CompassionWorks

CompassionWorks CompassionWorks was founded in 1998 by Jordan Shafer, MS, LPC. Through EMDR we can let your brain change the way emotional information is linked.

CompassionWorks offers EMDR & Mindfulness Distance Counseling to individuals, EMDR training & Continuing Education courses to mental health professionals. EMDR is a type of therapy that helps people move past difficulties, so they can be more present and enjoy their daily lives. Similar to other psychotherapies, we talk about what is happening in your life and explore practical solutions. However, we take it another step further by leveraging EMDR processing to work directly with your ‘limbic’ brain. This process allows neural networks, old and new, to link-up allowing the mind to become more open in its ability to find creative solutions. As a result, anxiety will lessen and life can begin to ‘feel’ more manageable; even better. We offer EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) approved EMDR Basic Training to Mental Health Professionals such as psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, professional counselors and graduate students in the field of mental health (completing their internships). Partnering with the Advanced Education Institute, we teach the EMDR training program developed by DaLene Forester, PhD, LMFT. For EMDR trained therapists and mental health professionals, we also offer an EMDR Boot Camp. This is for professionals who have completed the basic training (previously EMDR L1 & L2) from an EMDRIA approved training or the EMDR Institute. This two day EMDR skills refresher course is specifically designed for professionals that have not had the opportunity to practice EMDR. This is the perfect course for professionals that would like hands on practice to their build technical competence. Continuing Education credits for EMDR trained professionals are also available. For more information, visit us at www.CompassionWorks.com or call (972) 342 - 2448.

02/19/2026

Why does your brain keep taking the same destructive path? 🌪️

In this clip, Amber explains the science behind our mental habits using a simple analogy: rain and dirt pathways.

⛈️ When life’s "rainstorms" hit, our neural pathways tend to follow the old, maladaptive ruts we've used for years.

In EMDR therapy, we don't just look at the past. We use the "Future Template" to literally "build up the land"—creating new, adaptive pathways so you can handle future challenges with confidence and authenticity.

👇 What is one "mental path" you’re working on redirecting lately? Let’s discuss in the comments.

🔴 Your neurons don’t know your trauma.They don’t know your name.They don’t know the story.👉 They fire. They link. They h...
02/12/2026

🔴 Your neurons don’t know your trauma.
They don’t know your name.
They don’t know the story.

👉 They fire. They link. They hold charge.
That’s it.

So when something feels overwhelming, reactive, or intense…
what if it’s not “you” — but circuitry doing what circuitry does?

In this Founder’s Corner reflection, we explore:
🔹why EMDR can feel intense
🔹what “target nodes” really are
🔹and how neuroscience meets nondual wisdom

If neurons aren’t broken, maybe you aren’t either.

Read the full piece at: https://compassionworks.com/do-neurons-know-your-story/ (or link in bio)

💬 Does it feel different to think of trauma as neural patterning rather than identity?

If February were an animal, it wouldn’t be a productivity machine.It would be a tortoise 🐢Not lazy.Not behind.Just movin...
02/07/2026

If February were an animal, it wouldn’t be a productivity machine.

It would be a tortoise 🐢

Not lazy.
Not behind.
Just moving at the speed integration actually requires.

From a nervous-system perspective, this part of the year is often about:
🔹️ conserving energy
🔹️ digesting change
🔹️ moving without pressure

Slow doesn’t mean stalled.
It means sustainable.

Swipe through if your system has been asking for a gentler pace lately 💙

💬 What does “moving without pressure” look like for you right now?

Some of the most meaningful moments in training are quiet ones.No big reveal. No performance. Just watching something cl...
01/31/2026

Some of the most meaningful moments in training are quiet ones.
No big reveal. No performance. Just watching something click.

💫 A skeptic leans in.
💫 A question turns into curiosity.
💫 Confidence grows—not from being told, but from being witnessed.

This is what teaching EMDR often looks like from the inside.

Not convincing. Not pushing.
Just staying present long enough to see transformation unfold—step by step.

💬 What’s a moment in your work that reminded you why you do this?

Not every training leaves a mark.✔️ Some just check a box.💫 Others change how you show up in the room.This is why we sha...
01/23/2026

Not every training leaves a mark.

✔️ Some just check a box.
💫 Others change how you show up in the room.

This is why we share Real Voices. Real Impact.

Reflections from clinicians who found not just information—but a learning environment where curiosity was welcomed, questions were met with care, and clinical depth was paired with genuine presence.

Because the way we learn matters.
And so does how safe we feel while learning.

💬 What makes a training truly impactful for you?

Most conversations about Dry January miss the point.For many people, it’s not about quitting, discipline, or “doing bett...
01/21/2026

Most conversations about Dry January miss the point.

