I'm a Latina therapist and writer who loves to talk about mental health & wellness, personal development, and writing & storytelling. Subscribe to my newsletter to be a part of my mental health corner.
I sincerely hope you all as trauma therapists are nourishing yourself during these times of uncertainty and stress. This is the official EMDR with Sofia Newsletter. I'm hoping to send out monthly updates to my EMDR listserv about upcoming services, opportunities, and resources to share.
Updates:
I'm super close to submitting my documentation for approved EMDR consultant. I'm shooting for the end of this year. I've been a consultant-in-training for the last year where I've led specialty consultation groups centering the BIPOC experience. It's been the honor of a lifetime to walk this EMDR certification and consultation path with other BIPOC therapists where there is mutual respect and honoring of each others' expertise. We learn so much from each other. Each month, I have a topic on standby in case consultees don't have a specific case to discuss. I've also added so much more experience as I accrue my EMDR hours. See below for a list of specialties and topics of interest.
My Specialties and Topics of Interest include:
Incorporating other EBPs into EMDR (ACT, DBT, CBT)
Complex Trauma
Community Violence
Acute Stress / Recent Traumatic Experiences
Immigration related fears
EMDR with children
Childhood abuse and neglect
Domestic Violence
First Generation Experience
High achieving BIPOC and Women of Color
Burnout
Maternal Mental Health - Birth trauma, infant/pregnancy loss, etc
Polyvagal Theory
Resourcing Alternatives
Mindfulness in EMDR
Parts work
Foster Care and Adoption related wounds
EMDR Intensive Sessions
Next EMDR Consultation Group
Monday, Aug 4, 2025 at 12PM PST.
Cost: $50
Intervention Spotlight: ASSYST protocol for acute stress stabilization for individuals or groups (read more below in Breathing Room Group Image)
I'm sharing a kids coloring book I created to help them brainstorm their "special" place. I call it special place, because not everyone resonates with "safe" place. And even though this is a "child" resource, I have used this many times with adults. It can be a GREAT way to create a special place or a resource for their wounded inner child or a one of their younger parts. I also have worksheets on Circle of Protection (a Laurell Parnell intervention I really like and use a lot in attachment trauma). Check it out!
A Kids Coloring Book where they can dream up and imagine special, peaceful and fun places.
In June, 4 days after the first ICE raids in Los Angeles, I put together this webinar for therapists where I share an intersectional DBT approach to working with folks with immigration, deportation and removal fears. I also share the butterfly hug with 5 Spanish Dichos / affirmations on imperpermanence and that can offer hope during this distress to people. A portion of the sales get donated to an immigrant rights / support organization. June org was Chirla. July org will be Orale Long Beach.
It's a self-paced on-demand course with the recording, all worksheets and slides shared.
I wanted to share that I ran this group this week at the community mental health clinic I work for. It was a powerful group. I used the ASSYST (Acute Stress Syndrome Stabilization) Protocol. About 10 people participated and they all had a significant SUD reduction by the end of the group. I share this with you because it's a powerful intervention to that can help us help so many people at once. I'll be talking more about this experience in my next EMDR Consultation group on Aug 4.
Stay tuned because I'll be offering it again for the community and for providers.
Lastly,
Colegas, I hope that you're taking care of yourself. Personally, I'm grounding with art - plays, music, drawing, netflix (yes - tv, movies and shows are art and I stand by it!), and sleep. My therapist and I agreed that the single best thing I can do right now is sleep. Also movement, so walking has been the most consistent activity to help complete the stress cycle.
Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions or want to share any EMDR resources you offer or have been helpful to you. I would love to spotlight fellow colleagues who are a part of my vast network of helpers.
I'm a Latina therapist and writer who loves to talk about mental health & wellness, personal development, and writing & storytelling. Subscribe to my newsletter to be a part of my mental health corner.
This is likely the last email of 2025 I send to you all before going on vacation in mid December. I have so many updates for you all. 📣 I am happy to announce that your girl is an EMDRIA APPROVED CONSULTANT NOW! 🎉 While getting EMDR certified took me 5 years (Yes - 5 years!), becoming an approved consultant took me about 1.5 years because I locked in and I really wanted my clinic consultees' approved consultant hours to count toward their certification hours, as this would help them save...
Fall is slipping past us so quickly! How is Thanksgiving next week? I don't know about you, but this time of year I hold many complex emotions. While I love the time off and spending time with family eating Salvadoran Turkey or Panes con pollo, I also hold deep pain for the genocide of our native population. Dr. Eduardo Duran talks about this deep pain among Natives as the "soul wound." And I feel that resonate so deeply, especially these days with the violent and traumatic detainment of...
EMDR INTENSIVES EMDR WORKSHEETS YOUTUBE BLOG Hi. Hola Colegas! I hope you've all been enjoying summer as much as possible -- after all, you being able to access joy during stressful times is where it's at. Personally, I took a 2-week staycation that was full of sleeping in, going to the movies during the week, testing out new recipes and a return to running after a 7 yr hiatus. Here are some lessons learned from the last 5 runs I've had in the last two weeks, that are applicable to starting...
