Why Therapy Isn’t Just About Feelings: A Conversation with Sean O’Connor, Trauma Therapist in Westchester, NY
- rosalia091
- May 5
- 2 min read
Featuring Peaceful Living’s EMDR Therapist Sean O’Connor
Podcast Highlight: Listen here on Spotify
Feeling Stuck, Disconnected, or Angry? You’re Not Alone.
If you’ve ever wondered why you feel like you're “doing all the right things” but still end up overwhelmed, irritable, or emotionally shut down—this conversation with trauma therapist Sean O’Connor is for you. Sean, a specialist at Peaceful Living Mental Health Counseling and an EMDR-trained therapist based in Westchester, NY, joins The Therapy Show to break down what therapy really is—and what it isn’t.
From the myth that therapy is just “venting your feelings” to why intellectualizing emotions doesn’t help us heal, Sean brings his signature no-BS, compassionate approach to topics that so many of us quietly struggle with.
Sean’s Take: Therapy Isn’t About Feelings—It’s About Processing
During the episode, Sean shares how many of his clients come into therapy thinking they understand their problems, but haven’t actually processed their trauma in a way that leads to real change.
“It’s not about telling your story—it’s about how your nervous system holds your story,” Sean says. “EMDR and trauma-informed therapy help the brain complete the stress response cycle so you can stop reliving the past on a loop.”
He also highlights how performance anxiety, anger, and burnout are often unprocessed trauma in disguise—and how many high-functioning people (including athletes, parents, and professionals) are stuck in “fight or flight” mode without realizing it.
Why Talking Isn’t Always Enough (And What to Do Instead)
Sean’s specialty is helping adults who intellectually get their trauma—but still feel blocked emotionally. These are people who:
Grew up in households where emotions weren’t safe or welcome
Are now parents or partners trying to not repeat those cycles
Use humor, sarcasm, or “logic” to avoid deeper emotional work
Struggle with intrusive thoughts, anger, or numbness
What makes Sean’s approach different is his ability to meet these clients with respect and directness—while gently challenging the defense mechanisms that are no longer serving them.
Who This Type of Therapy Is For
This episode is especially powerful for people who:
Feel stuck, burnt out, or disconnected from their emotions
Want to feel their feelings without getting overwhelmed
Are skeptical about therapy but open to trying something different
Need a therapist who gets it and keeps it real
If you’ve ever googled “Why am I so angry all the time?” or “How do I stop shutting down in arguments?”—you’ll feel seen in this conversation.
How EMDR Therapy Helps You Get Unstuck
At Peaceful Living, Sean uses EMDR therapy and other trauma-informed techniques to help clients reprocess memories that are keeping them stuck in the past. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR allows the brain to rewire how it stores those memories—so you don’t keep reacting as if the trauma is still happening.
This is especially helpful for clients dealing with:
Performance anxiety
Irritability or sudden anger
Childhood trauma that didn’t seem “big enough” to count
Parenting triggers or emotional flashbacks
Emotional avoidance or over-intellectualization
Ready to Work with Sean?
Sean offers in-person therapy in Westchester, NY and virtual therapy in NY and Florida for adults navigating trauma, anger, parenting stress, and more.
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