Trauma Therapy

I have training in EMDR, TF-CBT, and other trauma therapy interventions. My previous work with the Department of Child Safety has given me extensive experience with complex trauma presentations.

Quintessential Health only utilizes evidence-based treatments, with a specialty focus on Prolonged Exposure for trauma.

My approach to Trauma Therapy is grounded in understanding and gently addressing the deep-seated impact of traumatic experiences. I utilize techniques that help clients safely confront and process trauma, fostering healing and resilience. The goal is to empower individuals to reclaim control over their lives, alleviate the distress caused by past events, and build a path towards a hopeful future. This therapy is a journey of transformation, where we work together to heal wounds and restore a sen

I have over 13 years of experience helping people through trauma. More significantly, I have experienced several trauma's myself, including the sudden death of my brother and pregnancy loss. Healing from my own experience with trauma with the help of my own therapist, I know it is possible to feel whole again. I have taken many trainings over the years with David Kessler and others.

I have worked with various kinds of trauma throughout my career and have chosen to specialize in it. I always remain trauma-informed, client-centered while exploring the ways in which trauma has impacted a client's life; physically, mentally, spiritually, sexually, financially, etc.

I provide frontline treatments for trauma, including Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, and Written Exposure Therapy. Often trauma can impact how we think about ourselves, others, and the world, as well as how view the trauma itself and whether we are to blame or "should" have done something differently. Further, trauma can lead us to avoid thoughts, feelings, and places that no longer feel safe. Trauma-focused therapies will help you take back your life.

Really big, terrifying events can sometimes stick with and follow us like an unwelcome ghost. If we continue to avoid our ghosts, our symptoms and negative experiences get worse and impact daily lives. Sound familiar? Trauma therapy, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), can help you move through your trauma and develop healthier ways of processing your thoughts, feelings as well as others and the world around you. Essentially, by changing the way you think, you can change the way you feel

Trauma therapy is a vague concept but allows me to work with you in the way you need. I offer image replacement therapies that can remove the "images" in our minds of past traumas. I work with you to desensitize you to the hurt and create a safe space for yourself to stay in.

At the core of my work I am a Trauma-Informed clinician. All of my assessment, methodology, interactions, and treatment is informed by my knowledge of trauma: what it does to the brain, how it can cause different reactions in different people and when occurring at different ages in development. Much of my clinical training has been in Trauma-Informed methods including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Animal Assisted Therapy, and Creative Expression Interventions.

I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional after having received training from a trauma specialist. I also received a year of supervision and consultation with a trauma professional as I developed a therapeutic tool kit of interventions specifically geared towards trauma survivors.

I have experience using TF-CBT working with clients who experienced trauma from childhood, and adulthood. 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. https://www.mountainstherapy.com/

Recovery and resiliency

Rita compassionately guides Clients through exploring past traumas to help them identify and disrupt unhealthy patterns within their daily lives.

I use a variety of techniques to treat trauma. Trauma's impact is unique to each person and I collaborate with you to identify a treatment that will best fit you, whether it is EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness and somatic work, or other strategies.

I have over a decade of working in trauma services as well as interacting with the overlapping service providers and systems that often come into play, including family and criminal court systems, and assisting client attaining reasonable accommodations or assistance at work, school, or other environments.

I am certified in a parts approach to therapy that utilizes a parts approach to better understand defenses that were needed at the time that trauma occurred and may no longer be serving you but continue to be utilized despite them no longer being needed. An example of this would be yelling at a loved one in ways and not understanding why you are yelling or struggling to not end relationships at the first sign of a conflict. The key is to understand these responses, why they exist and change them

I incorporate somatic, TF-CBT, and sensorimotor psychotherapy into my approach to trauma work. My overarching process is to work through traumatic materials through the body (where trauma is held) while maintaining emotional safety (not re-living the scary stuff). I work to find the mental and physical places that are stuck. Trauma is a very common part of life, but it often leaves us isolated and disconnected. My goal is to get you back in a place of connection and worthiness.

I use a variety of techniques to treat trauma. Trauma's impact is unique to each person and I collaborate with you to identify a treatment that will best fit you, whether it is EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, or other strategies.

A lot of the time, people might feel like they can't point to any "real trauma" yet they experience symptoms in line with trauma. Trauma is not just limited to one event: it often comes from our experiences embedded in our environments. This means that there is no simple beginning, middle, and end to our trauma stories. They're complex and layered. Trauma therapy for me is about honoring the complexity, the messiness, the grief of it all. It is central to the work that I do.

I have spent the majority of my career as a mental health professional working with people affected by trauma. This is where my heart has always been. I utilize a number of approaches with the intention of meeting the unique needs of my clients. I am seeing children, youth and adults who are survivors and/or who apart of their world including foster and adoptive parents and bio sibs of foster and adopted children and youth.