Healing After Trauma: How EMDR and CPT Help Adults and Teens Reclaim Their Lives
When we experience trauma, our mind and body often hold on to the pain long after the event has passed. Triggers can arise in daily life, bringing back sensations of fear, shame, or helplessness that feel just as real as the original experience. At Counseling & Nature Therapy Center in Frisco, Texas, we understand that trauma is not simply a memory—it lives in the body and nervous system.
That’s why our team offers evidence-based trauma therapies like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)—powerful methods proven to help both adults and teens heal from trauma and reconnect with themselves and the world around them.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused therapy developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro. It helps the brain reprocess painful memories that are “stuck,” allowing emotional healing to occur naturally.
During EMDR, clients focus on a troubling memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, tapping, or sounds alternating between the left and right sides of the body. This process helps the brain integrate the memory, reducing emotional intensity and body-based distress.
At Counseling & Nature Therapy Center, Jaime and Deborah, two of our experienced therapists, are EMDR-trained and deeply attuned to how trauma affects both mind and body. Their compassionate and steady approaches help clients feel safe as they process difficult memories and reconnect with a sense of calm and empowerment.
How EMDR Helps Teens and Adults Heal
Teens and adults both benefit from EMDR, though the process may look a little different depending on developmental needs.
Jaime Hornsby, M.S., LPC-provides EMDR therapy at Counseling and Nature Therapy Center in Frisco, Texas
For adults, EMDR can help reduce anxiety, flashbacks, and emotional reactivity. Many clients report feeling lighter and more grounded after completing a series of EMDR sessions.
For teens, EMDR helps them process early attachment wounds, bullying, or stressful life events without requiring them to talk in depth about the trauma—something that often feels overwhelming at this age.
By helping the nervous system move from survival mode to safety, EMDR allows both teens and adults to feel more confident, connected, and capable of handling life’s challenges.
Deborah Silva M.S., LPC-Associate provides EMDR therapy at Counseling and Nature Therapy Center in Frisco, Texas
Learn more about trauma therapy and EMDR on our Trauma Therapy page.
What Is Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)?
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is another gold-standard treatment for trauma, recognized by the VA and Department of Defense for its effectiveness in treating PTSD.
CPT helps clients identify and challenge unhelpful beliefs—called “stuck points”—that often develop after trauma. These might include thoughts like “It was my fault,” “I can’t trust anyone,” or “I’m not safe.” Through structured sessions, clients learn to reframe these beliefs, reduce self-blame, and develop a more balanced, compassionate view of themselves and the world.
Paul Fuentez, M.S., LPC-Associate provides CPT Therapy for trauma at Counseling and Nature Therapy Center in Frisco, Texas
At Counseling & Nature Therapy Center, Paul Fuentez is CPT-trained and passionate about helping clients regain clarity and self-trust. His approach integrates warmth, humor, and a strong sense of collaboration, creating an environment where both adults and teens feel seen and supported.
How CPT Helps Teens and Adults Recover from Trauma
CPT offers a roadmap to understanding and reshaping the ways trauma affects thoughts and emotions.
For adults, CPT can help reduce guilt, shame, and hypervigilance that often linger after trauma. Clients learn to rewrite their story through a lens of strength and self-compassion.
For teens, CPT can be life-changing. Adolescents who’ve experienced emotional neglect, loss, or peer trauma (like bullying or social rejection) often internalize harmful beliefs about their worth. Through CPT, they learn new ways to interpret their experiences, improving self-esteem and relationships.
By working through these cognitive shifts in a supportive environment, both teens and adults rediscover a sense of control and hope.
Evidence-Based Therapies for Deep Healing
At Counseling & Nature Therapy Center, we believe that trauma healing is most effective when it integrates both body and mind. EMDR and CPT each offer unique benefits:
EMDR helps reprocess trauma on a somatic and emotional level.
CPT supports the cognitive and relational healing process.
Used together—or alongside somatic, mindfulness, and nature-based approaches—they create a comprehensive path to recovery.
Our therapists understand that healing is not linear. Some days bring progress; others bring old emotions to the surface. But each step forward, no matter how small, is part of reclaiming safety and peace.
How Teens Benefit from Trauma-Focused Therapy
Teens today face unique stressors—academic pressure, social media comparisons, and uncertainty about the future. When past trauma or chronic stress goes untreated, it can manifest as anxiety, irritability, depression, or even physical symptoms like fatigue and headaches.
Trauma therapy helps teens:
Understand their emotions and triggers
Develop healthier coping skills
Strengthen relationships with parents and peers
Build resilience and self-trust
Both Deb and Paul create safe, non-judgmental spaces for teens to explore their experiences, regulate their emotions, and find meaning in their healing journey.
Learn more about how we support young people on our Counseling for Teens page.
Choosing Trauma Therapy in Frisco, Texas
Finding the right therapist is an important step toward healing. At Counseling & Nature Therapy Center, we are honored to support clients through this deeply human process.
Jaime, EMDR-trained therapist, helps clients with CPTSD move from the past to the present with connected and deep processing
Deborah, EMDR-trained therapist, helps clients safely process traumatic memories and reconnect with calm.
Paul, CPT-trained therapist, guides clients in reshaping beliefs and rebuilding trust after trauma.
Whether you or your teen are struggling with the effects of trauma, anxiety, or stress, you don’t have to face it alone. Evidence-based trauma therapy can help you reconnect with your body, mind, and sense of self.
🌿 Start Your Healing Journey Today
If you’re ready to take the first step toward healing, reach out to Counseling & Nature Therapy Center in Frisco, Texas. Our team provides trauma-informed EMDR , CPT and trauma therapy for teens and adults, helping you move from survival to growth.
👉 Schedule a consultation to learn how Deborah or Paul can help you begin your journey toward safety, connection, and peace.
Further Resources
EMDR Therapy Resources
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) – Overview, research, and therapist directory: https://www.emdria.org/
American Psychological Association (APA) – Evidence summary of EMDR for PTSD: https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/emdr
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) – Meta-analysis of EMDR treatment outcomes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3951033/
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Resources
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – National Center for PTSD: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/txessentials/cpt_for_ptsd.asp
APA Division 56 (Trauma Psychology) – Overview of CPT and its evidence base: https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/cognitive-processing
Cognitive Processing Therapy Official Website – Research and training resources: https://cptforptsd.com/
