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http://www.neuronuancetherapyandemdr.com/

Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC, 5900 Balcones Drive, STE 4000, Austin, TX (2025)

08/11/2025

Is poor sleep a symptom or a cause of PTSD?

It’s tricky, and research suggests it’s both.

For people living with PTSD, sleep disruption isn’t just a symptom; it’s a core part of the condition that can keep recovery out of reach.

In my latest article, I explore the science of sleep and PTSD recovery, including:

✅ How trauma alters REM cycles and memory processing

✅ Why poor sleep can intensify hypervigilance and intrusive memories

✅ Evidence-based therapies from EMDR to CBT-I that help restore healthy sleep architecture

Sleep isn’t just a nice luxury. It’s one of the most overlooked foundations of PTSD treatment, and one that can change the entire trajectory of recovery.

At Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, trauma is viewed through a holistic lens, helping you not only process your past in therapy, but reclaim the foundations of healing in your daily life.

Read the full article in the comments below or bio👇

Alex Penrod, MS, LPC, LCDC
EMDR Therapist | Founder, Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC | Austin, TX

08/09/2025

I’m honored to have been featured in Oar Health’s new article, How to Find an AA Sponsor.

In my contribution, I drew on my experience as a person in recovery and trauma therapist to highlight how the right support relationships, whether in recovery programs or therapy, can be a turning point in long-term healing. While also recognizing the importance of boundaries and scope in healing relationships.

As the founder of Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC in Austin, TX, my focus is on helping clients heal the past, reclaim their present, and build a healthier future through EMDR therapy and integrative trauma treatment, whether recovery is part of their story or not.

📄 Read the full article

💡 Learn more about my EMDR therapy approach

🔗’s in comments/bio👇

Alex Penrod, MS, LPC, LCDC
EMDR Therapist | Founder, Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC | Austin, TX

08/02/2025

Let’s be real…

At this point, who isn’t trauma-informed?

When the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released their Trauma Informed Guidelines in 2014, it was a much needed validation of what many in the behavioral health field repeatedly saw: the trauma underlying mental health and addiction issues going unrecognized or ignored.

Fast forward 10 years and every other Instagram influencer is a self-proclaimed expert in trauma. It’s become so much a part of our culture it’s almost losing its meaning.

So what really matters these days when trauma awareness is at peak levels?

Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy

There are only a handful of therapies that have reached first line treatment status for PTSD and multiple novel, alternative, or supplemental approaches to integrate into a personalized treatment plan.

These include:

✅ EMDR
✅ Trauma-Focused CBT
✅ Prolonged Exposure Therapy
✅ Cognitive Processing Therapy

🔸 Ego State Therapy
🔸 Internal Family Systems Therapy
🔸 Somatic Experiencing
🔸 Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
🔸 Brain Spotting
🔸 Narrative Exposure Therapy
🔸 Accelerated Resolution Therapy

A trauma-informed provider knows about trauma and its effects.

A trauma-focused psychotherapist will have a comprehensive understanding of trauma, differential diagnosis of trauma and stressor related disorders including dissociative disorders, and training/certification in at least one modality, most likely multiple modalities they integrate in ways that complement the strengths and weaknesses of each.

This means they don’t just identify and validate trauma, then talk around it. They can assess and rapidly get started addressing it in a sensible way that’s appropriate for each individual.

At Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, my vision is to offer specialized trauma-focused psychotherapy to individuals who are ready to go beyond insight and validation, into the work of finding relief and freedom.

Trauma-informed was progress in 2014.

It’s 2025, let’s help people experience more than being recognized, and offer what research has given us to treat the underlying wounds.

In-Person therapy in Austin, TX

Telehealth available throughout Texas

In-Network with Aetna

Free 15-minute consultations

- Alex Penrod, MS, LPC, LCDC
EMDR Therapist | Founder, Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC | Austin, TX

08/01/2025

Ever wondered what actually makes a difference in healing outside of therapy?

We get a steady diet of one off studies, anecdotes, and “5 tips” type resources for healing and self-care in our news feeds.

But is there any evidence for what actually benefits people with PTSD outside of therapy?

Could it be organized into a comprehensive framework, that can lead to a more intentional lifestyle?

That’s what I’m always on the hunt for and I found it in a recent article by Sugden & Merlo (2024).

I’ve organized it into a fairly long, but digestible read, with links to easily jump to each pillar of the approach.

