“2022 started off as one of the most emotionally challenging years yet. But I am thankful, in a very bittersweet way, for all of the heartbreak, darkness, uncertainty, and pain. About 5 months ago, I started EMDR. I was skeptical at first because it sounded a little too “woo woo” for me. But wow, going through with that was the best decision I have made so far in my life. The first couple sessions were frustrating. I was expecting some magical, monumental moment, but that never happened. I had to let go of my expectations and just try and trust. I had it in my head that the only way to work on my trauma and anxieties and emotions was to talk about it. But actually, your brain can process and reprocess and heal without you really needing to say much at all. I didn't notice anything extreme during the actual sessions. It was in the few days following each session that I began to feel lighter, capable, and more just, "okay".

I was worried that this all might just be a phase and that I would fall back into old mindsets, unhealthy behavior patterns, and anxieties. But I think it’s safe to say that this shift is more than just a phase. I still struggle, I still have tough moments. But I no longer feel like I am walking through my anxieties and unresolved trauma, but rather above them. I can still see them and feel them and acknowledge them, but there’s a separation now. I don’t feel debilitated or an overwhelming sense of urgency, I can move through my days with more stability and confidence and patience, and I feel the most “okay” I have ever felt. Nothing drastic has changed externally, but when you internally shift and grow, everything starts to feel a bit better. I feel that I have become the person my younger self needed. I’m better for myself and better for others.”

— Female client, age 30, 2022

“EMDR and IFS/Part Work changed my life. When Kristen first brought it up and described it to me, it sounded a little nutty. I am so beyond thankful that I gave it a shot as it really changed my entire life. I have an extensive history with physical/emotional/sexual trauma and EMDR/IFS gave me the control and distance that I needed from all those negative memories. The negative memories no longer hijack my system and I feel that I have been able to live a more full and authentic life without fear anymore.”

— Female client, age 43, 2021