Therapy For
PTSD & Trauma
Oregon & Washington
What is Trauma?
Trauma can be experienced firsthand or can occur by hearing about or witnessing a traumatic event, or it may be the result of repeated exposure to traumatic situations. Trauma impacts an individual's mind and body. Trauma is an emotional and physiological response to a distressing event. These are a few examples of events that may cause a trauma response:
* Car Accidents
* Medical Trauma
* Sexual, Physical, Emotional Childhood Abuse or Neglect
* Sexual Assault
* War
* Natural Disasters
* First Responder Incident Response
* Domestic Violence
* Any Threat of Physical Harm or Death
Trauma can leave a person feeling unsafe or stressed long after the threat or adverse event is over. When trauma is not processed it can become trapped in the body, causing a person to re-experience the traumatic event over and over.
Common Symptoms Related to Trauma:
* Recurring Flashbacks of the Event
* Hypervigilance
* Nightmares
* Difficulty Sleeping
* Depression
* Feeling Numb, Tense, or Anxious
* Avoidance of Distressing Memories, Thoughts, or Reminders of the Event
How Trauma Therapy Can Help
Healing is possible! PTSD or trauma related stress does not have to be a life sentence. Therapy can be helpful in reducing PTSD and trauma symptoms while beginning the road to freedom. During therapy sessions I take a body centered relational approach to trauma treatment, using interventions such as EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Somatic Experiencing. I also incorporate aspects of mindfulness, body awareness, grounding, psycho-education, and self-care.
In Addition, Therapy Can Assist With:
* Learning Healthy Coping Skills
* Developing an understanding of the trauma response
* Learning how to effectively calm your nervous system
* How to manage your PTSD within your relationships
* Moving forward with a new identity as a survivor
Recommended Reading: The Body Keeps the Score By Bessel van der Kolk