EXPLORE
Two Powerful Paths
MODALITIES EXPLAINEDEMDR & IFS — integrated
EMDR reaches into the brain and body where traumatic memory lives. Internal Family Systems understands the inner parts that are organized around that trauma. Together, they form an integration that is more powerful than either approach alone.
Most talk therapy works from the top down — we think about our experiences, find language for them, and try to understand our way to healing. The integration of IFS and EMDR works differently. It engages the deeper brain structures where trauma is stored, while simultaneously honoring the inner parts — the protectors, the exiles, the managers and firefighters — that have been organized around keeping that pain at bay.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing
WIDELY RESEARCHED
DEVELOPED BY FRANCINE SHAPIRO
WHO ENDORSED
LYNN IS CERTIFIED & APPROVED
When something traumatic happens, the brain sometimes cannot process the experience the way it would a normal memory. It gets stored raw — with all its original emotion, sensation, and meaning intact. EMDR engages the brain's natural processing system through bilateral stimulation, allowing the brain to do what it couldn't at the time: complete the processing, and file the experience as the past.
The memory does not disappear. But it loses its charge. What was once a raw wound becomes something more like a scar — present, but no longer bleeding.
WHAT A SESSION GENERALLY INVOLVES
INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS (IFS)Internal Family Systems
SELF-LED HEALINGSELF-LED HEALING
PARTS-BASED MODEL
DEVELOPED BY RICHARD SCHWARTZ
LYNN IS LEVEL 2 TRAINED
IFS understands the psyche as a family of inner parts — each with its own role, its own fears, and its own history. Some parts protect us by controlling, criticizing, or keeping us busy. Others carry the burdens of pain and shame that were too heavy to hold consciously. At the center of it all is Self — the calm, compassionate core that is capable of healing every part.
In IFS, there are no bad parts. Every part — even the ones that cause pain — developed for a reason. The goal is not to eliminate these parts but to understand them, unburden them, and allow Self to lead.
WHAT IFS BRINGS TO THE WORKHOW THEY COMPARESame terrain, different doors.
| EMDR | Brainspotting | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Defined 8-phase protocol with clear stages | Fluid — the client's nervous system leads |
| Bilateral Stimulation | Active — eye movements, tapping, or audio tones | Stillness — one fixed eye position, often with bilateral sound |
| Best Suited For | Specific traumatic memories with a clear narrative | Diffuse, body-held, or pre-verbal experience; feeling stuck |
| Therapist Role | More active — guides the protocol and pacing | More witnessing — holds space while the client processes |
HOW LYNN OFTEN WORKSThe hybrid Approach
In practice, EMDR and Brainspotting are not mutually exclusive. I may begin with EMDR to target a specific memory, then shift into a Brainspotting hold when we encounter something that lives too deep for words or movement to reach. Or use Brainspotting to soften a body-held activation before moving into EMDR processing.
The decision is never mechanical. It comes from listening — to your nervous system, to where the work wants to go, and to what this particular moment of your healing needs.
"You don't need to know which approach is right for you before we begin. That is something we discover together."
WHICH MIGHT SUIT YOUThe Best Fit for You
You might be drawn to EMDR if...
• You have a specific event or memory to work through
• You appreciate structure and knowing what to expect
• You want an approach with a strong research base
You might be drawn to Brainspotting if...
• You feel stuck despite years of talk therapy
• Your pain feels body-held or hard to put into words
• Your experiences feel diffuse rather than tied to one event
A free consultation call is a good place to start. It's a conversation — nothing more.
Come as you are, bring your questions.
No commitment required · Online available