Abuse

Recovering from domestic violence and/or sexual violence, whether it happened to you as a child or an adult; religious abuse, leaving high demand groups; religious trauma; narcissistic abuse

I work with clients who feel broken, unlovable, and stuck. This is often the result of hurtful messages they received growing up that they continue to believe. Abuse often takes away self-confidence and leaves shame, self-doubt and self-hatred in its place. This self-loathing leads us to continue to hurt ourselves through toxic relationships, unsafe sex, drugs and alcohol, and self-sabotage. I can help you reclaim yourself and help you get in touch with your inherent worthiness.

It's important for me to know what my client means by "abuse". Abuse can be traumatic & it's equally important to understand what about the abuse may be traumatic for my client. From there we can work on resolving the abuse (trauma). This work may involve: decreasing the uncomfortable to distressing symptoms you're experiencing; increasing the ability to stay in your comfort zone (regulated) when "triggered"; helping your body process the experience (experience lives in the body) to resolve it.

Abuse can be extremely difficult to bring up to your therapist and that's okay. You have control on when and how you want to open about this issue. I believe in creating safe space and having a connection with my clients is the start of the process.

"Abuse" is an overused word. It does not begin to address the complexity of attachment wounds and lifelong suffering that comes in its wake.

Too many people are dealing with the effects of abuse, either as a child , as an adult in romantic relationships, or both. I can help you heal from the trauma of abuse, and teach you coping strategies and how create healthy boundaries, so that you can stop the cycle of abuse moving forward.

I have worked extensively with survivors of all ages who have endured emotional, mental, spiritual, physical and sexual abuse. Often the abuse took place within the context of a relationship (e.g. parents, a trusted adult, family member or friend) resulting in sometimes severe struggles with trust of both themselves and others as well as self-worth and self-respect. I have walked along side many survivors to provide hope and healing.

Most of my training is with trauma and various forms of abuse (emotion, physical, systemic and more). I take a holistic and liberatory lense to help my clients experience sustainable healing.

Childhood trauma, emotional and physical neglect, bullying, violence and harassment, and the trauma of oppression experienced by BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled folx interpersonally, institutionally and systemically; the ways we learn to survive in traumatic environments and relationships prevent us from becoming our true selves and keep us from fully contributing as members of our human community. Healing requires restoring one's dignity and agency, as well as honoring one's vulnerability.

Many women haven’t told anyone about their assault before coming to our office. They have had no safe place to process their range of emotions and have needed to push down their memories and feelings over the years in order to survive and function at school, work and life. At Thrive, we give you the space and the tools to take back your life story, turn shame into self-love and confidence, and to heal your relationship with yourself and others. Your assault doesn’t have define you or limit you.

Addiction and Substance abuse can leave the person suffering depleted and despondent with their repeated use and failures at staying sober. I believe addiction is a disease, but that does not mean there is not hope and a chance for the addict to take the right steps needed in their life to conquer their demons.

Whether it was at the hands of a narcissistic parent or abusive partner, I specialize in helping clients overcome trauma resulting from interpersonal relationships. Using a combination of EMDR and talk therapy, we work together to calm that ever-present sense of uneasiness, regain a feeling of safety, and learn to trust in your own judgement. I am living proof that you can overcome abuse and trauma to live a rich and fulfilling life on your own terms.

Abuse messes with our brains and can even re-wire them. Trauma is your body doing its best to cope with abnormal, stressful, or long-lasting negative events, like abuse. Symptoms may include hyper-vigilance, nightmares, guilt, self-blame, becoming easily startled, isolation, decreased interests in activities, difficulty sleeping, flashbacks, forgetfulness, and panic. Although the trauma symptoms can be overwhelming, there is hope for healing.

Most of my experience and training focuses on healing from trauma. Many of my clients experience some form of abuse such as emotional, physical, sexual, financial, and more- whether that is from specific individuals or even through societal oppression.

Teens and adults who have been victims of various types of abuse are an all-too common focus of my counseling work. Additionally, this abuse is often a result of a family member or close relationship who struggles with a personality disorder or has also been abused themselves.

Abuse messes with our brains and can even re-wire them. Trauma is your body doing its best to cope with abnormal, stressful, or long-lasting negative events, like abuse. Symptoms may include hyper-vigilance, nightmares, guilt, self-blame, becoming easily startled, isolation, decreased interests in activities, difficulty sleeping, flashbacks, forgetfulness, and panic. Although the trauma symptoms can be overwhelming, there is hope for healing.

I have years of experience working with clients in therapy who have experienced various types of abuse, such as childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, and other forms of interpersonal violence.

I regularly work with individuals who have endured various types of abuse (e.g., emotional, physical, sexual, and financial), along with other forms of trauma.

Abuse can come in many different forms. This can be more extreme things such as psychical violence, mental abuse, or emotional abuse. Or this can be in other forms of abuse such as neglect. No matter how that may have looked, it is still very important to process through what took place and how that has altered the course of events in your life. This could be how we connect to others or how we allow others to interact in our lives.