Trauma Informed Treatment
All of my treatment approaches are rooted in the understanding that many of us have experienced trauma. Trauma is any distressing incident or circumstance that is perceived as life altering or threatening. Trauma can include things like physical, sexual and emotional abuse, natural disasters, car accidents and medical procedures. Chronic trauma is trauma that goes on for a long time and can include things like living in a dangerous neighborhood, racism, bullying, microaggressions, dating an abusive partner, growing up in a chaotic or violent household, and living with a parent with untreated mental illness or addiction. I often say "trauma is trauma is trauma" which means that all trauma is traumatic. There is no trauma competition! No matter the type of trauma it always takes a toll.
Trauma can affect our brain, body and nervous system. During treatment we will talk about the science behind trauma so you can understand and make more sense of your symptoms. Human beings are wired to survive. Trauma activates our fight, flight or freeze response. This is a good thing because it increases our chances of survival. The problem comes when trauma reminders in every day life trigger this response when it is no longer helpful. During treatment you will learn how to de-code what your nervous system is trying to tell you and learn skills to regulate it.
Trauma can affect our brain, body and nervous system. During treatment we will talk about the science behind trauma so you can understand and make more sense of your symptoms. Human beings are wired to survive. Trauma activates our fight, flight or freeze response. This is a good thing because it increases our chances of survival. The problem comes when trauma reminders in every day life trigger this response when it is no longer helpful. During treatment you will learn how to de-code what your nervous system is trying to tell you and learn skills to regulate it.
EMDR
EMDR is an evidence based treatment used to treat PTSD and trauma. It has also been used to treat other conditions like depression, anxiety, chronic pain and illness, addiction and other distressing life experiences. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (alternate eye movements, tapping, etc.) to aid in the reprocessing of unresolved or stuck memories. This can help reduce the vividness and painful emotions that accompany traumatic and distressing memories.
The cool thing about EMDR is that results can be fast. EMDR is not like traditional talk therapy, in fact you don't need to talk much at all in order to experience the benefits. The process is structured and guided and you stay in control the entire time. EMDR has been shown to be an effective treatment by organizations including the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, Substance Use Mental Health Services Administration, National Alliance on Mental Health, World Health Organization and many more.
The cool thing about EMDR is that results can be fast. EMDR is not like traditional talk therapy, in fact you don't need to talk much at all in order to experience the benefits. The process is structured and guided and you stay in control the entire time. EMDR has been shown to be an effective treatment by organizations including the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, Substance Use Mental Health Services Administration, National Alliance on Mental Health, World Health Organization and many more.
CBT
CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and involves looking at the underlying automatic thoughts that drive our emotions and behavior. Learning to identify and reframe these thoughts can help build insight into unhelpful behavior patterns. This can help with an array of challenges and improve your capacity to tolerate difficult situations. CBT is evidenced-based and has been shown to be an effective treatment for many different health and mental health conditions.
Wellness & Coping Skills
Many clients are interested in learning tangible skills that they can use between sessions to manage their symptoms. Developing wellness and coping skills are essential to learning how to regulate your nervous system. I pull from a variety of modalities including Seeking Safety, Community Resiliency Model and Mindfulness to provide you with a variety of different tools and skills. I often practice these skills with clients during sessions and provide information and handouts. Having a "tool belt" of different skills is our goal so that you can find which skills work best for you and which skills work best to manage particular situations.