An Emerging Therapy: EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Finding His Place: Josh's Journey of Growth

By 7017444915 • July 22, 2025
At Hope Haven, we believe in the profound power of transformation. Every individual carries the potential for growth when given the right support and opportunities. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us of this truth: ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!’ Josh Canny’s story is a powerful testament to this belief. His journey of growth and resilience exemplifies how faith and support can lead to extraordinary change. Josh, born in Spirit Lake, Iowa, found his home at Hope Haven at the age of 18. Now 35, his journey illustrates the power of compassion, opportunity, and community. Josh began in Hope Haven’s Parkview workshop, where he struggled to find fulfillment. However, everything changed with the introduction of the My Choice Employment program, offering Josh the chance to explore community employment. He took this opportunity and thrived. Today, Josh works nearly 40 hours a week at Double HH Manufacturing, contributing across multiple departments. From running machines to packaging, Josh’s versatility and uplifting attitude have become invaluable to his team. Austin Vande Vegte, Operations Manager at Double HH, shares, “Josh’s contributions have had a positive impact on our team. His willingness to learn and help across the plant ensures we deliver quality to our customers on time.” Josh’s journey to independence hasn’t been without challenges. Losing his mother at 13 and experiencing an unstable upbringing left him with little structure or support. For a time, he lived with relatives who didn’t encourage his growth. But at Hope Haven, Josh found stability, relationships built on trust, and the structure he needed to thrive. Over the years, Josh has grown immensely—both at work and in life. He now lives independently in Sioux Center, enjoys cooking, video games, and going out to eat or to the movies with his friends. He has transformed into a kind, respectful person; taking pride in his work ethic and relationships. Amanda, Josh’s longtime Double HH Job Coach, reflects, “Josh has grown so much. Watching him mature and succeed has been like seeing family flourish. I am so proud of the person Josh has become.” Josh’s journey from instability to independence is a powerful example of how lives can be transformed through faith, compassion, and community. At Hope Haven, we know that every individual we serve has their own unique story and potential—just like Josh. Our dedicated staff helps individuals realize their potential, providing the support and encouragement they need to thrive. This story of resilience highlights the importance of supporting individuals in difficult circumstances. With your help, more people like Josh can receive the guidance, care, and opportunities they deserve. Your generosity allows us to expand our programs, equip individuals with necessary resources, and foster environments where they can truly flourish. Together, we can make a lasting impact on their lives and the communities they call home. If you wish to contribute, please CLICK HERE to donate today. At Hope Haven, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your support and prayers in serving our mission now and in the future.
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If you weren’t sure what EMDR stood for you’re probably not alone. This highly regarded type of therapy has been practiced since its invention in the 1980s but is continually gaining awareness for its effectiveness in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment.

What exactly is EMDR? It stands for E ye M ovement D esensitization and R eprocessing. And what does that mean? Simply put EMDR is a type of therapy with an eight step process in which the individual is asked to recall traumatic images while the therapist creates a sensory input such as side-to-side eye movements or hand tapping.

Darci Grave a Mental Health Therapist with Hope Haven specializes in EMDR therapy. In order to offer this treatment Grave underwent extensive training and education to learn the proper methods – including 50 hours of training and nine months of EMDR consultation. “This is a deeper way to deal with trauma ” stresses Grave emphasizing that thorough training is crucial when identifying a therapist who is well qualified to practice EMDR.

How do you know if you’re a candidate for EMDR therapy? This treatment was developed specifically for individuals who have a trauma disorder or who struggle with their trauma experiences. Trauma is more common than often perceived so it’s well suited for a variety of people:  victims of any type of abuse witness to abuse or violence those dealing with loss or grief issues victims of natural or man-made disasters war veterans and more.

And how long does treatment typically take? Grave says it varies based on the individual “The actual reprocessing therapy can be short but it’s the preparation stages that can take some time.