Trauma and PTSD therapists in Santa Clara, Utah UT

I suspect that for many psychotherapists trauma seems to be the universal ingredient in most, if not all, mental disorders. There are an increasingly growing number of models or approaches for diminishing the impact of trauma on a person's mental health. I have learned three of them, and have seen remarkable successes. In case you already know which one you want to try, I will name the three I use: Lifespan Integration, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and more recently, Flash Technique for Trauma. Cognitive Processing therapy is highly researched and listed as one of the major approaches for dealing with PTSD.  

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.  

Religious trauma, family trauma, sexual trauma, other traumas discussed mindfully at the pace of the client with plans in place for self-care, community care. Referral to EMDR as needed.  

Every year, more than 8 million people in the United States struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) along with another 350 million people worldwide. PTSD can occur in people who have experienced or even witnessed a severe trauma, and it affects areas of the brain connected to managing difficult emotions, especially fear and anxiety. PTSD can create intense physical, emotional, and mental distress, and if left untreated, it can lead to long-term psychological and physiological damage. Thankfully, energy psychology – specifically acupoint tapping -- can help! More Potent Than Other Therapies Tapping on acupuncture points while bringing the memory of a traumatic event to mind sends signals to emotional centers of the brain, specifically the amygdala and other areas of the limbic system. This can counter the body's threat response. Acupoint tapping has been shown to reduce: Exaggerated responses to triggers Hyperarousal in the limbic system Insomnia Elevated levels of cortisol and other stress hormones Impaired immune functioning Distortions in learning and memory, and Imbalances between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity The 7 Advantages of Acupoint Tapping in the Treatment of PTSD Advantage #1: Fewer Treatment Sessions Cognitive-behavioral therapies are the treatment of choice in most conventional mental health settings. They average between 12 and 16 sessions for treating PTSD. Nonetheless, up to two-thirds of those completing the treatment still carry the PTSD diagnosis after treatment. Meanwhile, a study of the use of EFT for treating PTSD in a public health facility in Scotland authorized patients to receive up to 8 treatment sessions. Voluntary termination of treatment occurred, however, after an average of 3.8 sessions, with strong positive outcomes on post-treatment measures. A landmark study by Dawson Church and colleagues found that 86% of 49 war veterans no longer scored in the PTSD range after 6 hour-long EFT sessions. The study has been replicated with similar outcomes. Advantage #2: Lasting Results Studies reporting treatment effects for the use of acupoint tapping and energy psychology in PTSD typically show significant overall reductions in symptoms and their impact, and these improvements tended to stand the test of time. Advantage #3: Low Risk of Negative Side-Effects Existing evidence strongly suggests that energy psychology and acupoint tapping can be safely used to treat PTSD. Advantage #4: Minimal Training Needed A seasoned clinician can learn and begin applying a basic tapping protocol very quickly. Even people who don’t have extensive mental health backgrounds can be effective with the method as long as they understand the boundaries of their scope of service. For instance, several studies used life coaches rather than licensed mental health professionals to use tapping sessions in the treatment of PTSD and found they were nearly as effective. Advantage #5: Effective for Groups Unlike many psychotherapy methods that require one-on-one sessions, acupoint tapping can be highly effective when delivered to groups. This makes it suitable for combat battalions returning from deployment, refugees living in camps, caregivers returning from humanitarian missions, and children in classrooms. Advantage #6: Improves Quality of Life and Reduces Medical Costs When PTSD is not successfully treated, it produces adverse changes in the brain, and the impact extends beyond the patient and their family. If symptoms persist, the data shows increased lifetime hospitalization, disease burden, and medical costs. By helping people overcome PTSD, acupoint tapping positively impacts their quality of life and society's medical costs. Advantage #7: In-Person Sessions Not Required A study focused on the effects of EFT delivered by phone versus in-office sessions showed that just 6 phone treatment sessions could effectively alleviate clinical PTSD symptoms in 67% of patients. In another study, 26 women diagnosed with fibromyalgia showed significant improvement in symptoms such as pain, anxiety, depression, vitality, social function, activity level, and performance problems following their participation in an online EFT treatment program. This makes it possible to utilize electronic media to offer acupoint tapping treatments to underserved populations or others who cannot access conventional in-person therapy, such as military personnel in combat zones and those living in rural areas. For millions of people with PTSD, energy psychology -- specifically acupoint tapping -- offers much-needed hope and relief. As discussed in this article, acupoint tapping can help large numbers of people relatively quickly. It is a powerful intervention that is proving to be an effective antidote to living with the pain of PTSD. As a survivor myself, I've spent a lifetime studying the effects of trauma on the body and the brain. I specialize in helping people understand the ways trauma impacts their lives, their relationships and their emotional and behavioral experiences. Trauma takes place as a singular event or many events that overwhelm a person's ability to cope. Unresolved trauma is complicated and it causes many in-the-present life problems. This is confusing because we often have no idea why we are getting upset about something, feel certain ways or have unexplainable anger. Whether it be to heal with the impact of discrete traumatic events or complex interpersonal trauma, I use a combination of techniques from Energy Psychology such as Emotional Freedom Technique (or Tapping, as most people know it), Tapas Acupressure Technique, RIM Hypnotherapy, EMDR, Cognitive-Behavioral techniques, DBT, grounding and centering techniques and Shamanic soul retrieval to help you build safety and seIf worth. I teach emotion regulation skills and we use the therapeutic relationship itself so that you can feel more grounded and secure in connection with yourself and others.  

You haven't necessarily experienced any overt signs of trauma that you often see talked about on social media. But something still feels off because you experienced emotional disconnect and frequent ruptures in your childhood relationships because your parents we really hard on you or withheld love and affection if you didn't perform up to their standards. Nowadays, you're often left feeling like you have to be perfect so you aren't rejected or abandoned by people in your life. If someone doesn't text you back quick enough or your friend is less available now that they've started dating someone new you interpret that as you not being not good enough. If this is you, know that there isn't anything wrong with you. These are perfectly valid feelings to have as a human who longs for connection and belonging. This can be worked through with the help of someone who knows what it's like to be in your shoes and who has the knowledge and experience as well. If you want to learn how to be more compassionate with yourself, soothe your fear of rejection, and learn how to express your needs without fearing your relationships will come crashing down if you share how you feel, then reach out to me and we can talk through how to help you get there.