About EMDR

Elizabeth Handy

MS, LCPC, EMDR-C, Brainspotting-C

I am a licensed Psychotherapist with more than 20 years of private practice psychotherapy experience. I maintain a full time practice in Austin TX, and Washington DC, where I specialize in the assessment and treatment of acute and chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), panic attacks, anxiety, depression, dissociative disorders, and performance issues. In addition to my clinical experience, I have served as a Lieutenant Training Officer for over 20 years and worked as a paramedic, further deepening my understanding of trauma and crisis intervention. Over the years, I have studied trauma, psychological defenses, and their respective treatments with Steven Silver, Ph.D., Ana Gomez, Kathleen Martin LCSW, Roger Solomon Ph.D., Jim Knipe, and Carol Forgash, and many others.

Direct empirically validated treatment that begins at your first session

My many years of experience as a psychotherapist and former paramedic help my clients create positive change. All healing occurs in a caring, attuned and therapeutic relationship. To this, I add growing knowledge of how to help the brain heal, regulate and restore itself.

I believe a direct and honest yet nurturing and intuitive approach is the most effective way to cultivate trust in my client relationships. My clients tell me that they appreciate that I “tell it like it is” and provide an objective plan for their healing. I am truly invested in my clients’ success and believe in their ability to heal and find peace.

Education

Professional Training

International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience 2025
Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Conference 2024
Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Greenblatt 2024
2023 – EMDR with OCD & Phobias Training 
2023 – C-GTEP Training 
2023 – GTEP Training 
2022 – Brainspotting Couples 
2022 – At War with Food: Trauma-Informed Clinical Skills for Treating the
Spectrum of Eating Disorders 
2021 – International Brainspotting Conference

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE for MENTAL HEALTH (2024)
22nd Annual ISEPP Conference (2019)
Brainspotting Phase 4 (2019)
Treating Dissociative Disorders with EMDR: The Progressive Approach, (2019)
Image Transformation Therapy Workshop (2019)
Generational Brainspotting (2019)
Brain, Mind and Body: Trauma, Neurobiology and the Healing
Relationship (2019)
Generational Brainspotting (2018)
Treating Chronic Pain with EMDR (2017)
Treating Headaches with EMDR (2017)
Intensive Psychotherapy for Persistent Dissociative Processes: The Fear of Feeling Real (2016)
Brainspotting 3 (2015)
Recent-Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP) (2015)
Advanced Resource Brainspotting (2014)
Conference on Sex, Love and Addiction (2014)
Feeling State Addiction Protocol (2013)
The Neurobiology of Consciousness, Trauma Induced Disorders of Consciousness and EMDR: A Glimpse Inside the Brain (2013)
Brainspotting 2 (2012)
Brainspotting with Performance Enhancement, Somatic Dissociation, and Medical Trauma (2012)
Brainspotting 1 (2011)
Using the EMDR AIP Model for Treating Adult Clients with Complex PTSD (2011)
EMDR & Health Related Problems (2011)

2020 – Treating Veterans with Complex Trauma (non-DID) using EMDR Telehealth During a Pandemic
2020 – Working with the Effects of Emotional Abuse, Severe Neglect & Invisibility
2020 – Addressing Dissociative Exhibitions and Suicidality with EMDR 
2020 – Treating Shame, Guilt and Moral Injury with EMDR 
2020 – The Dissociative Spectrum from Acute Stress to Complex PTSD
2003 – Johns Hopkins University, Graduated Degree

Brainspotting with Attachment Trauma and Dissociation (2011)
Dissociation of the Personality: The Key to Understanding Chronic Traumatization and Its Treatment (2010)
The Theory of Structural Dissociation as a Guide for EMDR Treatment of Chronically Traumatized Clients (2010)
EMDR Treatment of Panic Disorder with and without Agoraphobia: Two Model Treatment Plans (2010)
Shame is my Safe Place: AIP Targeting of Shame as a Psychological Defense (2010)
EMDR and the Treatment of War and Terrorism Survivors (2010)
STEP by STEP: Making EMDR Treatment Effective and Developmentally Appropriate for Children and Adolescents (2010)
Complex Trauma, Structural Dissociation & EMDR (2009)
Using EMDR as a Contemporary Psychotherapy (2008)
Trauma-informed Clinical Skills for Treating the Spectrum of Eating Disorder's
Children Group Traumatic Episode Protocol C-GTEP 2023
EMDR with OCD and Phobias 2023
Group Traumatic Episode Protocol 2023
EMDR Therapy Protocols for Early Intervention & Ongoing Traumatic Stress 2023
Addressing Dissociative Exhibitions and Suicidality 2023
Treating Shame, Guilt and Moral Injury with EMDR 2020
Acute Stress to Complex PTSD with EMDR 2020
Treating Veterans with Complex Trauma (non-DID) using EMDR Telehealth During a Pandemic 2020
Working with the Effects of Emotional Abuse, Severe Neglect and Invisibility 2020
And More

Ready to Begin Your Healing Journey?

Take the first step toward recovery and rediscovery. Contact me today to schedule a consultation and explore how my specialized therapies can help you overcome trauma and reclaim your life.

what our clients say

It’s her honesty that’s so refreshing. Elizabeth is a very caring person, not cold or technical. She's warm and loving.

Elizabeth has been a part of our lives for the last several years and has made a huge impact that has led to a much more enriched life. We couldn’t be more grateful for finding her.

I have had two sessions so far and I’ve noticed a big change in how I feel & think. Brainspotting is a very powerful treatment even if it appears to be simple. I wish more people knew that this was an option. Definitely recommend.

reach out to us today

Have questions or ready to schedule a session? Fill out the form below, and I will reach out to you promptly. I am here to help you take the first step toward healing.