Trauma Therapy

Safely Process Emotions and Experiences

It was so long ago, how do I know it affects me now? 

Trauma does not affect everyone the same way and for some it could be managed well for years. Then life changes happen- we move, have children, change religions, or perhaps a recent event triggered a reaction to one that occurred a decade before that we never realized had such a large impact on us. It starts to show up in our sleep, noticing that we are extremely emotional, or we could start isolating more. You just notice that things are different and you are ready to explore the past impacts of what happened to avoid the potential future impact on things that are important to you.

Does the past still pop up in your present?

Maybe you’re not able to trust a connection you have made with others in your life, or perhaps it stops you from putting yourself out there for fear of rejection. You may be noticing that past lessons are hard to unlearn even when they do not help you in the present moment, or simply you can not show up how you use to for others you care about. Perhaps you’re feeling unimportant, disconnected, and have no self-care to speak of because you are constantly keeping yourself last on your to do list.

Trauma can happen at different points in our life but it can alter the way we process and recall memories. You may have begun to notice the impact of past events in every facet of your life:

  • Avoidant behaviors

  • Constantly waiting for the next bad thing to happen

  • Tension in your body

  • Difficulty sleeping, or nightmares

  • Feeling disconnected and alone because “nobody gets it”

  • Suicidal Thoughts - “If I wasn’t here…”

Trauma is not simply a story of something that happened in our past. It’s still current, as it left an imprint within of pain, distrust, and fear inside.

Can’t I do thing on my own?

As with many things in life sometimes its best to work with a professional. Just like at court you shouldn’t be your own lawyer, at tax time perhaps its best to hire a CPA (shout out to those who count on there fingers; I do daily! ), or at the gym we use a personal trainer because my body has aches it did not have five years ago! Working with a highly trained therapist, who has continually studied trauma impacts, can help tailor your treatment to you. You are a unique individual, and we all experience trauma differently. Your treatment plan should be just as unique as you in order to produce the best possible outcomes. It is an investment of your time, energy, and commitment to begin therapy. I take that responsibility seriously and that is why you should get in contact today for your free fifteen minute consultation to learn more. 

You are not what happened to you

Cognitive Behavioral Methods can Help

It may feel impossible now, but you can find the ability to trust again. You can find the ability to connect and have a fulfilling relationship. You can walk into a new area without fear of the unknown. And I can help you get there.

Cognitive behavioral methods helps you do four things:

  • Identify what was learned before to protect you and how you want it to change today

  • Develop strategies to reduce tension and feelings of being overwhelmed

  • Help you reprocess and create empowerment

  • Allow you to rebuild trust with yourself, so you can take healthy risks in the future

I’ll help through this process, tailoring each step to your unique needs and circumstances. My approach to using cognitive behavioral methods comes from a place of creating a safe space for you to process: discover your self-compassion. It’s time to release the weight of trauma because it’s not you that is holding on. It’s the trauma cycle that needs to stop turning on in your brain.

Types of modalities I use when applying cognitive behavioral methods are:

  • Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT Therapy)

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT Therapy)

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT Therapy)

  • Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT Therapy)

These can be done in conjunction with integrated therapy supports such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), Mindfulness, and Adventure Based Counseling to provide maximum results in your therapy outcomes.

“I am afraid this can’t get better….”

Have you ever had something really cold, like a slurpee or a huge bite of ice cream? You get that intense brain freeze feeling and then gradually it starts to go away to where your head feels “normal again”. Trauma will never be erased, but the intensity of its impact, can get better.  Working with a professional and committing to a therapy process to find what supports you best can help the intensity to lower. Contact me to discuss how! 

You may still have questions, and I fully recognize it can be overwhelming to start the therapy process. Online therapy can help because it removes the stress of having to plan a route, divert from your day, adjust to traffic patterns, and now puts you back in control. This culminates in a sense of calm, and a sense of ease by being in a comfortable environment that you are familiar with. Reaching out for a free fifteen minute consult allows you to have your questions answered where you feel it does not disrupt your day, but rather gives you the confidence to continue with identifying the best provider to support your in your therapy goals. 

It’s time to make Trauma a Chapter in your book; not the whole book

I can help you get there

FAQ’s

 

  • You will identify what are important things you desire to see changed in your life. We will design a plan together on how best to interact those changes for you to see real progress

  • The length of time for therapy is based on your unique experience. In our initial session we will discuss what that may be in order for you to feel confident in your experience in the therapy process.

  • You will see changes develop in your life that you’ve identify though the techniques you’ll learn in the therapy process. We will tailor them to your unique needs and lifestyle. Changes take time, and we can work on them together.

  • You can click below for a free 15 minutes consultation to ensure I am the best fit. Submit the form with the best times to reach out. If you are already sure you are ready to give this a go then you can also let me know your preferred day/time for our initial session.