Notice That

Dr. Nirit Gordon, clinical psychologist and EMDR consultant focused on perinatal and women’s mental health, discusses matrescence and identity shifts during the transition to parenthood. She explores how attachment wounds reactivate, why fathers also undergo hormonal and neurobiological change, and how therapy can include babies as resources and tailor EMDR and resourcing for this sensitive window.

What happens when therapy stops being about techniques — and starts becoming about you?In this deeply reflective episode of Notice That, Bridger and Jen are joined by therapist and trainer Jessica Downs for an intimate conversation exploring the inner life of therapists, professional identity, and the personal work that inevitably emerges beneath clinical practice.Together, they explore the hidden motivations that draw people into helping professions, the illusion of the “next training” as a solution to therapeutic stuckness, and the moment many therapists encounter when professional development turns into personal reckoning.This episode moves beyond theory into experience, as Jessica guides a live experiential exercise inviting listeners to connect with younger parts of themselves — demonstrating how EMDR principles, ego state work, and imagination can foster integration and self-compassion.Themes explored include:Why therapists often chase new modalities or trainingsThe relationship between burnout and unresolved inner dynamicsCountertransference and the therapist’s personal historyEgo states and parts work through an EMDR lensThe role of suffering in human experienceIndividuation, identity, and professional evolutionHealing as wholeness rather than symptom eliminationThis conversation is slower, more inward, and intentionally reflective — an invitation to pause, notice, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that brought you into this work in the first place.In This Episode, We DiscussThe unconscious reasons therapists become therapistsWhen “helping people” isn’t the whole storyCapitalism, continuing education culture, and therapist insecurityInternal imagery and symbolic work in healingParenting, therapy, and mirrors of the selfJessica’s “spotlighting” ego state exercise (follow along included)The La Loba myth and reclaiming lost parts of selfAbout Our Guest — Jessica DownsJessica Downs is a trauma therapist, EMDR clinician, and co-founder of Iris Training Collective. Her work integrates EMDR, ego state approaches, symbolism, and depth psychology to help therapists reconnect with authenticity and wholeness in both personal and professional development.Resources & LinksIris Training CollectiveLive Well Counseling Center (Grand Junction, CO)Notice That PodcastBeyond Healing trainings and consultation opportunitiesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Laurel O’Neal Thornton, EMDR clinician and educator focused on trauma, neurodivergence, and brain science, joins to explore resilience as ongoing adaptation. She discusses neuroplasticity, shame’s disruption of resilience, EMDR’s role in regulation and integration, working with neurodivergent and highly intelligent clients, and the power of creativity, play, and meaning-making in therapy.

Cassie Krajewski, LCSW and AASECT-certified sex therapist who integrates EMDR into sexual health work, shares a fresh lens on sexuality. They discuss how sexual health is a core part of wellness. They explore cultural and religious roots of shame. They cover using EMDR for sexual trauma, creative resourcing for embodiment, consent, and reclaiming pleasure.

Arilda Surridge, LMFT — a marriage and family therapist who integrates EMDR into couples work — explains simultaneous processing and when couples EMDR is appropriate. She outlines assessing shared versus individual trauma, practical steps for history-taking and preparation, and how bilateral stimulation can foster repair, accountability, and mutual witnessing in relationships.

Join EMDR therapist and comedy content creator Jennifer Ann, known for her engaging social media presence, as she dives into the interplay of humor and therapy. Jennifer shares how a viral reel launched her online journey and discusses the importance of authenticity in her practice. The conversation explores navigating negativity in the digital space with a 'fuck 'em' mindset, while also highlighting the significance of playfulness in trauma work and the therapeutic connection. Discover the lighter side of healing as laughter meets depth!

In this episode of Notice That: An EMDR Podcast, Jen and Bridger sit down with Dr. Arielle Schwartz—somatic psychologist, EMDR therapist, and author of EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology—to explore what really happens when EMDR and body-based work are woven together in the therapy room.Together, they dive into:How Arielle’s early training in somatic psychology shaped the way she learned and practices EMDRWhy the body scan and somatic check-ins are not just “boxes to tick,” but core guides for pacing, target selection, and resolutionPolyvagal theory’s view of how trauma gets “tagged” in the nervous system—both in external cues and internal sensationsWhat to do when clients say, “I don’t feel anything in my body” and how even that response is meaningful dataThe myth that SUDs “should always go down,” especially with dissociative and complex trauma presentationsArielle and Barb Maiberger’s “golden nugget practice” and why we shouldn’t wait for a SUD = 0 to install and future-template meaningful shiftsTherapist embodiment: using our own nervous system as an instrument for attunement, pacing, and repairArielle also shares about her Somatic EMDR trainings through BodyLab, her therapist retreats in Sedona and Costa Rica, and her Beyond Trauma nervous system care retreats, including an immersive experience in South Africa that combines yoga, nervous system education, and observing animals in the wild.You’ll hear practical language, case examples, and flexible ways to honor EMDR’s structure while staying deeply relational, embodied, and responsive to the nervous system in front of you.Learn more about Dr. Arielle Schwartz:Website (events, retreats, trainings): resilienceinformedtherapy.comWebsite (blog, yoga, additional resources): drarielleschwartz.comCheck out her card deck that integrates nature photography with quotes from The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook—a powerful tool for helping clients locate themselves in their healing process and set intentions for EMDR and somatic work.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leigh Povia, a licensed clinical social worker and neurofeedback clinician, shares her expertise on trauma therapy. She demystifies neurofeedback, explaining how it mirrors brain states and aids in self-regulation. Leigh discusses its role in enhancing EMDR therapy when clients feel stuck. She shares a compelling case of a child finding calm through neurofeedback, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining therapeutic relationships. With practical insights on integrating neurofeedback into practice, her message is both enlightening and relatable for clinicians.

Sander Kamphuis, founder of WeMind, leads a digital revolution in EMDR therapy with innovative tools for bilateral stimulation and working memory taxation. He discusses the evolution of WeMind, emphasizing the dynamic adjustment of memory loads during sessions. Sander reveals insights on global EMDR practices and the cultural differences he's encountered. The conversation also highlights how technology can enhance therapeutic relationships and facilitate clinician confidence, all while maintaining the core elements of EMDR.

Jen and Bridger finally sit down to share stories and reflections from the 2024 EMDRIA Conference — a few weeks (or months?) later than planned. From early-morning flights and beachside content shoots to laughter-filled dinners and deep professional reflections, this episode captures the whirlwind of being presenters, exhibitors, and community builders all at once.They talk candidly about what it was like to present Enactment-Focused EMDR for the first time, the energy of meeting listeners face-to-face, and their behind-the-scenes take on the polarizing buzz around EMDR 2.0. It’s part travelogue, part professional reflection, and all the reasons this work matters.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.