Helm and Harbor Counseling

05/20/2026

If you've ever told yourself you just need to try harder to get sober, and then tried harder, and it still didn't work, there's a reason for that.

Addiction changes how your brain processes reward, stress, and decision-making. Your reward system changes over time. Your stress response becomes more reactive. The part of your brain that helps you pause before acting gets worn down over time. So when stopping feels impossible even when you genuinely want to stop, that's usually what's happening underneath.

This post breaks down the neuroscience in plain language, because understanding what's going on in your brain can change how you approach recovery.

Read it here: https://www.helmandharborcounseling.com/blog/how-addiction-affects-brain-functioning

Learn how addiction changes the brain’s reward system, decision-making, stress response, and memory. This guide explains why cravings feel overwhelming, why quitting is difficult, and how recovery supports brain healing over time.

03/08/2026

Many people assume trauma therapy means talking in detail about painful memories.

But EMDR therapy works differently.

When traumatic experiences happen, our brains sometimes can’t fully process them. The memories become “stuck” with the original negative emotions, beliefs, and body sensations attached to them. This is why certain memories can continue to trigger anxiety, shame, and physical tension years later.

EMDR therapy can help you reprocess those memories, so they no longer feel as emotionally intense.

During EMDR sessions, therapists use bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or alternating tones) while clients focus on a memory. This activates the brain’s natural processing system and allows the traumatic experience to be integrated in a healthier way so that you can heal and move forward.

Over time, many clients notice:
• Difficult memories become less emotionally distressing
• They see themselves and the world in a more positive light
• Physical tension connected to the memory fades
• They feel more present and grounded in their daily lives

I wrote a new blog post explaining how EMDR therapists guide this process and what emotional processing in EMDR looks like.

You can read it here:
https://www.helmandharborcounseling.com/blog/how-emdr-works

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I offer in-person EMDR therapy in San Diego and online EMDR therapy throughout California, Indiana, and Ohio. Visit my website to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.

https://www.helmandharborcounseling.com/

Alexa Grossman, LCSW, LCAC
Helm and Harbor Counseling

01/08/2026

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call: www.helmandharborcounseling.com