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 Have you ever thought of being still with your emotions and in your own body?  Can you take a minute now just to be still, quiet, and look inward?

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It may feel unsettling, numb, or frightening, and you may notice tension or a desire to do something else. Have you ever wondered if there is something wrong with you, or have you simply wanted to avoid the past? Does staying busy keep you from thinking about it?  I believe you are here because you are tired of feeling that way and the drain and exhaustion it brings.  

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​You might struggle with sleep or experience chronic pain in your joints or muscles.  When you see a counselor or a doctor, you struggle to explain what's wrong, what hurts, where, or why.   Trauma is the loss of safety.  

When you leave your home for work, social activities, or recreation, do you often feel on edge or hyper aware?  Feeling that way throughout your day is draining, leaving you with little motivation for yourself by the end.  Without awareness, you may become so attuned to potential danger that you disassociate, losing parts of your day as you go through the motions until the end. This can leave you feeling tired and critical of yourself, as you don't really remember anything happening.  

Maybe you have a low level of depression or anxiety that never goes away fully.   A feeling of "I should be happy", but you just aren't.  With friends, peers, or even family, you might feel like you are on the outside looking in.  You are very aware of others' feelings, needs, and reactions, and you can anticipate their responses.  You may feel isolated, even in a group.  You feel that you might be too much, too loud, or too confident and try to make yourself smaller, quieter....​

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People who have some past trauma, whether big and obvious or smaller and not so obvious, often come into therapy feeling they don't "deserve" to be here, or that others have more reasons or bigger issues.  Even in this realm, you may question your own validity.  If you are experiencing any or all of the above symptoms, you likely have unresolved trauma in your life.  It may even have been passed down to you from your parents or grandparents, unaware that their survival story would affect you deeply.  You do deserve to heal and live a full and happy life.

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Therapy that meets you where you are: ​

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The experience of feeling outside of, numb, less than, fearful for no reason, tense, etc., is normal for people who have experienced trauma or childhood trauma.  These are the actions of your nervous system trying to rebalance under threat.  Our bodies and nervous systems are designed to protect and stabilize us at all times.  When things happen to or around us that feel like a threat, our biological system springs into action and tries to protect and stabilize.  We can get stuck in those moments or beliefs, and without help in reprocessing, they may stay stuck.    

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I can help you sort through the past and identify pain points, unstick stuck parts, and retrain your nervous system to trust you when you signal safety, using evidence-based practices tailored to your needs and comfort level. There are a lot of good therapies for trauma and PTSD, but not every person responds the same way to each.  My goal is to partner with you to find the most effective approach as you are ready for each step.  Sometimes, the process is quick, and you may have already educated yourself and done some healing.  Sometimes it takes longer as you get comfortable with a new normal.    

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Some of the therapies I use with clients experiencing trauma include EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), A.R.T. (Accelerated Resolution Therapy), Mindfulness-Based Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.  

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                              EMDR is a common PTSD treatment and trauma therapy.  How does EMDR help?  It                                         uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements or alternate tapping) to help your brain process emotions, physical sensations, thoughts, and beliefs that are stuck and causing you distress.  Sometimes what we know with our logical mind doesn't match how we feel.  EMDR is not harmful and isn't a "cure-all" for anyone, but it helps people process memories and feelings more rapidly.   You can read more about it here: www.EMDRia.org

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                         A.R.T., similarly to EMDR, uses bilateral stimulation, either through eye                                       movement or tapping.  In either of these therapies, we may try different modalities to see what works best for you.  A.R.T. allows the client to reprocess a distressing memory with guidance, but they don't have to talk about it at all if they don't want to.  I have had many clients reprocess events or experiences that felt shameful to them without ever telling me what they were remembering.  They report positive experiences and relief from heavy feelings of shame and distress afterwards.  

