Finally, a therapist who gets it.

Brenda Stewart is a highly respected trauma therapist, certified EMDR therapist, speaker, and author who works with clients who are navigating CIRS. Brenda understands CIRS and trauma both personally and professionally which uniquely positions her to support you in your own healing journey to the other side of CIRS.

Let’s meet.

 

THERAPIST

Brenda Stewart

LMHC, NCC, CTH

I hold a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University, am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida, and am a Certified Tribal Healer through First Nation Medical Board. I provide both individual and group therapy for CIRS patients. I have additional training and certifications in EMDR, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Polyvagal and Nervous System Regulation, and Attachment focused therapy. I am a Compassion Fatigue Educator and Compassion Fatigue Therapist. I am a published author and have presented at various professional conferences. Maybe most importantly, I am a dog lover! I understand firsthand how our four-legged friends can serve as our largest support “people” when we are challenged with chronic illness.

 

Therapy Offerings-

CIRS Group Therapy | $420 ($70/week) | 6 weekly group sessions per person

Group therapy when challenged with CIRS harnesses the power of community. Walking with chronic illness can be a lonely road. Learning we aren’t alone and finding ways forward together offers hope and healing. Telehealth therapeutic groups are intentionally kept small with 6-10 participants so you can receive the attention that you deserve. We provide ongoing varied offerings so please join our therapy email list to receive updates on new groups. If groups are currently full, we are happy to put you on our waitlist. 

  • Slaying CIRS Stress | Next group begins Spring 2025

    • Who among us hasn’t been buried under the almost unending stress of CIRS?

    • A group for ages 18+ that builds resilience and introduces skills for tolerating CIRS distress

    • Gain life changing skills in

      • Crisis Response

      • Shifting Emotional States

      • Mindfulness

      • Nervous System Regulation

      • Reality Acceptance

    • This group is helpful even if you aren’t yet out of exposure and on a binder.

    • Carry these news skills forward into your post-CIRS life! 

    • Email to join the Slaying CIRS Stress Group

  • Seeking Safety Amidst CIRS | Next group begins Spring 2025

    • CIRS is a trauma. Trauma can also come before and after our CIRS diagnosis.

    • A group for ages 18+ that aims to heal trauma within the safety of a CIRS community

    • Topics we will take a deep dive into during these sessions include

      • PTSD: Taking back your power

      • Grounding & Containment

      • Asking for Help

      • Healing-Based Thinking

      • Boundaries with Self and Others when you have CIRS

      • Self-compassion

    • This group is ideal for those who are out of exposure and on a binder, That said, listen to your guidance about when to join this group. We are all unique, and you are wise!

    • Expect to gain practical tools to implement in your daily life to reduce trauma’s influence from a therapist who has lived experience of CIRS!

    • Email to join the Seeking Safety Amidst CIRS Group

  • Life & Loss with CIRS- Wednesdays | 1pm-2pm MST | Next group begins January 15, 2025

    • CIRS is synonymous with loss. A normal response to loss is grief.

    • A group for ages 18+ that aims to assist you on the journey of navigating life in the context of cumulative losses while recovering from Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. Even when we are recovered from CIRS, we still have years of life lost to grieve.

    • You will soon have a deepened understanding of

      • The tasks involved in grieving

      • How grief impacts you

      • How to manage “grief waves” and gain new coping skills

      • Changes in your identity

      • Acceptance and transformation

Individual Therapy Intake | $250 | 50-minute session

Individual Therapy Follow-ups | $200 | 50-minute session

Want to work with individually? We offer individual therapy sessions via telehealth so that you can connect in session from the comfort of your own home. Spaces are limited. Email with interest.

EMDR Individual Therapy 

  • $200 | 50-minute session

  • $300 | 90-minute session

  • Intensives - Cost Varies depending on the intensive package chosen | Choose from half-day, full-day, or 3-day formats

Brenda is certified in EMDR and offers individual EMDR therapy via telehealth. EMDR follows an eight-phase protocol, including history taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. It has proven effective in reducing PTSD symptoms and can also be used for anxiety, phobias, depression, and addiction. Number of sessions for treatment varies based on your unique needs. 90-minute EMDR sessions are typically offered once you are in phase 4 of treatment (desensitization). With intensives, change is closer than you think. Intensives are designed to help you experience change & growth that might otherwise take months of traditional therapy. Spaces are limited. We can add you to Brenda’s waitlist if needed. Email with interest.

Get first dibs on new therapy offerings!

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.”

F A Z H O U , M U L A N

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