Briana Nicole Messerschmidt, LMFT

(she/her)

EMDR Certified Therapist

EMDR Consultant

About Me

Do you have “sticky” self-defeating thoughts that won’t leave you alone? Do you “know” you’re good enough but don’t “feel” it? Have you suffered the loss of a pet or loved one and struggling to find someone who “gets it”? I am here to help with these and more. We have all been faced with major changes and sacrifices in 2020. Some of these changes have left scares and holes in us. I truly believe we all have the power to grow and heal within us; sometimes we just need a little guidance and specialized tools to get started. I can help you gain strength, motivation, resiliency, and a deeper compassion for yourself and your journey. I specialize in trauma recovery, pet loss & bereavement reconstruction, compassion fatigue, and addiction. I work with my clients using an Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model and narrative perspective incorporating the robust and effective therapies Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing(EMDR), expressive arts, sandtray, and guided meditation. 2020 revolutionized therapy and reminded us of the beauties and pains that remain in the world. As an accomplice, I strive to provide culturally informed therapy and improve my & my fields awareness through advocacy. It takes incredible courage to seek help, especially now. I hope to be the therapist you can trust and connect with while taking this journey.

Education & Experience

Specialized training: -Certified in working with Compassion Fatigue -EMDR Therapy for Suicidal clients, self harming behaviors and Borderline Personality Disorder training -Safe TALK Trained -Non-violent crisis intervention Trained -Suicide for EMDR Training -Neurodiversity and the LGBTQ+ Community: Best Practices for Services Providers -Animal-Assisted Therapy Trained -Implicit Bias training -Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP) and -----Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP) trained -Desensitization of Triggers and Urge Reprocessing (DeTUR) trained Education: -Master of Science degree in Counseling from -California State University, Fullerton -Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from University of California, San Diego -Graduate of Exotic Animal Training and Management Program -Chi Sigma Iota Honor society -Phi Sigma Theta Honor society

Professional & Volunteer Affiliations

-TRN Orange County -California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Member -American Counseling Association Member -Association for Multicultural Counseling Development Member -Human-Animal Interaction: Section 13 of Division 17 of the American Psychological Association Member -Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement Member EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) Member -Association of Professional Dog Trainers Member International Association of Canine Professionals Member -Therapy Pet Unlimited Evaluator -Canine Good Citizen Evaluator

Specialty Area

  • Abuse/Neglect
  • Addictions
  • Alcohol/Substance Abuse
  • Anxiety/Panic Attacks
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Birth Trauma/Pregnancy Loss
  • Chronic Illness/Medical Issues
  • Dissociative Disorders
  • Domestic Violence
  • Family Issues
  • Grief/Loss/Mourning
  • Mood Disorders
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
  • Performance Enhancement
  • Phobias
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Self-Harm
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Somatic Issues
  • Spirituality
  • Sports Injuries
  • Stress Management
  • Suicide Risk
  • Survivor's Guilt
  • Traumatic Incident

Population Served

  • Adolescents (13-17)
  • Adults
  • BIPOC
  • Community Mental Health Center
  • First Responders
  • Group
  • Immigrants
  • LGBTQ+
  • Residential Treatment Facility
  • Seniors
  • Underserved
  • Veterans/Military

Language

  • English