In trauma therapy, I strive to help people decrease symptoms, use helpful coping mechanisms, work through and heal from the trauma. The issue of "safety" is one of the most important initial steps. I will help you to identify how you feel safe in your own space to use as coping mechanisms if you find yourself in distress. I use a combination of Cognitive Behavioral tools and if appropriate, PTSD-specific interventions to help with symptom reduction. Usually there are faulty belief systems around the trauma that are created so we'll look at shifting them. For those struggling with severe symptoms, a medication assessment might be suggested. I will work with you collaboratively with long term change being the ideal goal.

What is "trauma?" It can be described as an incident or ongoing series of events which leaves you feeling powerless or helpless. The end result for many the belief that "the world isn't a safe place." Some people struggle with Acute Stress Disorder or the extreme stress response of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of these experiences. Symptoms are typically an anxiety and dissociative (mind's defense mechanism used to seal off experience from conscious awareness) combination and often include persistent, frightening thoughts, memories and/or flashbacks. 

My counseling experience has been primarily with prolonged abuses occurring in the family of origin but I've also had some exposure to military trauma and sexual victimization. I've worked some with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and continue to educate myself on the subject.

Learn about some of my other individual therapy areas of focus:

Anxiety

Depression

Stress Management

Anger Management

Family of Origin Work

Personal Growth and Development