Ever wonder what actually happens on the couch during therapy, or why EMDR has become the buzziest word in mental health?
On this episode of Kansas City Bucket List, Mindy sits down with Katie Montgomery, a licensed professional counselor and the owner of Emerald Counseling Services right here in Kansas City, for a wide-ranging, refreshingly honest conversation about trauma, healing, and what it really takes to feel better. Katie, a Kansas City native who grew up in Olathe and now practices out of Corporate Woods, pulls back the curtain on her own path into therapy, why she's built a practice around helping men, high achievers, and women navigating life transitions (hello, perimenopause), and why she believes therapy isn't just for "when something is really wrong."
The heart of this episode is a deep dive into EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), what it is, how it was discovered, and how Katie actually uses it in session with real Kansas City clients. She breaks down big-picture brain science (the amygdala vs. the frontal lobe), the four trauma responses (fight, flight, freeze, and fawn), the difference between "Big T" and "little t" trauma, and why nobody is immune to a stress response, whether it's from combat, a car accident, or a really bad boss. Katie also gets candid about imposter syndrome, core beliefs around worthiness, the pressure of social media and beauty standards, and the real risks of turning to AI chatbots for "therapy." Plus, she shares client transformation stories, tips for anyone too scared to walk through a therapist's door for the first time, and why the relationship with your therapist matters more than any specific technique.
And because this is Kansas City Bucket List, the conversation wraps with a fun, local flavor -> Katie's go-to Kansas City restaurants (Rudy's Tenampa, Bella Napoli, and Carmen's in Brookside all make the list), what she's watching and reading to decompress, and some good old-fashioned Kansas City World Cup excitement.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- What EMDR actually is, who created it, and why it's considered the "gold standard" for trauma processing
- How the brain stores trauma in the amygdala, and how the frontal lobe (which doesn't fully develop until your mid-20s) factors in
- The difference between fight, flight, freeze, and fawn stress responses
- "Big T" trauma vs. "little t" trauma, and why both matter
- PTSD vs. Complex PTSD, explained in plain English
- What a real EMDR session looks like, step by step, including the "buzzies" and light bar
- Why core beliefs like "I have to be perfect" or "I'm not worthy" show up again and again in therapy
- The dangers of relying on social media influencers or AI for mental health advice
- Why the therapeutic relationship matters more than the specific modality
- How Katie built and grows her Kansas City private practice, including the local therapist referral network
- Katie's favorite Kansas City restaurants, books, shows, and how she unwinds
Links & Resources Mentioned:
- Emerald Counseling Services: emeraldcounselingkc.com
- Instagram: emeraldcounselingserviceskc
- Kansas City Bucket List on Instagram: instagram.com/kansascitybucketlist
- Kansas City Bucket List Website: kansascitybucketlist.com/
Keywords: Kansas City therapist, Kansas City counseling, EMDR therapy Kansas City, trauma therapy, mental health podcast, Emerald Counseling Services, Prairie Village therapist, Corporate Woods counseling, KC mental health, anxiety and trauma, Kansas City bucket list podcast, Kansas City wellness, therapy stigma, high achiever therapy, perimenopause and mental health
Enjoyed this episode? Hit subscribe so you never miss a Kansas City story, leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share this episode with a friend who could use a little EMDR education (or just a new Brookside sandwich spot). Follow Kansas City Bucket List on Instagram for more local recommendations, and let us know your favorite KC therapy or wellness spot!
Chapters
Timestamp Chapter 0:00 Welcome & meet Katie Montgomery of Emerald Counseling Services 0:32 Who Katie helps: men, high achievers & women in life transitions 2:07 Breaking the stigma around therapy 3:13 Generational trauma & why life feels harder as we age 5:32 The story behind the name "Emerald Counseling" 6:23 Katie's Kansas City roots & her own therapy journey 8:09 Career pivot: nonprofit life to becoming a therapist 10:21 Grad school at UMKC & falling in love with counseling 12:35 A day in the life of a Kansas City therapist 15:33 What is EMDR? The origin story (Francine Shapiro, 1987) 17:59 How EMDR works: buzzers, light bars & bilateral stimulation 21:00 Brain 101: the frontal lobe vs. the amygdala 25:41 Fight, flight, freeze & fawn explained 27:27 "Big T" vs. "little t" trauma 35:24 PTSD vs. Complex PTSD 37:24 Core beliefs, self-worth & imposter syndrome 39:10 Social media, beauty standards & patriarchy 41:15 Inside an EMDR session: what to expect 49:58 The EMDR process, step by step 54:54 Veterans, fireworks & the "window of tolerance" 57:45 Fast relief: critical incident desensitization 1:01:15 Social media & AI "therapy": buyer beware 1:04:32 EMDR for kids & teens — and who shouldn't try it 1:06:53 Client transformation stories 1:09:58 Why the therapist relationship matters more than the method 1:11:19 Inside Kansas City's therapist community 1:13:52 Advice if you're scared to start therapy 1:19:12 How Katie recharges: family, friends & travel 1:22:01 Katie's Kansas City bucket list: favorite local spots 1:27:56 World Cup fever in Kansas City 1:29:02 Gratitude journaling & the power of positive psychology 1:30:48 Wrap-up & where to find Katie
Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!
