periods of stress where you never felt safe.
People who have already tried talk therapy and got some insight yet still feel flooded, numb, shut down, or stuck in the same patterns. People who notice that certain sounds, smells, places, or situations send their body into panic or shutdown even when they know they are technically safe.
If you feel like your reactions are bigger than the current situation and your body is still living in past danger, these tools may be a good fit.
What EMDR, Brainspotting, and ART can help with
These approaches can help reduce the intensity of flashbacks, nightmares, body memories, and intrusive images. They can also help with anxiety, panic, shame, guilt, and the feeling of being stuck in the same story no matter how much you talk about it.
Clients often describe feeling a little more distance from what happened, more grounded in their body, fewer strong reactions to triggers, and more choice in how they respond instead of going straight into automatic survival mode.
We decide together which method makes the most sense for you, and we build in plenty of preparation so your system is not pushed faster than it can handle.
EMDR
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, often through eye movements or alternating taps, while you briefly bring up parts of a memory, thought, or body sensation. Your brain does a lot of the work in the background, similar to what happens during certain stages of sleep, while I keep you grounded and present.
You do not have to share every detail out loud for EMDR to work. We focus on the pieces that feel important and track how your body and emotions shift as we move through the sets.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting works by finding eye positions, or spots, that seem to connect with where the trauma or emotional activation is held in the body. We stay with those spots while noticing what comes up, and your nervous system gradually processes and releases what was stored there.
This can be especially helpful if you have strong body reactions, blank spots in your memory, or experiences that feel hard to put into words.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
ART combines eye movements with guided imagery to help you change how distressing memories are stored and experienced. You remain aware and in control while we work with images, sensations, and scenes that your brain and body are stuck on, and we gradually shift them toward something less painful.
Many people find ART to be focused and efficient, especially for specific images or incidents that feel intrusive or overwhelming.
What EMDR, Brainspotting, or ART sessions are actually like
We do not jump straight into the hardest material on day one. We build a foundation first.
We start with regular talk therapy to understand your history, your current stress, and what you want from this work. We also build safety and regulation skills so you have ways to come back to center if things feel intense. When your system is ready, we choose a target and walk through the process step by step so nothing is a surprise.
During processing you might notice changes in body sensations, emotions, thoughts, or images. Sometimes things feel lighter. Sometimes you feel tired. Sometimes you feel relief. We check in often and slow down if needed. You can always pause, stop, or switch back to talk therapy if it feels like too much.
You do not have to be “good” at EMDR or Brainspotting or ART for it to work. Your brain and nervous system already know how to heal. These tools give them a clearer pathway.
All EMDR, Brainspotting, and ART sessions are offered online through secure telehealth. These methods adapt well to virtual work with the right setup, and I will walk you through how to get your space ready so you feel as grounded and supported as possible.
I currently see clients who live in Hawaii, Arizona, Washington, North Carolina, and South Carolina, based on my clinical licenses.
If talking about it is not enough anymore, we can try something deeper
You do not have to stay stuck in survival mode or keep reliving the same experiences. If any part of this page feels like a next step, that is enough to reach out. In our first session we will talk about your goals and decide together if EMDR, Brainspotting, or ART is a good fit for you.
I review every message myself and will let you know if I am a good fit or help you find next steps.