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The mind is incredibly intuitive.  Often, as we start to process some traumatic memory, it opens a path for your brain to continue to recover even after we finish the session.  It's not uncommon for a client to return to therapy for their next session and be surprised that what they thought was a really big issue previously has resolved itself after processing a similar incident.  

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Accelerated Resolution Therapy supports your brain's desire to heal and stabilize, while also nurturing your own creativity as a person.  I truly believe that every person knows innately what they need to heal; they just don't always know how to access it.  If you would like to explore more about A.R.T., you can do so here:  A.R.T.

               

                          Mindfulness-based therapy is a technique that helps you learn                                   to be more aware of your feelings, experiences, and physical environment.  Mindfulness is a great way to reconnect with your emotions and body, bringing awareness in line with reality.  This counseling works well with the chronic pain and fatigue that can be associated with trauma or depression.  It is particularly useful for individuals who disassociate, depersonalize, or have difficulty with emotional regulation and anxiety.  It is a practice, but the more often you bring yourself to it, the more it becomes a natural way of being and thinking.  ​​

Mindfulness-based therapy can:  

•  Help you achieve control over disruptive emotional reactions.

•  Develop a practice that can help regulate mood throughout the day.  

•  Learn skills to use when emotional triggers occur.              

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I have had ongoing training in mindfulness techniques for the past 20 years and have used these valuable skills to assist in emotional regulation, grief work, depression and anxiety, and bipolar disorder with individuals.

I use meditation, breathing exercises, and yoga in my own life to achieve a sense of balance and serenity, regardless of what is happening in the world around me.  I have found that using these skills with clients has enriched their lives and allowed them to gain more control over their emotional states.

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​​Can therapy really help me?​

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Perhaps you have tried counseling before but didn't see great results. Counseling can be very effective.  It requires a correct therapeutic approach, combined with expertise in guidance, to help you understand your current situation and identify the process that will bring you to the next level of change.  ​

With 28 years of experience in residential settings, I have practiced therapeutic techniques with individuals in their own homes, observing them learn and implement skills in real-time, in their actual lives.  The experience was a wonderful training ground for understanding how mood and habit, trauma, mental health, or substance use disorders affect virtually every part of a person's life.  They can be fully functional on the outside, but struggling on the inside with racing thoughts, anxiety, depression, depersonalization, and many other symptoms.  

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Even small shifts in perception, coping skills, and boundaries can start to positively impact your whole life.  Once the ball is rolling, so to speak, it keeps gaining momentum.  

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I have worked with many people over the years who didn't think they could live a "normal" life.  People who didn't believe they deserved the effort, or they believed in their core that there was just something "wrong" with them, and they couldn't change it.  Nothing is further from the truth.  Every one of us starts life with potential and hope, and experiences along the way can alter that path.  I would offer that we can help you find the true path to your life plan and get you back on track.

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It's as simple as this: schedule a session with me, and we can talk about what you would like to see differently in your life and how I can help you get there.  I believe that you will gain some insight and possibly start to consider that there is hope for you.  

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Will dealing with my trauma open a pandoras box that will cause more harm?

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A good question and a concern for many people.  You have already developed some great skills to adapt to your distress and get on with life.  Will starting therapy cause you to become more emotionally vulnerable?  If you start and it's too much, will you end up in a worse situation?

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If you start to open up about trauma and address things, you may feel very uncomfortable.  People do not often "uncover" hidden memories, although they do often remember details that they had forgotten or not thought about in a long time.  In my training and experience, it is very important to help you feel at ease by the close of the session.  If we need a few extra minutes, you will get that.  I will help you wrap up the session so you don't leave feeling more distressed than when you arrived.  I will also point out that you are a master at dealing with the stress of trauma already, and those skills won't go away.  The way out of pain is to go through it, and that can be difficult.  I will be there to guide and assist you, and you won't lose control, which is the term people mostly use when they worry about working on trauma.  You also know your limit, and I will honor that.  When you aren't ready to move on, we won't.  When you don't want to talk about something, you decide what to do.  Therapy can be a great place to practice boundaries in a safe setting.  You alone know how you are feeling and what you are ready to deal with.  As your partner in therapy, please let me know, and I will support you in that.  

