What I Learned When I Did EMDR as a Therapist
When I decided to pursue EMDR certification as a therapist, I was told: “You need to experience it yourself.”
At first, I wasn’t sure what that would mean for me. I’ve spent years helping clients process trauma, navigate difficult emotions, and regulate their nervous systems. I thought I knew what to expect. But EMDR is different when you experience it firsthand.
EMDR Through My Own Lens
As both a therapist and a mom, I noticed patterns that hadn’t fully surfaced in my professional work. I found myself struggling with patience, particularly in moments with my children that were small but emotionally triggering.
Going through EMDR for myself revealed layers of my own childhood experiences — the old survival strategies my nervous system had developed to keep me safe.
I realized: these patterns didn’t just affect me personally. They showed up in my parenting, my responses to stress, and even how I approached therapy with clients.
Healing My Nervous System Changed Me
EMDR gave me a way to access my nervous system and reprocess the old memories driving my reactions. What I noticed over time:
I became more patient in challenging moments with my children
I developed a curious, less reactive mindset, noticing triggers instead of immediately reacting
I felt kinder and more compassionate toward myself, which naturally extended to my parenting
This experience highlighted that healing isn’t just about resolving trauma in isolation — it changes how we show up in all areas of life.
Lessons for Therapists and Parents
Your nervous system holds your history. Even experienced therapists carry unprocessed trauma that affects interactions, decisions, and emotions.
Personal experience informs professional skill. Experiencing EMDR firsthand gave me deeper empathy and insight for my clients’ nervous system responses.
Healing impacts relationships. Working on myself didn’t just help me personally — it improved my ability to respond to my children, my partner, and my clients with calm and presence.
EMDR is more than a therapy technique — it’s a pathway to understanding your own patterns and creating lasting change in how you live, work, and relate to others.
EMDR as a Tool for Growth
Whether you are a therapist, a parent, or someone seeking personal healing, EMDR helps:
regulate your nervous system
access and reprocess past trauma
reduce reactive patterns
cultivate patience, curiosity, and self-compassion
It’s a reminder that healing is experiential. The insights we gain through our own nervous system work ripple out into every part of our lives.
EMDR Therapy for Adults in California and Nevada
If you’re ready to explore your own nervous system, process past trauma, and create more ease in your life, EMDR therapy can help.
Through this work, you can retrain your nervous system, reduce automatic reactions, and build lasting emotional resilience.
Curious whether EMDR is the right next step for your healing journey?
I offer virtual EMDR therapy to adults throughout California and Nevada, with a focus on trauma recovery, nervous system healing, and lasting change.
📍 Learn more or schedule a consultation at: https://www.MyEMDRLA.com
Michelle Nosrati, LCSW
Trauma Specialist | EMDR Therapist
Licensed in California & Nevada
Secure Telehealth Services Available
https://www.MyEMDRLA.com