If you’re looking for something empowering that allows you to take more of your healing process into your own hands, then this is your resource:

The Six Pillars of Holistic Trauma Recovery: A Guide to Preparing for EMDR

🔗 in comments

- Alex Penrod, MS, LPC, LCDC
EMDR Therapist | Founder, Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC | Austin, TX

07/31/2025

What’s faster: 10 years of false starts or one year of steady, focused work?

We live in a world that rewards speed. But trauma healing isn’t something you can rush.

You can build a car faster by skipping the safety checks, but would you want to drive it?

Trauma therapy works best when it’s both challenging and tolerable. You need two things to make real progress:

- Enough stability to face painful memories without becoming overwhelmed.

- Enough new perspective to update what those memories taught you about yourself, others, and the world.

These don’t always come overnight, but skipping them can stall your progress or even make things worse.

At Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, I use a phased approach to trauma therapy that’s personalized to your readiness, not a one-size-fits-all timeline. Some clients begin EMDR within a few sessions, while others take more time. Either way, we move at the pace that sets you up for lasting change.

Because slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.

📍 Ready to explore what this could look like for you?

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation

🔗 in comments/bio

In-person EMDR therapy in Austin, TX

Telehealth virtual EMDR sessions available throughout Texas.

In Network with Aetna

Alex Penrod, MS, LPC, LCDC
EMDR Therapist | Founder, Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC | Austin, TX

07/27/2025

The best salespeople build rapport, does that make them a therapist?

In a recent article on Psychology,org, I represented Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC discussing my reaction to a recent study finding AI responses are perceived as more compassionate than humans.

Myself along with 4 other contributors gave our thoughts on why this was the case, the limitations of judging empathy in a purely written word context, the advantages and disadvantages of AI in mental health, and the risks.

As an EMDR therapist, I know the modality of treatment has an effect, but it often rests on a foundation of rapport, trust, and empathy. And while the therapeutic alliance is a necessity, it’s not sufficient without skills, clinical judgment, and ethics.

AI currently has the ability to simulate empathy and build a relationship, but every master of sales, con man, or cult leader knows how to do this. It’s what’s happens afterward that determines the outcome.

With headlines about AI leading people to very dangerous situations and encouraging harmful behaviors, it doesn’t seem like the relationship is leading some people to a desired outcome.

We’re building machines that sound like they care, but we’ll have to act fast to determine if this is progress, or deception.

Find the full story in the comments 🔗

- Alex Penrod, MS, LPC, LCDC
EMDR Therapist | Founder, Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC | Austin, TX

07/23/2025

Ever notice how external success doesn’t always relieve internal burdens?

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? You’re successful, self-aware, excelling on paper. But under the surface, something old and familiar still pulls the strings: panic, shutdown, shame, rage. Self-help can give you insight, and even great strategies. But insight and self-optimization alone doesn’t rewire a survival system. And it can often just turn into another project on the list.

At Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, I help high-performing adults heal what achievement and busyness can’t reach. Using trauma-focused EMDR therapy, we target the stored burdens and survival responses that keep looping, so your nervous system can finally stand down, moving you from fear based offense to authentic drive.

If this sounds like a worthwhile outcome to strive for, consider:

🔹 Booking a free consultation
🔹 Finding out how EMDR could help your unique challenges
🔹 Beginning the work of healing at the source

You don’t have to manage symptoms forever.
It’s time to heal the past, so you can reclaim your present.

📅 Schedule Your Free Consultation

🔗 in comments or bio

Alex Penrod, MS, LPC, LCDC
EMDR Therapist | Founder, Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC

07/20/2025

Two Years Later: Was I Right About Psychedelics?

In 2023, I was quoted in the Wall Street Journal on the rising use of psychedelics in Silicon Valley. I cautioned:

“There’s no guarantee you’re going to be the one who gets that positive outcome on your own.”

Two years later, I feel my quote still rings true, and perhaps louder than ever.

Since then, I’ve watched ketamine use expand from refractory depression to a myriad of off label applications. While there are promising breakthroughs, there are also serious risks, especially for people with complex trauma and dissociation.

As a trauma therapist, I’ve seen what happens when someone bypasses the inner architecture of their defenses in favor of a shortcut without preparation.

📖 In this new post, I reflect on:

• What’s changed since the article came out

• The rise of ketamine clinics and unsupervised trips

• Why “set and setting” isn't enough for complex trauma

• What real integration looks like

• Where I still stand ethically and clinically

🔗 Read the blog:

“Two Years Later: Is What I Told the WSJ About Psychedelics Still True?”

