Trauma can irrevocably change our life. There is the time before the trauma and the time after it. We are changed, different, in some deep and lasting way. If we are in a profession or life circumstance that puts us in contact with repeated traumas, the effects ca be cumulative, slowly chipping away at our ability to live a full and meaningful life. I am fully trained in brainspotting, an effective tool for dealing with images, sensations and troubling thoughts associated with trauma. Trauma is an internal wound that needs healing, but often cannot heal on its own. I can help you navigate the difficulty of trauma, help resolve much of the negative effects and take steps into a new life, perhaps different than before, but with the hope of joy, peace and wholeness.
I have over 15 years experience supporting clients from a holistic and integrative framework focused on mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. I work with my clients as a guide and a teacher to help facilitate change and the ability to cope with the many life stressors and challenges that we all face such as work-life balance, parenting, depression, anxiety, anger management, multicultural and diversity needs, skill development, and more. I am here as a resource for you to ensure you have the care and services that you need!
I have training in multiple types of trauma and trauma treatment, ranging from complex trauma to relational trauma to standard PTSD from isolated incidents. I can help you understand the impact of trauma on your life and work towards resolving it so you can move forward.
Trauma is frequently at the heart of mental health concerns. I help my clients process their trauma in safe and healthy ways so they may be stronger and wiser for having experienced painful ordeals.
Your brain is amazing and is the center-point of existence. But when you are hit with something that threatens your very being, your brain may hold on to the experience in a manner that prevents you from moving forward. It may continue to manifest as physical or emotional components in your life. There is hope. I would love to join you in your healing.
Traumatic experiences can occur at any point in the lifespan, and be acute, chronic, or complex. Humans are inherently deeply resilient, yet without treatment, the aftereffects of trauma can last for years, causing physical or emotional symptoms, impacting our sense of safety in the world, and influencing our relationships in unpredictable ways.
Like trying to digest a big meal, when things happen that are too much to emotionally/mentally "digest" they can lead to nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, and more. When this happens, I recommend clients try EMDR. While evidence-based practices like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), are helpful, it can take months or even years to recover. Not so with EMDR! Whether your trauma is decades in the making or it happened yesterday...isn't it time to start feeling better?
Traumatic events often leave a lasting imprint on your life. Sometimes emotional healing from trauma can occur somewhat naturally, as life goes on. At other times, trauma leaves a more indelible impression on a person’s life by causing frequent bouts of emotional distress, impaired judgement, and even physiological symptoms. I employ Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, a form of psychotherapy developed for and scientifically proven to help people suffering from the effects of trauma and PTSD.
Trauma and PTSD, especially C-PTSD, includes any emotional experience that was upsetting and different than you had experienced up to that point in your life. C-PTSD often involves parental neglect, unavailability, or inconsistency. I am not one of the therapists who will tell you that you need to forgive and rebuild your relationsihp with anyone you choose not to have in your life. The idea that people should continue to endure mistreatment simply because someone is family is absurd. Of course, trauma and PTSD can include experiencing or witnessing any type of violence, abuse, accidents, or the threats of violence or abuse. Trauma has been my specialty since the beginning of my career and I have taken extensive training on the treatment of trauma. More importantly than if I am qualified to treat you for upsetting or traumatic past experiences is the fact that I will never minimize your experiences. Please do not avoid going to therapy because you think what you experienced was "not that bad." If it was upsetting to you when it happened and it still affects your life in any way I want to help you reduce or eliminate the impact of those experiences on your present day and future life.