Educators Corner: School Counselor to Trauma Therapist, Julie Benson on EMDR, Licensure & Starting Again

Send us Fan MailAfter Matt discussed EMDR on a previous episode of Licensure Lifeline and questioned whether it could effectively be delivered virtually, clinician Julie Benson, LMHC, reached out with a simple message: Yes, it can.So we invited her onto the podcast to explain how.Julie brings more than 20 years of experience in school counseling and now works in private practice with a particular interest in trauma-informed treatment, first responders, and their families. In this conversation, she walks through what virtual EMDR actually looks like, how bilateral stimulation can be delivered remotely, and why EMDR involves far more than simply following a light or moving your eyes back and forth.Julie also discusses the importance of stabilization before trauma processing, adapting EMDR for individual client needs, and the unique challenges facing first responders and the people who love them.Episode Resources: www.daylightcounseling.net https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1532219https://www.bilateralstimulation.io/But her story has another connection to Licensure Lifeline. After spending roughly two decades in school counseling, Julie returned to clinical practice—and discovered she needed to take the licensing exam again. She shares what that experience was like, what helped her prepare, and her advice for clinicians facing the exam today.We also talk about finding your niche after graduate school, continuing to develop as a clinician, and why passing the exam is only the beginning.This is Educator’s Corner: conversations with the people doing the work, sharing what they've learned with the clinicians coming next.Never stop learning.Support the show