Don’t let anxiety stand between you and your potential. Whether you are an athlete, an artist, or a corporate professional, EMDR Performance Enhancement Therapy helps you clear the mental “glitches” that cause hesitation, allowing you to perform with peak focus, confidence, and flow.
What is EMDR Performance Enhancement?
In a world of fierce competition, even the most gifted individuals can be sidelined by stress, fear of failure, or past setbacks. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Performance Enhancement is a specialized protocol that targets the neurological roots of performance anxiety.
Unlike traditional coaching that focuses only on “trying harder,” EMDR works with the brain’s processing system to desensitize the stress response associated with high-pressure situations. By strengthening the neural pathways of motivation and focus, we help you unlock a state of “peak performance” that feels natural and sustainable.
Who is it for?
EMDR Performance Enhancement Therapy may be able to help you if you are:
- Athletes recovering from injury “yips” or a loss of competitive confidence.
- Performing Artists struggling with stage fright or creative blocks.
- Students & Professionals facing testing anxiety or high-stakes public speaking.
- Executives & Employees dealing with procrastination or the fear of failure.
- Anyone in Transition who needs to sharpen their focus and motivation for a new challenge.
Benefits of Redeemed Life Performance EMDR
- Rapid Anxiety Reduction
Neutralize the “fight or flight” response that causes freezing or choking during critical moments.
- Psychological Recovery from Injury
Process the trauma of a physical setback so you can return to your sport without hesitation or fear of re-injury.
- Enhanced Mental Focus
Eliminate the “internal noise” and negative self-talk that distracts you from the task at hand.
- Strengthened Self-Belief
Reprocess past failures into learning experiences, building a resilient foundation of “quiet confidence.”
- Optimized Motivation
Clear the neurological blocks that lead to procrastination, making it easier to take consistent action toward your goals.
Talk To One of Our Counselors
Michelle Fitzhugh, LPC-S
Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor
Founder & Executive Director
Specialties:
Works With:
Chris Washam, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Clinical Director
Specialties:
Works With:
Jennifer Lafabregue, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Specialties:
Works With:
Courtney Osborne, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Specialties:
Works With:
Heather Love, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Specialties:
Works With:
Kassie Hitchcock, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Specialties:
Works With:
Marianne Pierson, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Specialties:
Works With:
Kendal Rice, LPC, CAS
Licensed Professional Counselor
Specialties:
Works With:
Matt Faulkner, LMFT Associate
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Supervised by Dr. Charette Dersch, PhD, LMFT-S.
Specialties:
Works With:
Jessica Chacon, LPC Associate
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
Supervised by Sharon Michelle Fitzhugh, MA LPC-S
Specialties:
Works With:
Chris Shade, LPC Associate
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
Supervised by Sharon Michelle Fitzhugh, MA, LPC-S
Specialties:
Works With:
Jessica Bradley, MA, LPC Associate
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
Supervised by Sharon Michelle Fitzhugh, MA, LPC-S
Specialties:
Works With:
Nicole Resendiz
Masters Level Student Counselor
Supervised by Sharon Michelle Fitzhugh, MA, LPC-S
Se habla español
Specialties:
Works With:
How EMDR Enhances Your Potential
Performance isn’t just about skill; it’s about the state of your nervous system. Here is how we help you or your loved one reach the next level:
- Master Your Mindset – Shift from a “fear of losing” to a “desire to excel” by remapping your brain’s response to pressure.
- Break Through Plateaus – Identify and remove the hidden mental blocks that have kept your progress stalled for months or years.
- Restore Creative Flow: – For artists and writers, EMDR helps bypass the “inner critic” to access deep states of creativity.
- Improve Testing Outcomes – For students and professionals, reduce the physiological symptoms of panic that interfere with memory recall.
- Build Resilience – Develop a “bounce-back” mentality where setbacks no longer spiral into long-term slumps.
Your Path to Peak Performance: What to Expect
We treat your performance goals with the same precision an athlete brings to training.
1. The Discovery Call Identifying the Block
We start by discussing the specific “high-pressure” moments where you feel stuck. We’ll explain how EMDR targets those specific triggers to help you decide if this is the right edge for your career or sport.
2. The Resource Installation Building the Foundation
Before we process the anxiety, we “install” positive internal resources. We help you amplify feelings of past success and confidence, creating a mental “safe harbor” you can call upon during actual performance.
3. The Performance Processing Clearing the Path
Using bilateral stimulation (eye movements or taps), we process the memories of past failures or the “what-if” fears of the future. This “unclogs” your neurological system, leaving you free to perform with total presence and clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Not at all. While many pro athletes use EMDR, it is equally effective for students facing the SATs, musicians preparing for an audition, or employees who get nervous during board meetings. If you have a goal and feel “blocked,” this therapy can help.
While the mechanics are the same, the focus is different. Instead of focusing solely on healing a wound, we focus on enhancement—taking your current abilities and removing the “interference” so you can reach your maximum potential.
Many clients see a significant shift in their confidence within 3 to 6 sessions. However, the timeline depends on whether we are addressing a single event (like one speech) or a long-standing pattern (like career-long procrastination).
This is a common fear! The goal isn’t to make you indifferent, but to switch you from “toxic anxiety” (which hinders performance) to “optimal arousal” (which fuels focus and energy). You keep your drive, but lose the panic.
Sessions take place at our office at 415 US-377, Suite 202 & 204, in Argyle, TX 76226. We work with athletes, students, performers, and professionals from Bartonville, Denton, Justin, Lantana, Northlake, Roanoke, and across Denton County.
Matt Faulkner, LMFT Associate, works with athletes and performance concerns and integrates EMDR with performance-focused approaches. During your consultation, we will match you with the counselor who best fits your goals.
Yes. Middle school, high school, and college athletes often work through pressure, nerves, and setbacks with performance-focused EMDR, and parents are welcome to be part of the initial conversation.
EMDR can help with the mental side of recovery, such as fear of re-injury or hesitation in situations that remind you of the injury. Your return to play should always be cleared by your doctor or athletic trainer.
Yes. Students and professionals often use performance-focused EMDR to reduce the panic, blanking, and racing thoughts that can interfere with exams, certifications, and interviews.
No. Many performance blocks come from ordinary experiences, such as a bad game, a harsh critique, or a public mistake. EMDR can help your brain reprocess those moments so they stop shaping how you perform.
EMDR is a well-established, extensively researched therapy for trauma. Its use for performance enhancement builds on the same approach, though research specific to performance is more limited.
Coaching and mental skills training focus on strategy and routines. Performance EMDR works on the stress responses and past experiences underneath the block. Many clients use both, and we also offer life coaching for broader goal-setting.
Your counselor will give you simple tools to practice, such as calling up the confidence resources you built in session before practices, rehearsals, or presentations.
Yes, if you would like it to be. Clients who want their Christian faith to shape how they approach pressure, identity, and setbacks can bring that into their sessions.
Costs and insurance coverage vary depending on your plan and the focus of your sessions. Contact our office and we will walk you through pricing and any coverage that may apply.
Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call 940-222-8552 to ask about availability.
Call 940-222-8552 or reach out through our website to schedule a free phone consultation, and we will talk through your goals and upcoming events.