In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, we’re joined by Molly Halbrooks, founder of Restore Counseling & Therapy in Belmont, North Carolina.

Molly shares her journey from solo private practice to building a small group practice and why community matters, both for clients and therapists. We dive deep into trauma therapy, including why Molly chose EMDR, how it works in plain language, and why so many clients describe it as life changing.

We also explore how mindfulness, breathwork, and body based practices can help regulate the nervous system, why tech and social media can isolate us into echo chambers, and what therapists do to protect their own capacity while holding heavy stories for others.

In this conversation:

• Why Molly moved from solo work to a group practice

• What EMDR is and why it can be so effective for trauma

• Trauma and memory: why it can feel like you’re reliving it

• A simple EMDR explanation: from “VR” to a picture

• Breathwork and mindfulness as a real world tool, not just a concept

• When EMDR may not be the right fit and what options exist

• Thoughts on psychedelics in trauma treatment and why the research matters

• Therapist burnout, capacity, and why solo trips can be self care

• Social media, boredom, creativity, and connection for kids and adults

Learn more about Molly’s practice: restorecounselingtherapy.com