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The path through is hard - the outcome is amazing.  A feeling of lightness and openness that you have been suppressing for a long time.  Warning: sometimes people have to adjust to not worrying all of the time; to not feeling overwhelmed or distressed, and to not being on guard around everyone.  You are amazing, adaptable, and creative, so once you get used to the new normal, you will love your life!

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If at some point you need a break from processing trauma, either because life has other obstacles and you can't take it on right now, or because you just need a break to let things settle, it's not only a good idea, but it won't cause more damage.  You won't open up something that's more than you brought into treatment, and you won't lose progress just because you stop or take a break.  Your brain is amazing; once it gets started figuring things out, it will keep working on them even when you're not in sessions.  

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How long will I need therapy?​​

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Therapy isn't a "one size fits all".  The duration of therapy depends on several factors, including your individual goals, your current lifestyle, and what you are comfortable with.  Many people assume that because they have a lifetime of abuse or trauma that they didn't address for a long time, it will take years to get through it all.  As I mentioned before, once we start the process, you will continue to heal between sessions.  

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You may have already developed numerous healthy coping skills and support throughout your life. Once you start addressing the sticking points, those skills kick into gear and help you progress.  We will identify your goals, and once you feel you have successfully met them, we can discuss ending treatment.  

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Does it ever really end, though? Many of the people I see complete their goals or reach a level of functioning they are comfortable with, and then stop treatment for a while.  They often return later, either to continue work or because new life issues or transitions have arisen.  

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You may just want to practice the new skills and feelings you've developed and take a break from working on things.  Life is busy, and just because there are still some things to process doesn't mean you need to do it all at once.  I'm sure you've heard the saying, "life's a journey, not a destination".  Continuing to work on things when you aren't ready for the next step isn't really helpful.  

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Some individuals meet their goals but want the continued support for a while.  They may meet less often and then even less often before stopping therapy.  Again, if something comes up later, I am always available to check in or restart therapy.  

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Depending on your level of distress, I might make a recommendation on how often we meet. Scheduling, finances, and other obligations can be a barrier for many people, and I am willing and able to work with you.  Meeting less often than every other week for the first few months can make it challenging to maintain focus and set effective goals. Therefore, I recommend at least every other week initially.  That being said, everyone's circumstances are different, and we can talk about yours.  

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Am I the right fit for you? ​​

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Having an educational and training background, along with over 28 years of experience, doesn't necessarily mean I am the right fit for everyone.  

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I have had great successes with clients who told me they have felt understood for the first time.  In the past, I trained clinicians in a technique called motivational interviewing.  It's a style of person-centered counseling that uses listening skills to help the client (you) to verbalize the changes you want to see and identify what the issue is.  It helps the therapist (me) really get you and where you are coming from.  I also teach these skills to clients who struggle in relationships or communication, as everyone can benefit from improved listening skills.  My therapeutic approach is based on this method of counseling.

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You'll find a safe and judgment-free space when you work with me.   I have worked with clients from both marginalized and privileged populations.  Providing counseling is my passion because in therapy, every person is whole, creative, and valued.  Not only does everyone deserve wellness, but each person's well-being has a positive impact on their family, community, workplace, and loved ones.

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If you have a particular goal that I don't have expertise in, I will give you the option of a referral to someone who has more experience and expertise.  If you don't feel I'm the right fit for you, I will help you find someone who is.  That could be due to distance, schedule, finances, or just personality.  Not everyone is a great fit for you, and my goal is to help you find the best possible experience with someone who matches your style.

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                           Free consultation                                         

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If you would like to explore more whether I would be a good fit for you, please reach out and we will schedule a call.  It's free and we can spend about 20 minutes getting to know one another, looking at what your goals might be, and answering your questions about therapy.  

                                            

      

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