Online Trauma and PTSD therapists in Wisconsin

Except for individuals who have a physical basis for their problems, trauma is always part of the history of an individual's symptoms. Trauma can be a stand-alone experience or a repetitive experience in an individual's life. After taking a thorough history, we will decide on a path to take - either CBT or psychodynamic.  

Dr. Scheidt is an Advanced Certified Schema Therapist who works with many issues. Please contact our office for more information.  

I greatly value research and provide the most up-to-date treatments for trauma and PTSD. In particular, I provide Prolonged Exposure Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy (both that have the most research support for them). This means that you will feel better faster and be able to get back to your life.  

Our clinicians are well-versed in trauma informed approaches, including EMDR, PET, and CPT. This allows us to provide trauma-informed treatment for all clients we treat.  

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.  

When the foundation of trust shaken (if not feeling broken) through experiences of trauma, the approach to restoring one's life must always be one of sensitivity, patience, and compassion. Without this, there will always be a risk that it will never feel safe enough to heal.  

I offer a safe and supportive space for individuals to process their trauma, reduce symptoms of PTSD, and rebuild their lives. Using evidence-based treatments and a trauma-informed approach, we'll work together to address the emotional and psychological impact of your experiences and develop personalized strategies for healing and growth.  

Treating trauma has been a specialty of mine for almost 15 years. I mostly use Cognitive Processing Therapy to understand the impact trauma has had on you and your life and then we use skills to address the thoughts that are keeping you stuck in old patterns. We will talk about important themes like safety, trust, power/control, esteem, and intimacy as a part of your trauma patterns. Changing how you think about trauma can help you get unstuck and live in more peaceful ways.  

An event, that can cause you to fear for your safety or your very life can happen to anyone. When such an event occurs, we are often so stunned by it, that we think “This isn’t supposed to happen to me or to someone I love. This only happens to other people.” There are a variety of ways to experience such a trauma: a car accident, sexual assault, robbery, witnessing an illness or death, domestic violence, being a soldier, being left abruptly by your spouse or parents, and experiencing severe weather catastrophes. Often when this happens, our bodies and minds do predictable things to protect ourselves. These symptoms might seem strange if you have never experienced them before.  

I received much of my clinical training at the National Center for PTSD in Boston and have over a decade of experience working with trauma survivors. I offer an array of treatment options for trauma/PTSD, which I detail on my website. Some of the forms of trauma that I routinely treat are childhood emotional/physical/sexual abuse; sexual assault; physical assault; motor vehicle accident; traumatic loss; traumatic birth; and combat.  

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.  

As a psychologist specializing in trauma and PTSD, my treatment approach is rooted in compassion, safety, and evidence-based interventions. Through therapies such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), I collaborate with individuals to process traumatic memories, challenge negative beliefs, and develop effective coping strategies. Creating a safe therapeutic environment is paramount, allowing clients to explore their experiences at their own pace while feeling supported and validated. Psychoeducation about trauma responses and self-regulation techniques empowers individuals to manage symptoms and regain a sense of control over their lives. Additionally, I integrate mindfulness practices, relaxation techniques, and grounding exercises to promote emotional regulation and resilience. My goal is to facilitate healing, restore a sense of safety, and empower individuals to thrive beyond their traumatic experiences.  

I have extensive training in trauma and PTSD, and have completed Trauma Treatment Certification. I am also certified by NASW as a Trauma and Resilience counselor in the state of Virginia.  

None of us can escape some level of trauma; inevitably, it will be a part of life. How much it affects us, however, depends on many factors including the nervous system we were born with, our outer resources, and how much relational support we receive to help us recover from the trauma. Many people do not have access to adequate resources to help them recover from trauma (and this is very subjective and personal, varying from person to person), and the trauma continues to affect them in (sometimes subtle, but still) impactful ways. If certain factors come together, PTSD may develop out of trauma. Often clients feel like they have failed because they can't completely "get over" their PTSD reactions. I have often reminded clients that PTSD is "the gift that keeps on giving". It can be very hard, perhaps impossible, to completely eradicate PTSD reactions, because the reaction is not just of the mind, it is of the whole body. My approach to helping clients with trauma and PTSD involves looking at it holistically and working to understand how the trauma changed you, your reaction across many facets of your life (thoughts, feelings, habits, behaviors, self-care or lack thereof, expectations, how you view the world), and then working on replacing what is harmful with what is helpful. The goal isn't to completely get rid of the PTSD symptoms (which is likely impossible) but rather to dramatically reduce its effect on you, so you can live your best life, and so an occasional symptom breaking through will not derail you.  

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.  

Most of us experience traumatic events and want to learn ways to more effectively navigate these concerns. I offer practice strategies and skills to begin navigating PTSD symptoms to begin living your life more fully today.  

Many of our therapists specialize in trauma and PTSD. Dr. Sanness specializes in PTSD, Dissociation, Complex Trauma, and has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings to help clients with these difficulties. Dr. Nelson has training in Prolonged Exposure therapy which can be very helpful to individuals with PTSD.  

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

As a psychologist specializing in the full range of trauma, I integrate Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with Internal Family Systems (IFS) to reinforce a sense of safety, control, and worthiness. I draw upon the principles of Interpersonal Neurobiology to understand how our nervous system is forced to adapt in extreme and overwhelming situations, and how those adaptations can be reinforced or blocked by our relationships, internal conflicts, and past experiences. In our work together, you can expect a high level of collaboration, deeply compassionate understanding, and an abundance of metaphors as we tailor the therapy process to your needs, strengths, and situation.  

What happened to you is not your fault. You don’t have to cope with the lasting impact of past traumatic experiences on your own. Hi, I’m Dr. Jennifer McManus, and I help women heal from past trauma. Trauma-informed therapy can help you develop a repertoire of skills to support your healing. It is my mission to provide scientifically informed psychotherapy without sacrificing compassion and genuine concern.