EMDR Therapy in Nashville
Therapist Christina Lafferty-Neal
Nashville + Online Across Tennessee
When talk therapy has only gotten you so far, it may be time to tune into the wisdom of your body. You don’t have to stay stuck, I can help.
For over a decade, I’ve helped people untangle the impact of trauma stored in their bodies. I’m a somatic and attachment-trained EMDR therapist, which is a fancy way of saying: I help people get out of their thinking brain and into a deeper place where real healing happens.
You don’t have to keep “figuring it out.” Your body already knows the way forward — we just help it get there.
Most clients feel relief in 6 - 12 sessions
When trauma gets stuck, it shows up in sneaky ways.
You don’t need a formal trauma diagnosis to feel the weight of what you’ve carried. EMDR can support you through experiences like childhood emotional neglect, medical trauma, grief, breakups, self-worth struggles, or even that constant pressure to perform.
Trauma doesn’t always come from one big, obvious event. Sometimes it’s the slow burn — the perfectionism, the people-pleasing, the overworking.
Patterns that once kept you safe, loved, or in control can quietly keep you stuck in survival mode long after the danger has passed.
WONDERING IF I CAN HELP?
People Come To Me When…
Anxiety is constant— like your mind won’t give you a break
Work is draining & motivation is low
You replay conversations, wondering what you could’ve said differently
Sleep is restless, or doesn’t come easy
Relationships never quite take
A big change shook everything you thought was steady
You’re trying to make sense of patterns that keep repeating.
IT’S NOT JUST A BUZZWORD
What is EMDR, anyway?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a well-researched therapy that helps your brain and body finally process what got stuck after hard experiences.
Think of it like this: your system has been holding onto an old “danger signal,” even though the threat is long gone. EMDR helps your brain update that memory so your body stops reacting like it’s still happening.
It helps your nervous system complete what it couldn’t at the time so you can finally move forward.
OKAY, BUT WHAT WE WILL ACTUALLY BE DOING?
How EMDR With Me Works
EMDR gives us a clear map to follow — but how we travel it is completely guided by you. We move at your pace, with care, curiosity, and a steady grounding in what helps you feel safe.
Here’s what our work together looks like:
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Our first sessions are all about safety and connection. I take time to understand how trauma shows up in your body and what helps you stay grounded when things feel intense. You’ll learn to spot the early signs of activation and how to calm your nervous system before it spirals.
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We’ll explore your trauma timeline by following what comes up in the body. Your brain and nervous system will take us where they’re ready to go. There’s no right or wrong way. We follow your internal cues at your pace.
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We process one memory at a time. Over time, those memories lose their emotional charge. You’ll still remember what happened, but it won’t feel like it’s happening to you anymore. We end each session by integrating safety and updated beliefs so you can move forward without carrying the old weight.
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There’s no magic number of sessions because everyone’s experience is different. This work is a big investment emotionally, financially, and energetically. I take that seriously by getting to the core of what matters each session while allowing space for you to go as slow or as fast as feels right for you.
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Many of my clients begin to feel relief between 6 to 12 sessions. Some say the biggest change comes right after the first one — just from finally starting something that feels different, and that change is possible.
Changes After EMDR Therapy With Me
You stop spinning. The overthinking quiets. Conversations don’t linger in your mind for hours after.
Your body feels lighter — less heavy, less tearful, more steady. You start speaking up. Setting boundaries. Having the hard conversations you used to avoid.
Relationships shift too. You feel safer being seen, and less afraid of things falling apart.
You begin making choices from a place of calm instead of fear — moving toward what you actually want, not just away from what hurts.
This is what it means to live from a place that feels like you again: clear, grounded, and no longer ruled by the past.
Hey, I’m Christina.
People usually find their way to me when they’re anxious, stuck in old patterns, or worn down by big life changes. I offer EMDR and somatic therapy for adults who want to feel more grounded in their bodies and more connected to who they really are — not just who they’ve had to be.
Therapy with me is gentle, deep, and led by your nervous system. We move at your pace, never rushing what needs time. Clients often tell me they feel genuinely seen and supported in our work together — that the changes they notice aren’t just in their thoughts, but in their whole body.
Therapy with me is gentle, deep, and nervous-system informed. We’ll move at your pace, never rushing what needs time. Clients often tell me they feel truly seen and supported in our work together— that the shifts they experience are both emotional and embodied.
I believe therapy should help you do more than just “get through.” It should help you feel choice, ease, and presence in your everyday life.
Before private practice, I spent over a decade working with trauma in community mental health settings. That time taught me how to meet people in their hardest moments with steadiness, care, and real respect for what it takes to heal.
Getting Started with EMDR
Starting therapy can feel like a big step — especially if you’ve tried other things that didn’t help as much as you hoped. But different doesn’t mean “wrong.” It might just mean it’s finally time for something that actually fits you
If a part of you is curious about this work, consultations are always free. No pressure, no sales pitch, just a real conversation.
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Fill out the contact form. I’ll always respond — even if I’m not the right fit, I’ll point you toward someone who might be.
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We’ll talk for a few minutes to see if it feels like a good match. If it does, we’ll book your first session and get started.
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In those first sessions, we’ll focus on building safety and trust. I’ll learn how your nervous system responds to stress and what helps you feel grounded. This is our time to see how this work can serve you.