Online Trauma and PTSD therapists in Wisconsin

I am experienced in working with individuals navigating a history of trauma and abuse. I can help you return to safety and help you understand (and change) how it impacts you currently so that you can experience the world as a safe space again.  

My background as a licensed psychologist and a trauma survivor uniquely positions me to offer compassionate and effective support to individuals who have experienced trauma, whether it be abandonment or physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. My personal journey through trauma has given me firsthand insight into the complex and often challenging process of healing. This, combined with my education and professional experience, enables me to approach therapy with deep empathy, understanding, and a genuine connection to my clients' experiences. I believe in the power of resilience and the potential for growth in the face of adversity, and I am dedicated to helping survivors on their path to recovery and empowerment. With EMDR as my primary treatment modality, I bring a wealth of experience and expertise in guiding individuals towards trauma healing. My approach focuses on collaboratively identifying trauma targets for processing while also prioritizing resourcing techniques to reestablish a sense of safety and inner peace. Through EMDR therapy, I help clients transform the way traumatic memories are stored in the brain, ultimately freeing them from flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance patterns associated with trauma. My commitment is to support individuals on their journey to reclaim their lives and find lasting relief from the effects of trauma.  

I specialize in the assessment and treatment of PTSD and cPTSD. As mentioned elsewhere here, I utilize a multifaceted approach that is customized to the needs of each individual person I work with. When suitable, and with sufficient preparation, I emphasize EMDR as my treatment approach of choice.  

I have been working with individuals who have trauma and PTSD for over 20 years. For many years this was my main focus and as a evidence-based therapist I learned many different ways of treatment and developed a hybrid approach that I taught to other therapist for years. I start by helping you reduce your symptoms, then if your willing we re-process your trauma and help you look at it in a different way by identifying what is your "stuck point" and working to move that along. That in itself can also reduce remaining symptoms. With what is left, I help you move forward with your remaining symptoms and do what make you happy, despite of your symptoms. It may make you anxious to do something but at the end of the day, the joy you felt makes it worth it. Again, remember, you would be doing this with much less anxiety than when you started therapy. This a is a proven approach that has worked with so many individuals with trauma.  

The UCEBT Trauma, Stress, and Resilience (TSR) Program provides expert care in the treatment of stress and trauma-related issues. Most people at some point in their lives will experience a trauma or other difficult event, such as a loss of a loved one, medical illness, financial stressors, work burnout, divorce, etc. Depending upon our unique past and current circumstances, these events impact each of us differently. In the aftermath, some may develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, grief, or experience other life challenges. In spite of our best efforts, sometimes the problems persist and common coping strategies (like isolation, working long hours, alcohol, etc.) can create new problems. Fortunately, there are now several proven therapies to get people unstuck and tap into our natural human ability to heal after a painful life event. Our center is committed to offering the most effective treatment options for both supporting you during a difficult period as well as long-term skills to foster resiliency for the future. There are several gold standard evidence-based treatments right now for trauma. Our clinicians in this program have formal training and expertise in: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Cognitive Processing Therapy -- CPT is a therapy that focuses on helping individuals identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs related to their traumatic experiences. It aims to promote cognitive restructuring and reduce distressing symptoms. CPT has been recommended as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA/DoD). This episode of This American Life does a great job capturing what to expect in CPT and illustrating its effectiveness: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/682/ten-sessions Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Interventions -- TF-CBT is a structured therapy that focuses on helping individuals process and cope with traumatic experiences. It combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with trauma-specific interventions. TF-CBT has also been widely recommended as a treatment PTSD by the APA and the VA/DoD. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) -- This modality uses eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help individuals process traumatic memories and reduce distressing symptoms. In contrast to the "top-down approaches" listed above, this is a "bottom-up approach," meaning that it starts with addressing the physiological and sensory aspects of an individual's experience before moving on to cognitive or higher-order processes. This approach recognizes that trauma can have a profound impact on the nervous system and bodily sensations. The goal is to help individuals process and release traumatic experiences by accessing the body's wisdom and resources. By directly targeting the limbic system (the feeling center of the brain) and sensory receptors throughout the body, a bottom-up approach aims to undo trauma's imprint on the body and promote healing. It acknowledges that trauma responses are not solely cognitive but also involve physiological and sensory aspects. Prolonged Exposure -- PE is a type of therapy that involves gradually and systematically exposing individuals to trauma-related memories, situations, or objects that they have been avoiding. The goal is to help individuals confront and process their traumatic experiences, reducing avoidance and fear. PE has also been recommended as a treatment for PTSD by the APA and the VA/DoD. The Gottman Method for Couples Therapy Written Exposure Therapy (WET) -- Sometimes, flashbacks can be so debilitating and spike our SUDS so suddenly, that all of the above-mentioned modalities end up doing more harm than good. This modality is a brief, trauma-focused talk therapy that involves a series of [typically] five 30- to 45- minute sessions. The therapy involves writing about the thoughts and feelings experienced during the traumatic event, which allows individuals to engage with the memory and potentially overcome shame or embarrassment associated with the experience. The goal is to help individuals find new ways to think about their traumatic experiences and gain relief from PTSD symptoms. There is little 'down time' between sessions, meaning an individual could schedule all five sessions back-to-back and effectively stop flashbacks or other reexperiencing symptoms within a week, which no other modality can match in terms of efficiency.  

