Calm & Centered at Work

EMDR for Performance Anxiety in Austin

Structured 12-Session Program for High-Achieving Adults

“Calm and Centered at Work” is a structured, 12-session EMDR program designed for professionals who want to feel more centered, clear, and confident in challenging workplace situations. At the end of the program, we’ll review progress and, as appropriate, discuss whether additional work would be beneficial.

This program is available to clients in person in Austin and anywhere in Texas via secure telehealth.

Feel calm, clear, and centered in the moments that matter most.

You bring expertise, preparation, and skill to your work life. Even so, you find…

  • You feel tense before presentations, meetings, or evaluations

  • Your mind feels less accessible than it should in those moments

  • “What if I freeze?” or “What if I mess up?” pops up too quickly

  • You overthink feedback long after the fact

  • You know you’re capable — but your body doesn’t always cooperate.

You’re not lacking intelligence, skill or effort.

Often, what’s showing up is a nervous system that still reacts as if performance equals threat — even though you are capable.

This program helps those parts of you align with what you already know intellectually.

Why this happens

Our brains learn from experience.

Moments of stress — like a difficult presentation or sharp feedback — can leave a nervous system imprint that shows up years later in situations that are objectively safe.

That’s where EMDR can help: It can help the brain and body update old patterns so your responses match your present capabilities.

What This Program Is

Calm and Centered at Work is a structured, time-limited EMDR experience designed to help you:

  • Decrease performance-related stress responses

  • Improve cognitive clarity under pressure

  • Strengthen embodied confidence (not just thinking yourself calm)

  • Respond to feedback and evaluation with steadiness

  • Increase performance consistency in real-world situations

We will home in on a specific goal and use the standard EMDR protocol in a focused, goal-aligned way, working only with experiences directly tied to that goal. The intention is precision, not depth without direction. And while the program is structured, our focus is specifically tailored to you.

What This Program Is Not

Calm and Centered at Work is not:

  • Trauma-focused therapy

  • Open-ended, unstructured exploration

  • A deep dive into your life history

As a trauma therapist, I am deeply thoughtful about when the standard EMDR protocol is appropriate. This offering is designed for performance-related work — not trauma processing. If at any point it becomes clear that a different approach would better serve your goals, we will talk about it directly and collaboratively.

Who This Is For

This program is a good fit if you:

  • Are a high-functioning professional

  • Experience anxiety, self-doubt, or pressure that shows up during performance situations

  • Want structured, goal-focused work

  • Prefer an intentional, measurable process rather than open-ended therapy

Examples of ideal candidates include:

  • Executives, managers, and founders

  • Healthcare, legal, tech, and academic professionals

  • Professionals preparing for presentations, evaluations, or leadership roles

The Structure

Phase 1: Clarify & Resource (Sessions 1–2)We define our focus and build regulation tools so you enter the work with clarity and steadiness.

Phase 2: Targeted EMDR (Sessions 3–9)We work with the standard EMDR protocol to reduce automatic stress reactions, update unhelpful beliefs (“I’ll freeze,” “I’m not enough”), and strengthen your nervous system’s responses.

Phase 3: Integration & Forward Momentum (Sessions 10–12)We reinforce calm responses, practice future performance scenarios, and build sustainability so the gains feel embodied in your life.

What People Often Notice

While experiences vary, many clients describe:

  • Feeling calmer before and during high-stakes situations

  • Clearer thinking when it matters most

  • Less rumination and self-judgment

  • Confidence that feels grounded rather than forced

  • More consistent performance overall

The aim isn’t to change who you are. Rather, it’s to support your nervous system so your performance reliably reflects your ability

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Absolutely. There are ways to adapt EMDR for teletherapy that are just as effective as EMDR in person, and I will walk you through the adaptations every step of the way.

  • No. This program is focused specifically on performance-related goals.

    While I specialize in trauma work in my broader practice, this offering is intentionally structured around reducing performance anxiety, self-doubt, and stress responses connected to work settings. We use EMDR in a contained, goal-aligned way and do not move into trauma processing.

    If, during consultation, it appears that trauma-focused work would be more appropriate, we will discuss that openly.

  • That’s 100% okay.

    I’m anticipating that most people who enroll in this program will be new to EMDR. We begin slowly, build regulation skills, and make sure you understand the process before we begin any reprocessing work. You remain present and in control throughout.

    This is collaborative work — not something done to you.

  • For most clients in this program, the work is steady and manageable.

    Because we are not targeting trauma memories, sessions typically focus on specific performance-related experiences and present-day triggers. You may notice emotional shifts or physical sensations as your nervous system updates old patterns, but the pacing is thoughtful and contained.

    All that said, there is a risk that you will experience intense emotions, and if at any point something feels like too much, we decide together how to move forward.

  • Coaching and cognitive approaches often focus on strategy, insight, and skill-building. Those can be incredibly helpful.

    EMDR works at a different level — helping the brain and nervous system update automatic stress responses that don’t shift through logic alone.

    Many clients come to this program because they already understand what they should think — but their body doesn’t always follow. EMDR helps bring those two into alignment.

