Kaci Hailstone MA, AMFT

The field of therapy is expanding our definition of "trauma" and understanding the lasting effects of chronic stress or fight-flight on our well-being. While we often thing of PTSD as being related to those "big T" traumas like war and violence, we're now understanding that trauma includes "little t" events that nearly every one of us have experienced to some degree. So no matter where you find yourself on the trauma spectrum I'd love to work with you to untangle the hold it has on your life.

Relationships form the bedrock of our existence, offering comfort, empowerment, and enrichment when they're healthy. However, recognizing when they're not can be challenging. As a therapist, I'm here to help you navigate these complexities. Whether you're dealing with conflicts, communication issues, or emotional distance, I'm honored to work with you in improving the quality of your relationships, ultimately enhancing your overall well-being.

Self-esteem is a complex construct formed from various aspects of our individual experiences. It can be influenced by our inner critic, body image concerns, perfectionism, and the struggle to embrace our uniqueness, and more. As a therapist, my goal is to assist you in examining the experiences, patterns, and beliefs that may be undermining your self-esteem. Together, we'll work to identify and challenge these negative influences, fostering a healthier sense of self-worth and self-acceptance.

We're all part of various systems, be it our family, work, or social groups, and these systems shape our experiences and behaviors. By exploring and examining the dynamics within these systems, and the roles we fill within them, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and begin to identify where we need to heal, and reorganize a system that no longer serves us.

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a highly-effective, evidenced-based trauma therapy. It utilized bilateral stimulation of your brain, through eye movements, to help trigger distressing experiences and create healing within the memory network. It's beneficial for "big T" traumas and "little t" traumas alike, as it targets maladaptive beliefs we've stored alongside painful memories, and helps reprocess and integrate those experiences.

Attachment theory explores the bonds we form in relationships, particularly in our early years. Our attachment style is shaped by these early experiences and plays a significant role in our adult relationships. It's not uncommon for attachment wounds to affect our ability to form secure attachments, causing distress, even if you had a "good childhood." Understanding your attachment patterns can help you understand your internal relational framework, and begin to cultivate secure attachments.