Testimonials & Results

I truly had no expectations from this EMDR training. I am an anti-“woo-woo” kind of person. After learning about the biology/anatomy behind this therapy, I quickly realized EMDR is a “kill switch” to all those verbal things our clients get hung up on during processing issues/trauma problems. You cannot make progress when the defense mechanisms will not come down.
~ R.S.

Before I stared EMDR training I felt like I was at a loss as therapist, I was burnt out and asked myself why do I continue to do therapy and all of my clients are still stuck. Doing this training and getting the opportunity to see a different way to therapy has been life changing for not only myself but for my clients. … EVERY therapist should be trained in EMDR.
~ Macie G.

… I was skeptical of EMDR. However, I tried it with clients and was amazed at the process and client feedback. One client shared at the beginning it was as if a tornado was in the back of their head. When they cleared they shared that the tornado was gone. I plan to continue with EMDR and help my clients – one tornado at a time.
~ Ashley B.

“I learned that today can be the day for change.”

“I learned some educational facts that I needed to get through this break up from [an] abusive relationship.”

“I learned a lot of things that I was not educated on and it also showed me that I made the right decision for me and my children leaving my abusive relationship”

“I have been [through] a lot of trauma and it was all covered. My brain blocked out a lot of stuff that I hadn’t intentionally tried to block out. I got a lot from it though that’s brought things to my attention that I hadn’t noticed before.”

“As a DV advocate, most of my clients say that it was the emotional abuse that hurts the worst, not physical/financial or sexual… it leaves the most scars and takes the longest to heal from. This film and workshop has brought more light to this and was an AMAZING experience. I appreciated it and needed it. Thank you.”

“This was extremely informative and in depth. I appreciate how this film and workshop address aspects of psychological abuse that many people do not know about. Learning the specific tactics like stonewalling and emotional withholding was very informative. I also think it is very helpful that other contexts of abuse were included – many people do not consider abusive friendships or abusive parents or family members when talking about abuse/psychological abuse, and I think that was very helpful to share.”

“I am feeling inspired to try to screen for signs of abuse in my case intakes to make sure a client is proceeding freely and free from any duress or abuse.”

“I am feeling inspired to add more information about specific signs of emotional abuse, especially subtle emotional abuse, to my presentations and trainings on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Domestic Violence (DV).”

“I learned that subtle psychological abuse is actually more harmful.”

“I am feeling inspired to update training to include the ‘fawn’ response.”

“I learned that trauma is more difficult to get through and past that I perhaps believed.”

“An actionable step I’m feeling inspired to take is talking to my clients more about gaslighting.”

“I learned that abuse comes in all shapes and forms, not just in (romantic) relationships.”

“I learned that CBT isn’t a therapy that treats the particular parts of the brain where trauma is stored.”

“It was inspirational and eye opening!”

“I am inspired to have more empathy when dealing with this within my friendship circles.”

“I learned that sometimes I may unintentionally gaslight.”

“I learned more about epigenetics and neuroplasticity.”

“I learned that secondary trauma is real.”

“I will take this information and use it in teaching victims of Domestic Violence.”

“I learned that I can actually heal from the trauma I have experienced in my life instead of simply coping.”

“This film has inspired me to seek help for my experiences of emotional abuse.”

“Silk truly demonstrates how gaslighting/psychological abuse happens.”

“I have a family member I intend to try to talk to and encourage in a way that demonstrates empathy.”

“The best example of gaslighting! An awesome film that shows the subtleties of abuse and gaslighting, a MUST SEE!”

“I learned that trauma is so much more complex than what is understood on the surface, but the healing (not just coping) is very possible.”

“When I watched the video initially I saw no signs of abuse until you explained them. One thing I learned about myself was that I may unintentionally be an abuser because I noticed I do some of those things. I’m feeling inspired to bring this information to my husband & talk this over with him.” 

“I learned that my trauma is valid. I recognized that I have effects of trauma but I wasn’t beaten as a kid or anything like that so I thought my trauma wasn’t real or valid or that I was just extra sensitive.” 

“My main take away is being careful that I don’t use my trauma to traumatize others. I found I do things that were said of people that will are abusers.”

“A powerful short film that helps you understand emotional abuse in a way that books and presentations just can’t.”

“I want to share this entire workshop with all of my friends and family.”

“I learned that there are justifications to how I feel about and react to people in my life sometimes. I am not just sensitive, irrational, or overly emotional.”

“I learned that I have been in previous relationships that were really unhealthy, even when I couldn’t name the issue.”

“I learned that I engage in several emotionally abusive behaviors with my partner.”

“I would like to talk to my therapist about this film during our session tomorrow. I’m concerned that I have been emotionally abusive towards my partner at times related to my personal upbringing and what I’ve thought as ‘normal’, can actually be quite harmful to my partner.”

“What an incredible workshop and film! I find the nuances of the film to be clear after having been explained all the forms of abuse that are shown by (Healing TREE Founder) Marissa. These types of abuse are so common and fly under the radar that most people would have no idea that they are either doing these behaviors or are a victim or both. I highly recommend this workshop to everyone to better educate our country so we can stop the abuse that causes so many sociological issues. Thank you for this in depth education!”

“Made me think more about how defensively I respond to mistakes or comments others make. I need to be more cognizant to not blame shift or project.” 

“I might be a victim of this type of trauma. I may have hurt others in this way.” 

“I learned that you can learn how to heal instead of just learning coping mechanisms.”

“I’m a victim of many different forms of trauma, and I love the approach you take regarding this. I think it is important to talk about, and take steps to healing. It really opens your eyes of different kinds of abuse and how it effects every part of your being when you are abused.”

“I learned that there are many forms of abuse and trauma and sometimes we might do or say things that could be considered abusive or cause trauma.” 

“This really opened my eyes and mind to how insidious emotional abuse can be, but also how much hope there is in healing, thank you!”

“I feel inspired to have an authentic conversation with my partner so we can be healthier for each other.”

“This was very eye opening, and it kind of shocked me. it brought me clarity about past and some present relationship issues that I need to address now.”

“This was incredible. Thank you for doing this! I hope you all are able to keep doing these in the future, I think it is really important especially for college aged people to learn about emotional abuse and trauma as many first relationships develop at this age.”

“I am definitely a victim of emotional abuse in past relationships and my current relationship has touches of it on both sides. I will use what I learned to try and strengthen my current relationship and stop this pattern for myself.”

“I learned that what I experienced is real, and I am not alone.”

“I thought this workshop was incredibly informative and it helped me learn a lot about trauma, abuse, and trauma focused care. While I haven’t been impacted by relationship abuse in the past I will be able to use what I learned to help those around me.”

“I learned a lot about how to recognize signs of trauma and how to approach friends who may been in toxic relationships.”