The EMDR Confidence Lab is a structured, supportive consultation space designed specifically for newly trained EMDR therapists who want to build real clinical confidence—not just check a box for hours.

Trauma is a term that’s often thrown around, especially today but its depth and complexity are often misunderstood. As a therapist who specializes in trauma, I can tell you that it’s far more than a mere "bad experience." Trauma can have lasting effects on the mind, body, and emotions, influencing our relationships and behaviors in ways we may not even fully understand. In this post, we’ll explore what trauma is, the different types of trauma, and most importantly, how individuals can heal.

High achievers often push themselves to excel, but true success includes mental and emotional well-being. Recognizing and addressing anxiety doesn’t mean giving up ambition—it means creating a healthier foundation to sustain it.

Let’s talk about one of the most popular buzzwords in the world of mental health: trigger. It seems like every time we scroll through social media, watch a Bravo show, or even overhear conversations, we hear someone saying, “Ugh, I’m so triggered right now!” But as a therapist, I can’t help but notice that this term has continued to morph into something far removed from its true meaning. I first wrote about triggers back in 2018. So let’s take another dive in with a bit of humor and a lot of heart—what exactly is a “trigger,” and why is the cultural version of it not quite on the mark?

Skinny and thin often feel the same to people in larger bodies. Learn why size language doesn’t change lived experience — and how to care for your nervous system in a weight-biased world.

How do therapists keep showing up when the world feels unstable? A trauma-informed perspective on practicing therapy during political, social, and systemic collapse.

Feeling behind in life as an adult is more common than you think. Learn why this feeling happens, how comparison culture fuels it, and how to move forward with compassion instead of pressure.

Yoga is often marketed as a way to stretch, strengthen, and de-stress. And yes, it does all of that. But for many of us who return to the mat again and again, yoga becomes something deeper: a quiet teacher offering life lessons that ripple far beyond the studio.

Through breath, movement, stillness, and self-study, yoga gently reshapes how we relate to our bodies, our minds, and the world around us. Here are some of the most meaningful life lessons learned from practicing yoga, and how they show up in everyday life.

When the world feels like it’s on fire and getting worse, positive thinking isn’t enough. Learn what actually helps regulate your nervous system without bypassing or minimizing reality.

Body image is more than appearance. Discover the main components of body image and how they impact confidence, healing, and self-connection.

Discover how IFS and EMDR work together in trauma therapy to create safety, reduce overwhelm, and gently heal complex trauma and attachment wounds.

What if nothing about you is wrong? Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy helps you understand your protective parts and reconnect with your calm, compassionate Self. Discover a new path to healing.

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. Across cultures, it has long been honored as a sacred pause—a moment to slow down, turn inward, and trust that light will return. I got inspired today to theme a yin yoga class I taught today around Winter Solstice, especially when it happened to be Winter Solstice when I taught it. And if you didn’t know, yep, I am also a yoga teacher in addition to being a therapist.

Reality TV doesn’t always portray therapy accurately (see my previous blog about SLOMW), but the recent therapy session on Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (RHOSLC) with Ms. I have an announcement aka Britani Bateman and her daughter surprised many viewers—and many trauma therapists—by showing what real trauma therapy can actually look like.

The holidays can be a difficult and challenging time—especially if you’re navigating body image challenges, recovering from an eating disorder, or trying to shift away from chronic dieting. Thanksgiving in particular tends to bring together two intense ingredients: food and family dynamics. If you find yourself feeling dread instead of gratitude this season, you’re not alone.

Here are therapist-backed tips to help you protect your mental health, honor your recovery, and move through the holiday with more ease and delicious food.

Reality TV loves a dramatic therapy moment—but EMDR (and therapy) is not drama. It’s neuroscience, structure, pacing, dual awareness, safety, and a carefully attuned therapeutic relationship. Unfortunately, the EMDR session shown on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has sparked confusion among viewers, therapists, and potential clients who are trying to understand what EMDR actually is.

As an EMDR therapist trained in trauma, dissociation, and nervous system–based work, I want to clarify why the session featured on the show is not representative of EMDR practice—and what ethical, trauma-informed EMDR really involves.

Learn how to create a self-care routine that helps regulate anxiety. Therapist-approved tips, realistic strategies, and a sprinkle of humor to get you started.

Discover how small wins in trauma therapy can lead to lasting healing. Learn why recognizing tiny steps is crucial in recovering from trauma—and how to celebrate them.

Discover how food restriction affects more than your body. A therapist explains how dieting and control around food can limit joy, connection, and freedom in your life.

If you’re a middle-aged Gen X woman like myself, chances are perimenopause has crept into your life—sometimes subtly, sometimes like a wrecking ball. One day you’re powering through work meetings and remembering every detail of your kid’s school schedule, and the next you’re staring at your laptop wondering why you walked into the room in the first place. Welcome to the world of perimenopause brain fog. Why didn’t anyone warn us?