Tiana FitzSimmons, MSW, LICSW

Why EMDR? Speaking frankly, I was once where you are right now - seeking therapy and ready to make some changes happen in my life. For me, I was a young therapist early in her career who was sitting in the chair doing her own therapy because I was sick of feeling stuck in the same cycles - in stress, dissatisfaction, avoidance or other negative states, despite my best efforts to "fix things on my own". At the end of the day, I knew I wasn't myself, and I was desperate for some clarity, movement, and to start seeing some actual change. Engaging in my own therapy (and being 'the client' first) was where I was introduced to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Ultimately, it was a game changer for me, my family, and my life overall. I personally got to a point in my healing journey where I found that traditional talk therapy just wasn't cutting it anymore in terms of me really seeing any significant progress or change with my presenting issues that I was still coming to therapy for (or in a timely, financially effective way.) That is, until I did EMDR. I do believe traditional talk therapy has its time and place, but there are just some issues and human experiences that are subconscious in nature and more deep rooted, which require a more holistic, integrated, and neuroscience-based approach, like EMDR, to fully clarify and resolve. EMDR revealed to me how negative aspects of my past were continuing to play out in my current life and relationships with others that I was not even aware of, which ultimately what was keeping me stuck in those bothersome, long-standing cycles of distress, dissatisfaction, negative behaviors and confusion that just kept lingering without any clear connection to the root. I have experienced firsthand how EMDR facilitated my own brain's process to identify the true roots to my problems - my own past hang-ups, upsetting experiences and past emotional wounds, and re-wire them so they no longer hold a 'charge' - over me or my life. To say the least, the results from EMDR were profound. This is what ultimately inspired me to become trained, and then certified, in this evidence-based therapy modality as a clinician. Don't just take my word for it, though. EMDR is one of the most extensively researched and highly effective psychotherapy methods out there. You can learn more about EMDR therapy here: https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/ In my opinion, EMDR therapy can be beneficial to almost anyone at some point across their lifetime - because we are all human, and a part of being human is to struggle and experience pain or distress across time. We all have our own 'stuff'. Whatever has caused you distress in the past (or is causing you distress in the present) it can be re-processed through EMDR. Because of my personal experience with EMDR, I am eager to bring the opportunity for people who are highly motivated and ready to experience the powerful benefits of EMDR themselves - to effectively bring awareness to the roots of what keeps you 'stuck' - in stress, dissatisfaction, negative behaviors or cycles - so you can resolve it directly and move forward in creating the life you truly want to live. Let's do this. Let's thrive. About Tiana: I am a born and raised Mankato native who originally followed a career path into Social Work after high school graduation. At that time, I didn't even really know what 'Social Work' was until I took my first course in college only to realize, "Hmmm...well this is actually what has been a part of my life all along." I came to realize that my hardships and struggles of growing up as a bi-racial child in a low income, single parent family were also influenced by a presence of community resources, mentors and financial support systems across my childhood development. Even as a young 18-year-old, I realized how significant these supports and systems were in the trajectory of my life up to that point. It became clear to me how critical they were in building my resilience as a child, so that I had the opportunity to overcome barriers and ultimately, develop into the thriving adult I am today. To say it simply, I was once the one who was given to, and now I am passionate about giving back. From one stepping stone to the next, life led me to become a therapist and here I am today. It is my intention to bring EMDR to help benefit as many people as possible - to help folks develop a more clear level of awareness about themselves, to heal past wounds, and ultimately, to grow, expand, and THRIVE in a life that is purposeful, intentional, and meaningful to you. Tiana's Educational Background/Areas of Advanced Training: I have been practicing therapy in the Mankato area for the past 10 years. I graduated with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Minnesota State University-Mankato after previously earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, where I majored in Social Work and minored in coaching. I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) through the Minnesota Board of Social Work, and continue to practice as a therapist certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) through the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). I continue to engage in advanced trainings in EMDR, as I use this evidenced-based therapy modality exclusively in my practice to help people heal from a wide range of presenting issues and concerns, including but not limited to: anxiety, depression, traumatic experiences, relationship or interpersonal difficulties, phase of life transitions, insecurities/self-esteem issues, grief and loss, urges/addictive behavior or negative habits, and a range of other struggles or hardships people may experience across their lifetime.