Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Surviving a painful situation changes you emotionally, physically, and socially, making it difficult to break free from the moments where it felt like your whole being was shattered into pieces. These experiences halt your ability to function and create constant hopelessness. You may have lived a life filled with so many negative experiences that you don't know if there can be anything else outside of your pain.

My passion is helping those who have endured trauma. I have extensive training in trauma-based modalities such as Somatic Experiencing to help you heal from your trauma. Somatic Experiencing is a unique approach that addresses the root of where trauma often lies and gets trapped- in the body.

I have extensive experience and training in the use of evidence-based practices for the treatment of PTSD, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and the Unified Protocol. I have spent years treating PTSD symptoms resulting from community violence, partner violence, sexual assault, and combat trauma.

Trauma is our neurobiology’s way of protecting us when we are overwhelmed. Left untreated, it can last an entire lifetime. I help clients understand their experiences, build cognitive and emotional resources, and reprocess traumatic memories so that they become useful instead of overwhelming. Safety is paramount so as to not trigger the client into a traumatic episode. I use CBT, EMDR, and Narrative Therapy as my approach to understanding and processing trauma in a safe and effective manner.

I have specialized EMDR training in PTSD, parts work and grief and loss. When an individual experiences complex trauma they can experience depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, addictions, disassociation, flashbacks and more. These behaviors are the body's attempt at coping with the trauma. Through my specialized training I help clients process their traumatic experiences and work together to identify healthy coping strategies.

Are events of your past affecting your behavior today? Trauma can be big and obvious and other times it can be seemingly small or insignificant. Either way it can really disrupt your life. I take a trauma informed approach to treatment and am EMDR certified. EMDR is one of the most powerful and effective modalities we have for treating the symptoms of trauma. Give me a call and we can determine if EMDR is appropriate for you.

I am trained in the use of EMDR for the treatment of trauma, both single- and multi-incident traumas. EMDR is a powerful tool which helps the mind to heal itself in a gentle and kind way. I am especially equipped to work with people living with chronic health challenges, people dealing with alcoholism, addiction, or addictive behaviors, and people who experienced abuse and neglect during childhood.

When addressing PTSD, C-PTSD, and developmental trauma, I use EMDR and Lifespan integration. These mind-body techniques help the client access the calming and organizing parts of the brain to relegate the trauma event(s) to the past where they belong. Trauma is the past disrupting the present, and these therapeutic tools bring the client's entire nervous system back into the present so they can relate to what used to trigger them with clarity and peace.

EMDR works on the non-verbal parts of our brain and helps clients feel clearer and more capable of managing triggers in daily life. It can have a transformative effect by helping you connect to a sense of safety in your body and with other people again. If you find yourself acting out, avoiding conflict, or getting emotionally flooded and spacing out, a mind body approach can help you respond instead of reacting to stressors in your environment.

Trauma can make you want to avoid, or make you numb to the world. It effects relationships, performance at work, and can make us doubt who we are and what our purpose is. Treatment for trauma can look a lot of different ways. Sometimes the focus is on the here and now- learning how to manage symptoms that are tripping you up today. Sometimes the focus is on the beliefs that came out of the trauma, and how your current life is somehow continuing to foster them. Giving you control is the goal.

If you have been through something huge and it has taken over your life: let's talk about how to get you where you want to be. I know what it's like to feel the ground fall out from under you. I also know what it's like to think something is normal, just to find out later how horrible it really was. I never force clients to talk about things until they are ready, but I'll support your and (gently) push you to help you move forward.

Much of my background has been treating the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have extensive experience working with chronic trauma often rooted in childhood. I also have ongoing experience working with attachment difficulties that often stem from childhood trauma. I work with survivors of trauma across all age groups and in a variety of formats such as talk therapy, creative interventions, and play therapy techniques with young children.

If you’ve gone through a traumatic experience, you may be struggling with upsetting emotions, frightening memories, or a sense of constant danger that you just can’t kick. Or you may feel numb, disconnected, and unable to trust other people. Here are some commonly overlooked sources of emotional trauma: Serious physical injuries Emotional or physical abuse by a parent The sudden death of someone close An auto accident The breakup of a significant relationship I'd like to help.

Living with PTSD can be an incredibly challenging, overwhelming, and isolating experience. I am here for you. I will sit with you as you share things that perhaps you've never told anyone before but are needing to talk about, hold space for all of your feelings and emotions, and offer you nervous system regulating techniques so you can continue the healing journey outside of sessions.

Trauma is a normal response to an abnormal situation. It is stored in the body and not in the event so the body is a good place to start in order to heal. Survival energy gets mobilized in order to respond to a threat though it does not always get released which can show up as trauma symptoms leading you to feel disconnected from yourself and others. This survival energy can be released after-the-fact leading to greater resilience and capacity to be connected and present.

I am fully trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy with years of experience. I work with my clients to ensure they feel safe enough to navigate trauma using tools from DBT, CBT, Mindfulness and Internal Family Systems.

I have experience working with trauma from childhood, adulthood, family, military, and religious/ spiritual. I will help you identify your triggers and healthy ways to cope with them. We will explore how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected to your trauma. I will help you explore your strengths, resilience, and appreciation for life and possibilities for change. Which will help to transition from post-traumatic stress to post-traumatic growth.