Why is Kelly an EMDR therapist?

My first introduction to EMDR Therapy was shortly after the sudden loss of my husband. My counselor at the time helped untangle the knot of one of the more grizzly experiences I had endured while at my husband’s side in the hospital. At the time I hadn’t realized exactly what it was she was doing. It seemed strange and rather unconventional, but I was ready to try anything to help end the nightmare I found myself in. Immediately after the first EMDR therapy session I felt like a part of my nightmare had ended and there was a real possibility of true and continued healing. I had found hope in one of the darkest times of my life. It was a combination of factors, but chiefly the introspection that comes with healing from such a trauma that led me to choose mental health counseling as my career and it is also my passion.

While in my second year of graduate school I was presented with the rare privilege to become trained in EMDR Therapy. Having had such a positive personal experience with it in the past I wasn’t going to throw away my shot and jumped at the unique opportunity. I learned the science behind my apparent miraculous healing, understanding how dual attention and bilateral stimulation can aid in the reprocessing of traumatic events that get stuck in our brains. I cannot imagine starting out my mental health counseling journey with a better tool than EMDR Therapy in my toolbox. This therapy is not only supported by dozens of scientific studies showing its ability to heal trauma in an efficient and long lasting way; it is also backed by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, World Health Organization, and the Department of Defense as an effective form of trauma treatment.

I look forward to working with clients, guiding them on their journey of hope and healing, just as my counselors have done for me. I use EMDR Therapy alongside other modalities of person centered, narrative, and solution-focused as wells as mindfulness techniques. If this mode of therapy intrigues you I invite you to reach out with any questions you may have about beginning this therapeutic process.