Life spoiler alert.
You can be doing well in your life—career, family, responsibilities—and still find yourself reacting in ways that don’t make sense… aka, acting an emotional fool.
You get triggered.
And suddenly it feels big, emotional, and hard to control, like the world has wronged you, or you’re the one in the wrong and now don’t deserve the best out of life.
It’s like a full throwback moment—everything activating at once like Captain Planet and the Planeteers.
Your thoughts, emotions, old beliefs, overwhelm… all combining like:
“By your powers combined… we are your childhood wounds.”
All of that… from one moment.
Not because what just happened was that serious…
But because something deeper got activated.
When It’s Not Just About What Happened
Here’s what most people don’t realize:
When you’re triggered, you’re not just reacting to what’s happening in that moment; instead, it could be that your mind is reaching for the difficult things you carry that no one sees, but your brain still remembers.
Your reactions have deep stories.
Something in the moment feels familiar, like the tone of a supervisor, the judgmental look of your partner, the way someone responded, or even the feeling of being dismissed. And before you can catch what is happening, your nervous system connects to those older experiences, and unexpected things resurface.
It’s subtle, but powerful.
All of a sudden, it’s not just about the conversation you’re having. It starts to feel like something bigger is at stake. Like you’re not safe. Like you’re about to be embarrassed. Like you’re not enough, your needs don’t matter, or you don’t belong.
And that’s the part that catches people off guard.
Because on the outside, the moment might seem small. But internally, your body is responding to something that feels much more significant. Your brain is pulling from a stored memory—not just the present moment.
That’s a trauma response, friends, and it’s happening more than you realize. That’s why your reaction can feel so strong, so fast, and sometimes even confusing.
How Most People Handle Triggers
Most people fall into one of two patterns:
1. Avoidance
“I don’t want to go there.”
“I’m not dealing with that.”
You avoid the conversation, the feeling, or the person. Sometimes you may even freeze, where you lose your thoughts or words, disconnect from the moment and hardly feel present in your body, or get so overwhelmed with panic, you can’t show up the way you want.
And honestly—this makes sense, because triggers are uncomfortable. However, when you avoid the trigger, you also avoid the healing connected to it.
2. Confronting (but without support)
Some people say:
“I’m ready. I just need to deal with it.”
And that matters.
But going back alone can feel overwhelming or lead to reliving the experience rather than resolving it. You really need a good set of resources to help you emotionally and with the logistics of resolution.
Why You Go From 0 to 100 So Fast
This is the part that’s hard to understand.
Why do I feel like this?
Why did I react like that?
This wasn’t even that serious.
Why can’t I handle this better?
It’s the moment panic creeps in before a meeting.
When it suddenly feels like people are against you.
When you look up and realize it’s been years since you’ve moved toward what you actually want.
And you can’t quite explain how you got there.
Your body responded. Quickly. Quietly. Automatically.
But it wasn’t random.
It was your system pulling from something deeper—an older imprint, a familiar feeling, a moment your body hasn’t fully let go of yet.
So no, you’re not doing too much. You’re responding to more than what’s visible. And when you begin to understand that, something shifts. The question moves from “What’s wrong with me?” to “What is this connected to?” That’s where healing begins. That’s where you start showing up not just as the version of you that copes, but as the version of you that feels grounded, clear, and fully in control of herself again.
Why EMDR Therapy Can Help
And this is the work.
Not just understanding yourself, but actually having the space and support to work through what’s underneath those reactions so they don’t keep showing up the same way.
Because insight alone doesn’t always change the response. You can know exactly why you feel the way you do and still find yourself reacting the same way in the moment.
EMDR therapy helps your brain process what’s been stored, so those triggers don’t hit as hard or take over as quickly. You’re not just talking about it. You’re actually helping your system understand and release it. This is the freedom so many of our clients experience.
When you begin to answer that deeper question, things don’t land the same. You feel more grounded, confident, clear, and more like yourself again.
If you’re ready for that kind of work, we’d love to support you.
Work With Us – Kensho Psychotherapy (Lynbrook, NY)
At Kensho Psychotherapy, we specialize in working with high-functioning adults who feel:
- Stuck in overthinking
- Emotionally overwhelmed
- Reactive in ways they don’t fully understand
We offer:
📍 Located in Lynbrook, NY
💻 Virtual therapy available across New York State
We currently have in-person and virtual therapy openings available.
If you’re ready to stop managing the same patterns and actually work through them, you can reach out to get started.
Common Questions
Who is EMDR therapy for?
EMDR is helpful for individuals dealing with anxiety, trauma, overthinking, self-sabotage, perfectionism, emotional triggers, and patterns that feel hard to break—even when you understand them logically.
Do you offer regular therapy or only intensives?
At Kensho Psychotherapy, we offer both. Many clients work with us for anxiety, stress, relationship challenges, and life transitions through ongoing therapy or choose intensives for more focused work. EMDR is where healing can happen in a shorter period of time.
Do you only work with women?
We primarily work with high-functioning women—especially Black and Brown professionals—but we also see men, couples, and some teens and young adults navigating anxiety, identity, and life in the practice. It’s best to give us a call, and we can discuss your situation and best fit.
Where are you located?
We are based in Lynbrook, NY, and serve clients across Nassau County, Valley Stream, and nearby NYC. We also offer virtual therapy throughout New York State.
Do you accept insurance?
Kensho Psychotherapy accepts insurance for ongoing therapy, including plans such as Aetna, 1199, Northwell Direct, Oxford, UHC, Optum, Cigna, and Lyra. We also work with clients who choose to pay privately.
EMDR intensives are not covered by insurance due to the specialized format and extended session times. These sessions are designed to go deeper in a shorter period of time and are offered as a private pay service.
Current EMDR Intensive rates:
- $300 for 90 minutes
- $600 for 3 hours
- $1200 for 6 hours or a full-day intensive
If you’re unsure what makes the most sense for you, we’re happy to walk you through your options when you reach out.
Want to Learn More First?
If you’d rather understand how EMDR Intensives work before reaching out, you can watch the full video where I break this down in more detail.
👉 What Happens When Your Past Has A Grip On Your Present
If you are ready to book a therapy appointment, just leave your details HERE.
She offers EMDR intensives through Kensho Psychotherapy, while her team also provides ongoing therapy for anxiety, stress, relationships, and life transitions.