Meet Kimberly Davis | Certified EMDR Therapist and Barrier Breaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kimberly Davis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kimberly, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
In 2025, as an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Certified therapist, I continue to help people work through traumatic experiences. This has a significant impact now as more stressors exist such as people struggling with finances, gender inequity, food insecurity, cultural bias, or many other barriers. If people can flourish and overcome trauma, they become more relaxed and therefore can better respond to current stressors by adapting. When this happens people can then focus on other things that can help them strive as they have moved out of the fight or flight stress response. These can be things such as starting their own business or exploring other options that cannot be thought of when people are in survival mode. It gives people the courage to advocate for themselves as confidence improves. Trauma often impacts a person’s self-worth so that they focus on the needs of others before themselves. When people can see themselves and know themselves, they can start to invest in their own values and dreams.

As an African American female therapist, I offer a chance for people to be in a space where they can feel safe to speak about things that they might not otherwise be able to. A topic that often comes up are general medical issues. There is anxiety related to medical treatment due to feelings of being dismissed and not seen. This issue is often compounded when viewed from historical issues of abuse, lack of inclusion in medical research, and documented cases of dismissal of symptoms. Dismissal of symptoms can be seen with more recent cases involving people such as Bindi Irwin or Halle Berry. This is not to say that there are not outstanding physicians that exist because there are, but it does suggest an unconscious bias may be present. Outcomes can be improved by extensive training and the development of a broader perspective. One step beyond cultural competence is cultural humility. Cultural humility is a lifelong commitment to self-reflection, self-critique, and a lifelong process of learning about other cultures. This is a process that I am committed to myself.

Medical issues contribute to anxiety and depression. If the body is stuck in the fight or flight stress response too long, this state can lead to developing multiple medical issues later in life. If the psychological effects of trauma are treated, this can potentially lead to better physical health outcomes or at least help them be more manageable. The body cannot be well without the mind, and the mind cannot be well without the body. These both influence each other. Many people overlook how these can impact them. I encourage people to get medical evaluations all the time, especially after learning how this can impact mental health as well. When people start to feel better physically, they can have mental health improvement. Creating a space where people feel safe to share their concerns helps them face things that might have been hidden for a long time, quietly taking a toll on their body and mind.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am proud that I have continued to persevere through these challenging economic times or when there is something new that I need to learn. One of the secrets to success is knowing what you do not know and having the humility to admit it. Even better if you are willing to continue to learn. I am always learning something new. For business, I am continuing to adapt to constant changes involving mental health and access to care. It is important not to panic and learn all the facts. This allows you to think about things more clearly. Many things that we think we cannot overcome we can with time and patience. It helps if you have a supportive community which can include colleagues, family, and friends.

I love learning about all the applications of EMDR therapy as well. Recently, I have enjoyed training focused on dissociation or eating disorders. These issues are highly correlated. I recommend any training by Jim Knipe, PhD. He gives great training on dissociation. I also appreciate the training from the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP). This foundation has helped me to learn about eating disorders in multiple populations and how to coordinate with providers concerning this issue. Eating disorders are often underdiagnosed in Black women and men because of persistent stereotypes about who is affected. Black women are not typically seen as a population at risk, leading to a scarcity of research and specialized providers for their unique needs. Similarly, men are frequently overlooked since eating disorders are commonly perceived as a “female” issue, resulting in many men going undiagnosed and untreated. Addressing these misconceptions is crucial to improving diagnosis, treatment, and support for all individuals affected by eating disorders.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are so many things to enjoy in Houston. I would take my friend to the Houston Museum of Natural Science as they have the best traveling exhibitions. They also have great permanent ones such as the dinosaur bones in the Morian Hall of Paleontology. Currently, King Tut’s Tomb is back on display.

The best place I can go to that reminds me of the food from my hometown is actually in The Woodlands (Houston adjacent). It is called Schilleci’s New Orleans Kitchen. Whether you are a native New Orleanian or not, you will enjoy the food. This place has the best authentic New Orleans food in or around Houston. I like the fried oysters and catfish, but they have so many things to try. I usually reserve this for special occasions. Of course, you should only get the oysters in oyster season in months that start with an R. Usually from November to March is best.

I also enjoy the Houston Symphony Orchestra. They have special events that are wonderful. I was able to see Cynthia Erivo perform there, and it was fantastic. So, people should look out to see who may be coming to perform.

There are many shows or events that come to Houston. I recently was able to go to the Soulful Murder Mystery Experience. I was able to connect with people, help solve a mystery, eat a delicious meal, and hear great singing. They have other themed shows as well. So, if you want, you can come back to see their other themed shows when in town.

I also have been able to go to the Rodeo where you can check out concerts and other things such as lasso contests. This is a must see if it is occurring when a person visits. I had the privilege of seeing Leon Bridges when he performed there in 2018.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to thank the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) for continuing to support research and training for EMDR therapists, I greatly appreciate their Racial Equity Support Initiative (RESI) which is a program which works to increase diversity in EMDR therapy. I would also like to thank my family and colleagues for their unwavering support.

Website: https://www.couragetotalkcounseling.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/couragetotalkcounseling

Other: Email: couragetotalkcounseling@protonmail.com

Image Credits
Photos have been taken by me Kimberly Davis.