Notice That

Collecting the Bones: Ego States, Self-Work, and the Therapist’s Inner World with Jessica Downs

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.

Fostering Resilience in EMDR: Neuroplasticity, Meaning, and Healing

What if resilience isn’t about “bouncing back,” but about the brain’s ongoing ability to adapt—moment by moment, across a lifetime?In this episode of Notice That, Bridger and Jen are joined by Laurel O’Neal Thornton, EMDR clinician, consultant, and educator, for a rich conversation on the neuroscience of resilience and what it actually looks like in EMDR therapy.Drawing from neuroscience, EMDR, and years of clinical experience, Laurel reframes resilience as an innate human capacity—one that exists even in the presence of trauma, depression, neurodivergence, and chronic stress. Together, we explore how shame disrupts resilience, why meaning-making matters, and how EMDR can foster regulation, integration, and adaptability without chasing perfection or symptom elimination.This episode is especially resonant for clinicians working with complex trauma, neurodivergent clients, chronic depression, or anyone feeling stuck in rigid models of “healing.”✨ In This Episode, We Explore:Why resilience is adaptation, not toughness or “bouncing back”How EMDR naturally supports resilience through plasticity, regulation, and integrationThe role of shame as a major disruptor of innate resilienceWhy healing doesn’t mean never being triggered againHow meaning, purpose, and relational connection show up in resilience researchWorking creatively within the EMDR protocol—especially Phase 2 and Phase 8Supporting neurodivergent and highly intelligent clients in EMDRWhy spontaneity, play, and pattern-breaking matter in therapyWhat it really means to “trust the brain” in EMDR🧩 Key Takeaways for CliniciansResilience exists before healing—and therapy helps clients reconnect to itEMDR doesn’t fix broken brains; it helps glitching systems reintegrateDecreasing shame may be one of the most powerful therapeutic interventionsCreativity and flexibility are not deviations from EMDR—they’re part of its designHealing is about faster recognition, quicker recovery, and greater self-understanding👩‍🏫 About Our GuestLaurel O’Neal Thornton is an EMDR clinician, consultant, educator, and practice owner who specializes in the neuroscience of trauma, resilience, and neurodivergence. She trains and consults clinicians internationally and is passionate about helping therapists integrate neuroscience in ways that are practical, humane, and deeply respectful of the client’s nervous system.Learn more about Laurel’s work at Whole Brain SolutionsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sex Therapy Meets EMDR: Healing Shame, Reclaiming Pleasure, and Sexual Health with Cassie Krajewski

In this episode of Notice That, we dive into one of the most avoided—and most essential—topics in mental health: sex, pleasure, and sexual health.We’re joined by Cassie Krajewski, LCSW, AASECT-certified sex therapist, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, and co-founder of Iris Training Collective. Cassie brings a deeply integrative lens to sexuality—one that moves far beyond technique and into conceptualization, embodiment, and healing.Together, we explore how sexual health is not a “specialty concern,” but a core dimension of human wellness—and how EMDR therapy offers a powerful, attuned framework for addressing sexual shame, desire, pleasure, and trauma.In this conversation, we explore:Why sexual health is a birthright, not a performance metricHow culture, religion, and shame disrupt embodiment and desireThe role of pleasure as a healing mechanism, not a rewardWhy many therapists avoid sex—and how that avoidance shows up clinicallyIntegrating sex therapy principles into EMDR case conceptualizationCreative and embodied resourcing for sexual trauma and low desireConsent, curiosity, and reclaiming agency in sexualityHow therapists can reflect on their own relationship to sex and pleasureThis episode is an invitation—to therapists and humans alike—to pause, notice, and gently question the stories we’ve inherited about sexuality… and to consider what healing might look like if pleasure were allowed back into the room.Free Resources on Cassie's website at inneratlastherapy.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

EMDR for Couples: Simultaneous Processing, Attachment Trauma, and Healing Together with Arilda Surridge

EMDR for Couples: Healing Together Through Simultaneous ProcessingA Conversation with Arilda Surridge, LMFTWhat happens when EMDR moves beyond the individual—and into the relationship itself?In this episode of Notice That, Bridger and Jen sit down with Arilda Surridge, LMFT, author and EMDR clinician, to explore how EMDR can be ethically, safely, and powerfully integrated into couples therapy. Arilda shares a clear, grounded framework for working with two nervous systems in the room—without deviating from EMDR fidelity—and offers concrete clinical examples that bring this work to life.This conversation goes far beyond theory. Together, we walk through:When couples EMDR is and is not appropriateHow to assess whether a trauma is individual, shared, or relationalWhat simultaneous EMDR reprocessing actually looks like in practiceHow compassion, accountability, and repair emerge through bilateral stimulationWhy tools alone often aren’t enough for deeply dysregulated couplesArilda also shares clinical wisdom from her work with couples navigating car accidents, attachment injuries, guilt and shame, trust ruptures, and relational enactments—highlighting how EMDR can help partners move from reactivity to empathy.This episode is especially valuable for:EMDR therapists working with couplesClinicians navigating attachment trauma and relational enactmentsTherapists curious about maintaining EMDR fidelity in non-traditional applicationsAnyone interested in how trauma lives between people—not just within themAbout the GuestArilda Surridge, LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist, EMDR clinician, and the owner of Wellness Counseling Inc. She specializes in integrating EMDR into couples therapy while maintaining fidelity to the eight-phase protocol. Arilda is the author of a practical, clinician-focused book on EMDR for couples and offers professional trainings on this emerging area of practice. Find out more about her practice here: https://wellnesscounselinginc.com/about/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

F*ck 'em: Authenticity, Play, and Vulnerability as a Therapist

In this special “take your learner hat off” episode of Notice That, Bridger and Jen sit down with Jennifer Ann Counseling—EMDR therapist and comedy content creator—for a playful, honest conversation about being a therapist and a human.This episode isn’t about teaching a specific technique. It’s about humor, authenticity, and why laughter belongs alongside depth in trauma work. We talk about how Jennifer’s platform grew, what it’s like navigating social media as a therapist, handling negative comments, and why being real often connects more than being polished.We also explore EMDR in everyday practice—ritual, intention, parts work, and the familiar client experience of “I don’t know why this works… but it does.”Connect with Jennifer Ann CounselingInstagram / TikTok: @JenniferAnnCounselingFree resources available via her bioIf this episode resonates, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a colleague who needs a reminder that therapy can be human, playful, and deeply meaningful.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.