🔗 in comments

If this topic matters to you, whether you’re a therapist, explorer, or skeptic, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Alex Penrod, MS, LPC, LCDC
EMDR Therapist | Founder, Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC | Austin, TX

P.S. I am aware ketamine is not a classical psychedelic

07/16/2025

Newly identified brain pathway helps clarify the link between chronic pain syndromes and PTSD.

07/13/2025

What started as a small private practice is now on Medium, and maybe Neuro Nuance will be large someday. Stay tuned…

To introduce the Medium world to the practice I’ve published the intro post:

“Trauma Is Neurobiological, Healing Is Nuanced. Welcome to Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR”

It’s a starting point, why I created this space, what you can expect, and how I see the intersection of science and soul in trauma recovery.

This blog will explore:

🔹 EMDR therapy and the brain

🔹 Holistic healing practices

🔹 Nuanced reflections on trauma, growth, and integration

🔹 And the kind of questions that don’t always have quick answers

If you’re curious about the layers beneath trauma, and the many ways healing can unfold, I invite you to follow along.

Links in comments

- Alex Penrod, MS, LPC, LCDC
EMDR Therapist | Founder, Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC | Austin, TX

07/10/2025

🧠 Can one stressful experience rewire the brain’s fear circuits, days later?

A new study in The Journal of Neuroscience says yes.

Researchers explored how a single acute stressor (like being trapped or overwhelmed) can silently change how the brain handles fear, even 10 days later. The study focused on two key brain regions:

🧠 Basolateral amygdala (BLA) — the emotional alarm system

🧠 Infralimbic prefrontal cortex (IL-mPFC) — the calm-down center

Here's what they found (and why it matters for trauma and PTSD treatment 👇):

🧪 Key Findings:

🔹 Just 2 hours of stress made the fear center (BLA) more active and the calming center (IL-mPFC) less active.

🔹 This change didn't happen right away—it showed up 10 days later, during fear extinction.

🔹 The disrupted connection between these regions made it harder for the brain to "unlearn" fear.

🔹 Blocking a chemical signal in the BLA (β-adrenergic signaling) prevented the long-term anxiety response.

🔍 Why this matters:

🔸 It shows how stress leaves a delayed imprint on the brain, not just short-term reactivity.

🔸 It identifies a specific brain circuit that could be targeted for new PTSD treatments.

🔸 It reinforces the importance of early intervention after trauma, before changes become ingrained.

🧭 Bottom line:

Stress doesn’t just flip an emotional switch, it can quietly rewire the fear pathways that regulate how we respond to the world long after the event. Understanding these changes gives us a clearer roadmap to help people recover.

Follow Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC for more neuroscience insights hot of the press!

📚 Citation: The Journal of Neuroscience (2025), “Stress-Induced BLA–IL-mPFC Circuit Remodeling Delays Fear Extinction”

Study 🔗 https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2025/07/03/JNEUROSCI.2392-24.2025

07/09/2025

Exercise & PTSD Recovery: Enhancing EMDR Through Movement

Healing from PTSD isn’t just psychological, it’s deeply physiological. Supporting EMDR therapy with exercise accelerates PTSD recovery by stabilizing vital systems, alleviating nervous system dysregulation, and reinforcing the mind-body connection.

🔑 Key Takeaways

🔹 Movement as a Pillar: Regular exercise, whether aerobic, strength training, or mindful movement, supports brain health, reduces PTSD symptoms, and enhances emotional regulation.

🔹 Neurobiological Benefits: Physical activity helps recalibrate the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex network, by enhancing neuroplasticity for memory reprocessing.

🔹 Holistic Framework: Exercise integrates into a trauma-informed approach, along with sleep, nutrition, stress management, and social support, creating a powerful synergy with EMDR.

🔹 PTSD Symptom Reduction: Research shows exercise alone can meaningfully lower PTSD symptoms, and movement paired with intensive trauma-focused treatment (including EMDR) further boosts outcomes.

🔹 Empowerment & Agency: Engaging in regular exercise fosters self-efficacy, helping clients reclaim a sense of control lost to trauma.

By incorporating movement, along with the rest of the Six Pillars of Holistic Trauma Recovery, therapies like EMDR can be supported on a foundation of wellness.

Feel free to use this article as a resource for anyone who may benefit.

🔗 In comments

- Alex Penrod, MS, LPC, LCDC | EMDR Therapist | Founder of Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC | Austin, TX

Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC

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Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm