01/09/2026
2025 was a great year for Blackbird Holistic Counselling, and I have my clients and supporters to thank. 🙏
Without you, having a thriving career as a therapist in private practice would not happen.
2025 was a year of delving deeper into the world of EMDR Therapy an expanding the range of Blackbird Holistic Counselling Services. I am a therapist that is committed to practicing the modalities I align with professionally to the best of my ability to provide the most customized treatment I can to the people I serve. This means tenaciously training and deepening my knowledge base, understanding and skill-sets in EMDR therapy as applied to my areas of specialization to develop the expertise I need to guide me further into where I find the true power of teaching of the trainings I take, which is the experiences I have in session with my clients. There is no value in a training if it does not serve them in some way.
In 2025, I underwent additional training and study in the use of EMDR to treat Anxiety Disorders, building upon previous basic EMDR treatment for Anxiety Disorders. I’ve learned, while standard EMDR protocol can essentially treat any trauma, customization in EMDR protocol is more effective, sensitive to client needs and makes for a smoother healing process. Another area of EMDR specialization and training I focused on in 2025 is the treatment of Sleep Disorders. It has become clear to me as an EMDR Therapist, sleep disturbances are common denominator in the mental challenges my clients share with me, and are such an under-used key factor in EMDR targeted treatment for comprehensive, long-lasting mental health treatment. The study in EMDR as applied to Anxiety Disorders and Sleep Disturbances continue in 2026, when goals are met, updates will be shared.
Finally, 2025 was a return to group work, albeit in a different format for me, which has been so rewarding. Now, group therapy has been a long-time passion of mine and I have been privledged to enjoy facilitating and teaching opportunities in group therapy in a variety of settings, right from the beginning of my work experience as a therapist. However, it was a goal of mine in 2025 to start to work as a Group EMDR therapist. After some months of undergoing additional training in Group EMDR Therapy and doing some advertising, I successfully facilitated my own Group EMDR session for Emergency First Responders. The feedback was positive and very humbling for me. At this time, I am unaware of any other private EMDR Therapist offering Group EMDR services in this region, and it is my intention in 2026 to continue developing and offering Group EMDR Therapy services to Emergency Responders and in other settings. At this time, I am taking steps to make this service and career goal of mine, a reality to the people of Conception Bay North and neighbouring regions. Serving those that serve is a huge passion of mine as is using any skills I have to do my bit to strengthen our vibrant local communities here on the Rural Avalon Peninsula.
That’s all for now in regards of updates to my practice. For me, it is a true blessing to aim to offer blessings of mental wellness to others in this life through the work I do. Thanks for all of the support you all provide: sharing my services on social media, sharing information about EMDR therapy itself, share your own experiences with mental health challenges and triumphs, and as I’ve come to so endlessly appreciate, the prolific word of mouth shares about my services that turn into referrals and people who experience freedom from the pain they once carried.
Disclaimers:
- All EMDR training I take is EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) certified.
- All referrals must come through my email:
lieffnancy@gmail.com
I do not accept friend requests on Social media from prospective clients nor referrals requests from social media inbox messages.
Shares are always appreciated 🙏
Here’s to a year filled with hope, determination and healing,
Nancy
