A Return to the Walk in the Park: Twists and Turns Along the Path to Healing with EMDR Therapy

Carol Miles MSW, LCSW, a clinical social worker specializing in individual psychotherapy, maintains a private practice with adolescent and adult clients. She also provides training and consultation for therapists developing skills in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR Therapy) under her Three Rivers Training Center. Most of her training and therapy is virtual since March 2020. She currently specializes in offering intensive EMDR Therapy to address trauma and healing.

A graduate of the LSU School of Social Work, Carol specializes in Clinical Social Work, with over 30 years of experience as a social worker in clinical, administration, and marketing with the public and private sectors. Among her areas of expertise are working with clients who have eating disorders and trauma. She is certified in EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy) by EMDRIA (EMDR International Association) and has additional training in DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy). Carol has often presented at statewide conferences and to general audiences on topics ranging from Eating Disorders, Assertiveness, EMDR Therapy, DBT, and Developing a Private Practice. She taught as an adjunct professor at the Tulane School of Social Work from 1998-2018.

Additionally, she is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist, an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Provider of EMDR Therapy Training. She has been a member of EMDRIA since 2008, shortly after being trained in EMDR Therapy in New Orleans. As a volunteer for EMDRIA, she served as a member and co-chair of the Conference Committee and chair of the University Special Interest Group. She founded and is the Regional Co-Coordinator of the South Louisiana EMDR Network, stepping down in 2022. In 2017, she was elected to serve on the EMDRIA Board of Directors, 2017-2021. She served a 2-year term as the President of EMDRIA, 2019-2020.

Karen Alter-Reid, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist based in Stamford, Connecticut. She is a clinician, teacher, specialty presenter, and consultant.  Dr. Alter-Reid maintains a private practice providing treatment for individuals with acute traumatic stress conditions, anxiety, and life-cycle transitions. Her most recent work focuses on locating and healing trans-generational trauma, bringing a wider lens to her work with patients. Other specialties include working with therapists and first responders as well as retreat-based experiences integrating psychedelic medicines with EMDR Therapy. Dr. Alter-Reid employs an integrative approach which may incorporate relational psychotherapy, EMDR, hypnotherapy, stress management, sensorimotor psychotherapy and/or biofeedback.  These adjunctive techniques are based on cutting-edge research in neuroscience.

Dr. Alter-Reid is the EMDR Senior Consultant to the Integrative Trauma Program at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies in New York City (www.nipinst.org).  The Integrative Trauma Program oversees the post-graduate 9-month Trauma Certificate Program as well as the EMDR Clinical Affiliate Program.  In addition, Dr. Alter-Reid is on faculty in both the Integrative Trauma Program and in the 4 year analytic program.  Dr. Alter-Reid is an EMDRIA-Approved EMDR Institute Regional Trainer, Consultant and Specialty Presenter, training clinicians nationally, teaching therapists and University faculty about trauma and training them in EMDR treatment.

In response to the Sandy Hook shootings, Dr. Alter-Reid coordinated the Fairfield County Trauma Recovery Network’s response. This team of seasoned trauma therapists provided treatment and training to families and first responders impacted by the shootings. She co-led a team of trauma therapists for 12 years  as part of a non-profit, Fairfield County Trauma Response Team.

Dr. Alter-Reid also co-created a program, “Therapy for Therapists” which provides trauma treatment to clinicians working with traumatized populations. This intensive treatment approach was pioneered in New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and used in other settings, including clinicians in Sandy Hook.

Dr. Alter-Reid’s work with first responders includes treatment of firefighters, state law enforcement, and special agents in the wake of disasters.  She was involved in active mental health responses to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the Gulf Coast, and to  the Christmas Day Fire in Stamford, CT.

She lectures to local organizations about how trauma affects brain function and how to seek appropriate and helpful treatment. Dr. Alter-Reid has presented on trauma and EMDR to organizations such as the CT State Police Academy, the Stamford Fire Department and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.  

Big Oak Institute was developed by Dr. Karen Alter-Reid to bring EMDRIA-approved and general trauma training to clinicians in the Northeast and the Tri-State area. As well, Big Oak presents to local first responders and community mental health organizations. 

Dr. Alter-Reid received her B.A. in Psychology at Barnard College, her M.A. in Psychology at Columbia University, and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She completed a postdoctoral certification program in Relational Psychoanalysis at the Mitchell Center in New York City. Dr. Alter-Reid has been in private practice for over 30 years.