Trauma Therapy
“Some people’s lives seem to flow in a narrative; mine has had many stops and starts. That’s what trauma does. It interrupts the plot. You can’t process it because it doesn’t fit with what came before or what comes afterwards.”
– Jessica Stern –
Trauma is a word that references an event or events in someone’s life that, in a broad description, overwhelmed them in that moment. The reactions people have to that event or events, and the impact on one's life can be what brings them into therapy.
When we experience trauma, it can impact
*The way we see the world
*Feel safe
*Assess and show up in relationships
*Take care of ourselves
*Process and react to new information or experiences
*Make decisions
*etc…
There are many ways that the trauma can create a ripple effect throughout our lives and the lives of those around us.
Overall, it shatters assumptions that we hold within us-particularly around our sense of safety in the world. Therapy can be one way that people might work through trauma and its impact on the present and future. There is no one way to start to work through the impact of trauma, and we work together to explore what might fit best for you.
You may feel a lot of anxiety about starting trauma counseling. We will work together at your pace. Vulnerability can feel overwhelming and intimidating, and I support you by pacing the process so that you feel safe in the work.
Some people prefer traditional talk therapy to deal with trauma. This helps them build coping skills. It can improve how they manage their emotions and changes how they see the world and themselves. Other people want to utilize EMDR. for trauma healing.
I primarily use EMDR therapy as the treatment approach for working with trauma. I also incorporate other therapy approaches into trauma healing work including:
-Internal Family Systems or "IFS"
-Acceptance and Committment Therapy OR "ACT"
-Dialectical Behavioral Therapy or "DBT"
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
EMDR works by using bilateral movement (visual, tactile, or sound) to:
*Alleviate the distress that has been “held onto” from the traumatic experience.
*Target the part of the brain where trauma is “held” and "release the trauma" from this localized area of the brain in order to let the “whole brain” process the trauma.
*Allow someone to regain a sense of control over their emotions, improve ones view of self, and improve how one experiences life and the world around them.
EMDR allows people to no longer experience present day life through the lens of trauma.
EMDR can help heal from:
-Eating Disorders
-Body Image Concerns
-Anxiety and Panic Attacks
-Grief and Loss
-Flashbacks
-Depression
-Low self-esteem
-PTSD
-Sexual Trauma
-Physical Abuse
-Relationship and attachment wounds
EMDR therapy can be effectively facilitated both by video and in person. I am an EMDR therapist who has been utilizing EMDR in my practice since 2007. I offer EMDR therapy in Denver, Charleston, Scottsdale, and the USVI. I work via video and have been using virtual EMDR since 2019. I have been impressed with the effectiveness of virtual EMDR.
Choosing in person or telehealth sessions for EMDR is a personal choice. One of the main benefits of virtual EMDR, from client feedback, is being able to utilize EMDR therapy in the privacy and comfort of their home.