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Testimonials & Results

EMDR Therapy Training Testimonials

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.

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Why our EMDR Therapy Training is so important

Silk Screening + Workshop Testimonials

“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.” 
– 2021 | The Center for Women and Families (Staff) | Louisville, KY

“I want to share this entire workshop with all of my friends and family.”
– Participant, 2021 | Face It Movement & Partner Organizations (Staff) | Louisville, KY 

“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”
– Participant, 2022 | Family & Children’s Place | Louisville, KY

“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.”
– Participant, 2022 | Clark County and Floyd County Bar Associations | Clark and Floyd Counties, IN

“This workshop was a good reminder about systemic oppression being trauma and a part of the intersectionality of many of our students’ trauma experiences.”
– Participant, 2022 | Brescia University | Owensboro, KY

“I am feeling inspired to continue to educate others, practice EMDR training more and find a therapist for myself.”
– Participant, 2022 | Brescia University | Owensboro, KY

“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.”
– Participant, 2022 | Clark County and Floyd County Bar Associations | Clark and Floyd Counties, IN

“I learned that CBT isn’t a therapy that treats the particular parts of the brain where trauma is stored.”
– Participant, 2021 | GreenHouse17 (Staff) | Lexington, KY

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.
– Participant, 2021 | ChooseWell (Staff) | Louisville, KY

“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.” 
– Participant, 2021 | The Center for Women and Families (Staff) | Louisville, KY

The best example of gaslighting! An awesome film that shows the subtleties of abuse and gaslighting, a MUST SEE!”
– Participant, 2021 | ChooseWell (Staff) | Louisville, KY

“A powerful short film that helps you understand emotional abuse in a way that books and presentations just can’t.”
– Participant, 2021 | Face It Movement & Partner Organizations (Staff) | Louisville, KY 

“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!”
– Participant, 2021 | Face It Movement & Partner Organizations (Staff) | Louisville, KY 

“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.”
– Participant, 2021 | Bellarmine University | Louisville, KY

“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.”
– Participant, 2021 | Bellarmine University | Louisville, KY

“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.”
– Participant, 2021 | Face It Movement & Partner Organizations (Staff) | Louisville, KY 

Speaking Engagement Testimonials

“It’s amazing to me that the information’s value would show up so close to the presentation and be so immediately meaningful to my practice for it to be applied and shared so quickly.”

– Maureen Nolan, LAPC, MA CC, NCC
Attendee of Medical Clinic Speaking Engagement, Healing from Trauma: Hope and Inspiration in Atlanta, GA – 10.26.16

“[Healing TREE Founder + CEO] Marissa’s presentation was impactful and informed. I am grateful for Marissa’s survivor-leadership, as well as for the inspiration and solidarity that this presentation offered for our Participants.”

– Alissa L. F. Tertichny, LMSW
Staff Attendee of a Women’s Residential Program Speaking Engagement, The Journey In and Out of Trauma in Atlanta, GA – 10.27.16

“[Healing TREE is] providing an important and much needed service by raising public understanding and awareness of the wide range of experiences that constitute trauma and safe, effective, mind-body approaches for healing.”

-Kalpana Murthy, LPC, EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist
Attendee of a Medical Clinic Speaking Engagement, Healing from Trauma: Hope and Inspiration in Atlanta, GA – 10.26.16


Approved Care Network Testimonials

Speaking Engagement Testimonials

“I think the most valuable thing I learned from this talk was to look at those who have mental illnesses in terms of what happened to them instead of what’s wrong with them. Marissa is an amazing speaker and she’s very knowledgeable and I think everyone should hear her speak.”

-Student who attended Red Flags of Abuse and Interpersonal Trauma college engagement

Type of Event: College Speaking Engagement

Audience: Open to entire campus community, co-sponsored by the Relationship Peer Educators (RPE) and the Counseling Outreach Peer Educators (COPE) 23 questionnaires filled out 

Topic:Red Flags of Abuse and Interpersonal Trauma

Speaker: Healing TREE Founder + CEO Marissa Ghavami 

Time: 1 1/2 hours including Q&A; 30 minute pre-engagement with Peer Educators

Venue: College of the Holy Cross

Location and Date: Worcester, MA 3.14.2018  


100% of attendees said they learned something new from the speaking engagement

“I think the most valuable thing I learned from this talk was to look at those who have mental illnesses in terms of what happened to them instead of what’s wrong with them. Marissa is an amazing speaker and she’s very knowledgeable and I think everyone should hear her speak.”

–  Student Who Attended

Type of Event: Speaking Engagement at Staff Retreat

Audience: Staff at a domestic violence program and shelter; 14 questionnaires filled out, approximately 2 left blank/not turned in 

Topic:Trauma Bonding Using Real Life Examples

Speaker: Healing TREE Founder + CEO Marissa Ghavami 

Time: 2 1/2 hours including Q&A

Venue: Golden House Staff Retreat

Location and Date: Green Bay, WI 5.23.17  


100% of professionals said they feel better prepared to recognize the signs of trauma bonding after attending the speaking engagement

“I feel like I want to share this training with everyone I know – this is so important.”

–  Diane Sohr, Crisis Advocate, Attendee of Speaking Engagement at a Staff Retreat for a Domestic Violence Program and Shelter


Type of Event: Keynote Speaking Engagement

Audience: 2017 Changing Face of Adoption Conference 

Topic:The Journey In and Out of Trauma

Speaker: Healing TREE Founder + CEO Marissa Ghavami 

Time: 1 1/2 hours including Q&A

Venue: Kalahari Resort

Location and Date: Wisconsin Dells, WI 9.13.2017  


“It was inspiring to hear Marissa’s story and an experience of how the right work can really help heal trauma and the brain. It would be interesting to see how Marissa’s work intersects with the WI Trauma Project.”–  Conference Attendee 

“Marissa was an excellent speaker and very inspirational.”

–  Conference Attendee

Type of Event: Breakout Speaking Engagement

Audience: 2017 Changing Face of Adoption Conference

 Topic:The Journey In and Out of Trauma

Time: 1 1/2 hours including Q&A

Venue: Kalahari Resort

Speaker: Healing TREE Founder + CEO Marissa Ghavami 

Location and Date: Wisconsin Dells, WI 9.13.2017  


With regards to what they learned, the most common response amongst attendees was “Trauma Bonding”.