A trauma-informed approach underlies all of my work as a therapist. I know that many clients come to therapy not specifically because of trauma, but because they feel lonely or inadequate, they are depressed or anxious, or just cannot seem to have the intimacy they crave. Sometimes acknowledging trauma comes later in the therapy work and that is okay. Just know that I trust that you will talk about it when you are ready. I would like to join you in acknowledging how the past has affected your present and in charting a course to healing that works for you. You may wish to talk about particular pains from the past and you may wish to focus on the future. We will work together to find the balance that is right for you, so that you can live the life that you really want to live.  

Trauma and PTSD can be paralyzing but the good news there is help through therapy. Brainspotting is a relativity new form of therapy that has shown a great deal of promise in this area. Great news is that I've been trained in Brainspotting.  

The impact of a single, traumatic event or experiencing an environment that provides a chronic sense of danger can have a debilitating effect on how we view the world and how we function in it. Through therapy, we'll identify how your experiences of trauma are manifested in your body and thoughts, and work on improving upon your awareness of triggers and improving coping behaviors.  

Each of us faces obstacles and difficulties in life differently, and at times we can all use help. Individuals frequently seek my services during times of transition, when decision making appears to have a greater impact on our future directions.  

Whether you are suffering from a recent traumatic event or something painful from the past, I believe the only way out is through. For highly sensitive people, this trauma can often have an even more dramatic effect. Together in a safe setting, we will work through it and release its hold on you in a unique multi-modal approach to calm the nervous system and entire body, to clear the controlling influence the event(s) have had on you, and to reclaim your inner peace and joy for life.  

Trauma is an experience that can impact nearly every aspect of someone's life, from relationships/trust, to work, to self-esteem, to mood and the list goes on. Finding someone who specializes in trauma/PTSD is essential to truly getting the help you need. I offer the gold standard treatments for PTSD (e.g. Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure), as well as treatments like EMDR and STAIR. Building a strong relationship is the first step to help you on your journey to re-engaging in the life you want to lead. I will then help you process your trauma, understand triggers, and develop new coping strategies for managing.  

I am trained in TF-CBT and also use exposure techniques, depending on what is the most appropriate.  

Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for trauma and PTSD  

Treatment for trauma and PTSD is really hard. It doesn't feel good to remember the things we most want to forget and unfortunately there is no easy way to heal. You've likely already discovered that avoidance won't work. What we will work on together is feeling the feelings in session so that they are less likely to creep up on you when you don't expect or want them. We'll look at your thinking surrounding the event and how your thinking has changed over time. It will get better.  

I've found that the range of traumas that people experience disrupts our experience of day-to-day life and relationships in so many ways. So many people who've experienced patterns of traumatizing, persistently invalidating, or minimizing experiences have found coping strategies to manage the profound impacts of trauma but eventually find that those strategies no longer work. Together, we will look at the impact of traumas and using a range of practices, which potentially include EMDR, internal parts work, and polyvagal theory, we will work to supportively rebuild a sense of self-guided trust in the world.  

Trauma is the experience not just of what happened to us, but by how our bodies, neurology, and hearts respond to what happened to us. Traumas of 'small t' and traumas of 'big T' both create adaptions to our true selves that can lead in our being 'stuck' in ways that don't serve us, that may create more trauma, or disconnection from our true selves and to our relationships with others. We have multiple ways of healing trauma, including complex traumas, including Flash Therapy, EMDR, hypnosis, somatic work, art therapy and more. Coming back to your true self, perhaps for the first time, is not a journey to be missed.  

We use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to treat PTSD, which is a short-term treatment for PTSD with extensive research support.  

I hold a sacred space for individuals who have been touched by trauma and PTSD. I understand the profound impact trauma can have on one’s life, often leaving deep emotional scars that can alter the way you view the world and yourself. With a compassionate and gentle approach, I walk alongside you on your healing journey, helping to unravel the painful memories and emotions that linger. We work together to foster resilience, process the traumatic experiences, and gradually restore a sense of safety and trust in the world. It’s a path of transformation and hope, where you are supported to reclaim your strength and find peace, moving beyond the trauma to embrace a future of healing and growth.  

I support clients who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. I help you recognize and manage your triggers, so you can regain control of your life.  

Experiencing relational trauma can be incredibly challenging, and the wounds it leaves can affect every aspect of your life. In therapy, I'm here to offer a helping hand to individuals seeking healing from relational trauma. We'll create a safe and understanding space where you can process the pain and confusion caused by past experiences. Together, we'll explore how these traumas have impacted you and work on building resilience, self-compassion, and healthier ways of connecting with others. Healing is a personal journey, and I'm here to walk alongside you, offering support and guidance as you rediscover a sense of safety, trust, and meaningful connections in your life. Your path to healing begins here.