  • Common goals include:

    • Reducing public speaking anxiety

    • Improving confidence that you belong in your role

    • Being more regulated in the face of criticism

    • Accepting feedback with less overthinking

    • Accessing more clarity in high-stakes moments

    If you’re unsure whether your specific concern fits, that’s something we can explore during consultation.

  • Structure creates clarity and momentum.

    A defined time frame allows us to establish a focused goal, move intentionally through the EMDR process, and integrate gains in a way that feels contained and purposeful.

    Twelve sessions is typically enough time to create meaningful change without drifting into open-ended work. 

  • If something emerges that suggests trauma-focused treatment would be more appropriate, we pause.

    We talk about it directly and decide together what makes the most sense. That may mean shifting approaches within my practice or considering a referral. The priority is always ensuring that the work remains safe and aligned with your needs.

  • Yes. This is psychotherapy, and it follows the same confidentiality standards as any therapy service. Your privacy and professional reputation are a priority of mine.

  • I’m excited you’re taking time for rest and renewal! I do ask that we complete this program in no more than 16 weeks from the first session to allow for some flexibility without losing momentum. 

    If your vacation would interfere with completing the program in 16 weeks, let me know in the contact form and we can discuss options for strategically scheduling the program to accommodate your vacation.

  • A consultation is the best way to determine that.

    We’ll discuss your goals, what happens under pressure, and whether this structured EMDR approach feels appropriate. There’s no obligation — just a thoughtful conversation to assess alignment.

Meet Your Therapist and Guide 

I’m a licensed clinical social work supervisor and psychotherapist specializing in trauma and social anxiety, based in Austin, Texas. In addition to what many describe as my calming presence, I bring a depth of experience helping adults navigate anxiety, performance stress, self-doubt, and life transitions through evidence-based approaches tailored to each person’s unique strengths.

Before becoming a therapist, I spent more than a decade in the corporate world as a communications consultant and leader. My firsthand experience in professional settings lends a deep understanding of the pressures, expectations, and challenges that high-achieving adults face — from the board room to the classroom.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University in New York. I’ve lived and worked internationally, and bring a breadth of worldly perspective combined with grounded clinical training.

In my broader practice, I draw from multiple modalities — including EMDR, parts work, CBT, DBT, hypnosis, mindfulness, and neurobiology — in ways that are both evidence-based and deeply human.

Why Do This Program With Melissa?

Working with me means you’re not just getting a practitioner with clinical expertise — you’re partnering with someone who truly gets both the personal and professional sides of your experience. I’ve lived and breathed many of the challenges you are facing.

It’s important to me to blend my clinical training with an authentic presence - curiosity, warmth and collaboration - to help you meet your goals.

You’ll notice that we’ll take care to focus on what’s already working in your life — your skills, resilience, and insight — and build from there. This isn’t about fixing you; it’s about unlocking what’s already there.

Whether you’re preparing for a big presentation or navigating professional expectations, my aim is to help you build a calm steadiness and centered presence so your performance matches your capability.

Investment

Introductory Pilot Rate: $1,800 

As I introduce this structured EMDR program into my practice, I’m offering a limited number of introductory spaces at a reduced rate.

This allows early participants to experience the program while I continue refining this performance-focused offering.

Future cohorts will be offered at higher rates.

Payment Options

  • Pay in full: $1,800

  • Three monthly payments: $600

What You Can Expect

Over 12 weekly sessions, we will:

  • Define a clear, measurable performance goal

  • Identify the specific situations that activate stress or self-doubt

  • Use the standard EMDR protocol to reduce those automatic reactions

  • Strengthen calm, confidence, and cognitive clarity in upcoming real-world scenarios

  • Move at a pace that feels steady, collaborative, and contained

This is not open-ended therapy. It is a structured process designed to create meaningful change without expanding into areas you are not seeking to address.

A Note on Access

I’m committed to offering this work in a way that acknowledges inequities in access to private-pay mental health care.

For each cohort, I reserve a limited number of reduced-fee spaces for individuals from historically marginalized communities. These spaces are offered at a rate of $1,200 for the full 12-session program, while maintaining the same structure, care, and intention as the standard offering.

If this feels relevant to you, you’re welcome to share that during your consultation. No additional documentation is required.

My intention is to balance accessibility with sustainability so this program can remain available — and effective — long term.

Payment arrangements can be discussed during your consultation.

Ready to Feel More Calm & Centered Under Pressure?

You deserve to feel as capable in the room as you are on paper.

If you’re curious whether this structured EMDR program could support your goals, the first step is a consultation.

During this conversation, we’ll talk about:

  • what tends to happen under pressure

  • the goals you’d like to achieve

  • whether this structured EMDR approach feels like the right fit

There’s no pressure to commit — just an opportunity to explore whether this work aligns with what you’re looking for.

👉 Schedule a Consultation

What Happens Next

1️⃣ Request a consultation Complete the contact form or schedule directly using the link here.

2️⃣ Receive information about EMDR I’ll send resources to help you learn more about EMDR before our conversation.

3️⃣ Initial consultation We’ll discuss your goals and determine whether this program is a good fit.

4️⃣ Assessments and intake If we decide to move forward, I’ll send brief assessments and intake paperwork.

5️⃣ Begin the program Once everything is complete, we’ll schedule your sessions and begin our work together.

Request Consultation