For many people, it’s not about quitting, discipline, or “doing better.”
It’s about what becomes noticeable when alcohol isn’t numbing stress anymore.

🔸Sleep shifts.
🔸Emotions surface.
🔸The nervous system responds.

This reflection looks at alcohol, stress, and trauma through a gentle, non-judgmental lens—without labels, timelines, or pressure to change anything permanently.

🔹Not a challenge.
🔹Not a test.
🔹Just information.

Head to our blog to read the full article: Substances, Stress, and the Nervous System
https://compassionworks.com/substances-stress-and-the-nervous-system/

💬 If you’ve ever paused or reduced—even briefly—what did you notice first?

💙 Blue Monday isn’t real—but the way January can feel often is.The idea of a “most depressing day of the year” comes fro...
01/19/2026

💙 Blue Monday isn’t real—but the way January can feel often is.

The idea of a “most depressing day of the year” comes from marketing, not psychology.

Still, this time of year can bring real strain:
🔁 post-holiday transitions
💸 financial pressure
🕰️ disrupted routines
📈 the quiet push to “get it together” fast

There’s no emotional standard you’re meant to meet right now.
No timeline. No comparison.
Just space to notice what’s actually happening—and respond with a little care. 🤍

💬 What’s been most supportive for you lately, even in a small way?

01/19/2026

One of Amber's FAVORITE trainings is coming to Houston in October 2026!
If there was a third weekend of EMDR training, in Amber's opinion this would be it. These protocols have OVER 100 Peer Reviewed publications evidencing their use for on-going trauma and recent event situations.
Information about the training: https://scalingupemdr.com/gap-training/
Registration Link for Houston: https://fs27.formsite.com/kellysmythdent/bngepcvvla/index
Coupon Code (20% discount until Jan 31st): YES25

Not everyone chooses sobriety because something is “wrong.”Sometimes it’s quieter than that.✨ Better sleep.✨ Steadier em...
01/16/2026

Not everyone chooses sobriety because something is “wrong.”

Sometimes it’s quieter than that.
✨ Better sleep.
✨ Steadier emotions.
✨ Clearer thinking.
✨ Feeling choice return.
✨ Listening to the body again.

No labels.
No lifetime promises.
No explanations required.

This carousel isn’t about dramatic before-and-after stories.
It’s about the subtle shifts people notice when alcohol steps out of the way—especially in January.

💬 Which one of these stood out to you the most right now?
Or is there a reason you’d add to the list?

January doesn’t need to be loud to be meaningful.Every year, this month arrives with urgency:reset everything, fix what ...
01/14/2026

January doesn’t need to be loud to be meaningful.

Every year, this month arrives with urgency:
reset everything, fix what didn’t work, move forward fast.

And when that pressure doesn’t translate into change, we tend to blame ourselves.

But neuroscience and trauma-informed research point to something else:
👉 pressure activates threat—not growth.

In our latest blog post, we explore why willpower collapses under stress, how self-compassion supports real momentum, and what it looks like to set intentions your nervous system can actually sustain.

This isn’t about lowering standards.
It’s about choosing a pace that allows change to last.

📖 Read: Why Pressure Doesn’t Work—and What to Try Instead This January
🔗 www.compassionworks.com/why-pressure-doesnt-work/

Keep scrolling if you’re not looking to grow your EMDR skills in 2026.👇Still here? Then this one’s for you.From online E...
01/11/2026

Keep scrolling if you’re not looking to grow your EMDR skills in 2026.
👇
Still here? Then this one’s for you.

From online EMDR trainings to in-person and hybrid cohorts, plus live and on-demand workshops, we’ve got multiple ways to learn—without forcing your life to fit one rigid format.

Whether you’re just getting started or ready to deepen your practice, there’s a path here that meets you where you are.

💬 Tell us in the comments:
Do you prefer online, in-person, or hybrid learning—and why?

(And yes, you can say “it depends” 😉)

New years often come with an unspoken expectation: reset, plan, accelerate.But a nervous-system-informed start looks dif...
01/05/2026

New years often come with an unspoken expectation: reset, plan, accelerate.

But a nervous-system-informed start looks different.

Gentleness doesn’t mean disengaging — it means pacing.

A gentle start might include:
🔸️ beginning the day without urgency
🔸️ setting fewer, more intentional priorities
🔸️ noticing where tension lives in the body
🔸️ choosing regulation over productivity
🔸️ allowing direction to emerge gradually

Before setting goals or making plans, pause and check in.

What does a gentle start feel like in your body as this year begins?

Address

1709 Savage Drive
Plano, TX
75023

Telephone

(972) 342-2448

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