Square One Counseling
Your Authentic Self Awaits
Do you ever find yourself repeating old patterns or behaviors that you promised yourself you wouldn’t repeat? Or feel like you're playing a role that no longer aligns with who you truly are? If you feel stuck, knowing what you want but struggling to make it happen, I may be the right person to support you. Life experiences shape our coping mechanisms, both positive and negative. My passion is helping individuals reconnect with their inner strength and work through past challenges. This journey is for those who are ready to break free from what’s holding them back and embrace the life they truly deserve.
I offer a sliding scale for those who need financial flexibility. As a trauma therapist, I work closely with individuals navigating past emotional wounds that are impacting their present lives. My approach is centered on fostering hope and facilitating meaningful change, empowering you to achieve more and live more fully. My goal is to help you discover your true self and create a path toward reaching your personal goals. Living authentically is not only possible, but within your reach!
Julia Schopp, MA, LPC
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
EMDR
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a well-researched, evidence-based therapeutic approach that has been proven highly effective in treating trauma. To date, EMDR therapy has helped millions of individuals across all age groups alleviate a wide range of stress-related conditions.
How does EMDR work?
The goal of EMDR therapy is to fully process the experiences that are contributing to current challenges and to integrate new, healthy experiences essential for complete emotional well-being. "Processing" goes beyond mere conversation; it involves creating a receptive state that allows distressing memories to be "digested" and properly stored in the brain, facilitating healing and long-term mental health.
What this means?
This means that the valuable insights from an experience will be learned and stored in your brain, accompanied by the appropriate emotions, allowing them to guide you positively in the future. Conversely, any negative emotions, beliefs, or physical sensations will be released. Negative feelings, emotions, and behaviors are typically the result of unresolved past experiences that continue to influence you in unhealthy ways.
EMDR therapy is beneficial for a wide range of individuals, including:
Trauma Survivors: People who have experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Victims of accidents, natural disasters, or violence. Military veterans and first responders with PTSD.
Individuals with Anxiety Disorders: Those with generalized anxiety, panic disorders, or social anxiety.
People with Depression: Individuals dealing with long-standing sadness or grief connected to past experiences.
Those Struggling with Phobias or Fears: EMDR can desensitize irrational fears, such as fear of flying or heights.
People Facing Low Self-Esteem: Helps individuals overcome negative self-perceptions formed from early life experiences.
Survivors of Complex Trauma: Individuals with multiple traumatic experiences (e.g., childhood neglect or repeated abuse).
Those Experiencing Stress or Burnout: Helps manage stress linked to high-pressure careers or personal challenges.
Couples or Relationship Issues: EMDR can help individuals process relationship traumas like infidelity or attachment wounds.
Flexible and Individualized Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy offers more than just symptom relief—it is about empowering you to create the life you desire and unlocking your full potential for thriving, not merely surviving. By addressing past, present, and future challenges, EMDR aims to bring you to a state of emotional well-being.
EMDR is widely used by athletes, performers, and executives to achieve “peak performance.” Its flexibility allows it to be tailored to meet a wide range of needs. For instance, EMDR can help a salesperson reach new sales targets, a student overcome test anxiety, an athlete manage performance pressure, or a survivor of trauma heal from complex PTSD.
While EMDR is not designed to address problems rooted in genetics or organic injuries, research has shown that negative life experiences can often exacerbate these conditions.
When a person is hindered by feelings of insecurity, anxiety, fear, or persistent sadness, or when they react disproportionately to situations or people, the underlying cause is frequently found in unprocessed memories. These unresolved memories can negatively impact current emotions and behaviors, keeping individuals from living life to the fullest.
Furthermore, research has demonstrated that EMDR may help alleviate medically unexplained physical symptoms, such as fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, and chronic pain, by addressing the psychological factors contributing to these conditions.
In sum, EMDR therapy offers a comprehensive approach to healing, not just symptom management, and can support you in achieving emotional health and resilience.
EMDR is widely recognized for its effectiveness in treating:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): The primary application of EMDR is for addressing PTSD symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance.
Anxiety and Panic Disorders: EMDR can target and resolve the root causes of chronic anxiety or sudden panic attacks.
Depression: Helps reprocess memories that contribute to feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness.
Phobias: Reduces fear responses to specific triggers like animals, heights, or public speaking.
Grief and Loss: Assists with unresolved grief and helps individuals move forward after losing a loved one.
Addiction and Substance Abuse: Addresses underlying traumas that contribute to addictive behaviors.
Chronic Pain and Somatic Symptoms: Can reduce physical symptoms linked to unresolved emotional distress.
Stress-Related Disorders: Useful for managing work-related stress, burnout, and chronic tension.
Performance Anxiety: Helps professionals, athletes, and performers overcome blocks and regain confidence.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Treats trauma from neglect, abuse, or family dysfunction.
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