Trauma

Are you feeling stuck?

Find peace in the storm.

Do you feel you are watching over your shoulder all of the time?
Are you on high alert?
Do you struggle with sleep?
Is there an event that haunts you?

Traumatic events are overwhelming, and often isolating. They can leave you feeling like you’re constantly on edge, as if the world around you poses an unending threat. Sometimes you can be in a room full of people and feel alone and hyper-focused on a noise, a person, or a past memory. This can lead to a cycle of fear and avoidance, impacting your daily interactions and relationships. It can feel suffocating trying to “figure out” and solve the problem, but you are still left with anxiety and depression. Trying to “fix” or “solve” the problem, often exacerbates your emotional turmoil, making it harder to cope. You are exhausted, restless, uneasy, down, and distracted. Finding ways to navigate through these feelings is essential for reclaiming a sense of normalcy and peace.

Trauma is not just about violence; it can show up in many ways and affect our lives deeply and quietly. In life, we face trauma in different forms, like emotional abuse, neglect, or taking on negative beliefs about ourselves that others have pushed onto us. The pain from loss, feelings of not being enough, or growing up in a troubled and unstable environment can leave lasting impacts. Even trying to get help but encountering a negative or dismissive response can further hurt us. This can create a cycle of distress, as unresolved trauma may lead to unhealthy ways of coping. Moreover, trauma can come not just from our own experiences but also from witnessing the trauma of others.

All these experiences can shape how we view ourselves and interact with the world.

Since the mind and body are closely linked, the effects of trauma often show physical signs as well. This stress response can lead to chronic pain, fatigue, or other health problems. The body might stay in a state of alertness, known as “fight or flight,” even long after the traumatic event is over, causing ongoing stress and anxiety. Many times we may feel we are back in the past or worried about the future, instead of engaging the present.

It is important to tackle both the mental and physical sides of trauma to start the healing journey.

Trauma is heavy, daunting, and exhausting

Trauma can feel like a heavy weight around your neck. It affects your heart, mind, and spirit. If you’ve been through a serious accident, abuse, violence, or combat, you might understand these feelings:

Fear and Anxiety: You feel unsafe and are always on edge, waiting for the next bad thing to happen.
Unwanted Memories: Thoughts of the traumatic event keep coming back, making it hard to focus.
Emotional Shutdown: To avoid pain, you might stop feeling emotions and feel disconnected from others. Sometimes we may dissociate from reality and feel numb.
Avoiding Triggers: You try to stay away from places, people, or things that remind you of the trauma.
Sleep Problems: Nightmares and trouble sleeping leave you tired and irritable.
Self-Blame: You may think you should have acted differently or that the trauma was your fault.
Trust Issues: It’s tough to build relationships when trust is broken.

These feelings are normal and show your body is trying to protect you. I use a gentle approach in trauma therapy. Together, we can explore your experiences in a safe way.

You Feel Stuck

Life can be hard.

Do you feel alone? Even if you are surrounded by people. Does your mind race? Do you get stuck on worst-case scenarios? Maybe you have a secret you have never told anyone and it weighs heavily on your mind. Perhaps you just feel like you want more in life. Regardless of your current circumstances, it is likely that your situation does not align with the aspirations you held as a child. This divergence may stem from personal decisions you made, the paths you chose, or external factors beyond your control that have shaped your journey. However, one undeniable fact remains clear:

You are ready to make a change.

I’m here to assist in transforming that aspiration into a tangible outcome, guiding you through the necessary steps and providing the support you need to navigate the challenges ahead.

What to expect in trauma therapy

Even though we logically know that carrying large bricks of emotional weight isn’t helpful, it’s not easy to put them down. They are familiar, comfortable, and have kept us safe as our body is trying to do the best it knows how to keep going. Here’s what to expect:

An individualized plan: We will develop a strategy that you understand and feel comfortable with.
Effective coping skills: You will be provided achievable, doable micro skills to use in between sessions so you have new tools you didn’t before.
Compassion and support: Trauma work is complex and can feel messy. You will have a counselor in your corner the whole time.

You will be given bite-size steps so you can go at your own pace. This is not about a quick-fix, but working smarter to build healthy interventions at the core.

How Trauma Counseling Can Help

How Trauma Affects the Mind & Body

Trauma counseling provides a safe, supportive space to process and release the emotional burdens carried from life experiences and significant events. As Dr. Bessel van der Kolk explains in his highly regarded book, The Body Keeps the Score, trauma profoundly impacts both the brain and body, reshaping them over time.

Effective trauma therapy recognizes the mind-body connection in healing. Our bodies store trauma, often leading to stress, anxiety, or physical symptoms. By addressing both the emotional and physiological aspects of trauma, individuals can foster resilience, personal growth, and long-term healing.

Proven Trauma Therapy Techniques

Understanding EMDR

If you’re facing trauma or PTSD, a great option to think about is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This approach was created by Francine Shapiro in the late ’80s. Therapists worldwide use it to support people in their healing journeys. It’s known to promote emotional release and significant psychological healing. Research shows that EMDR can be as effective as traditional therapy, often helping individuals recover faster. It helps you work through painful memories and reduces their impact on your daily life. It is also used for issues like phobias, grief, and performance anxiety. Many people report feeling less anxious and having better emotional control after EMDR. Here’s a quick overview of how it works:

- Safe Space: Your therapist will ensure you’re in a comfortable, secure setting.

- Bilateral Stimulation: During the session, you’ll focus on painful memories while also doing side-to-side movements, tapping, audio sounds, or eye movements.

- Trauma Processing: This combination helps your brain to reprocess those memories, making them feel lighter and allowing for a more relaxed state.
- Healing: Over time, those difficult memories start to lose their intensity, and you’ll find yourself healing, integrating these experiences into your life without feeling overwhelmed.

EMDR is supported by research and is effective for treating trauma, including emotional and sexual abuse. It helps you regain control over your thoughts and feelings, breaking free from the trauma cycle. EMDR taps into the natural healing mechanism in our brains using an adaptive information processing (AIP) model. The AIP model teaches us to trust our own self again, tap into our inherent wisdom, and resources our innate ability to heal.

If you’re considering EMDR, connect today to learn more.

Understanding Brainspotting

At first, the sound of “brainspotting” can sound weird.
It’s a term that may evoke curiosity or skepticism, especially for those unfamiliar with the therapeutic methods.
It makes you think that someone will be examining the inside of your brain.
However, it is crucial to understand that this technique is based on empirical research and clinical practice.

This innovative therapy encourages you to confront and integrate emotional experiences rather than simply discussing them.
Brainspotting locates points in the client’s visual field that help access unprocessed trauma in the parts of the brain responsible for motor control, sensory processing, cognitive functions, emotional processing, learning, memory, and decision making.

David Grand, the founder of Brainspotting, discovered in 2003, that where your eye gaze falls will effect how you feel.

This method helps individuals access their inner experiences and facilitates healing by bringing awareness to these buried emotions.
Brainspotting uses the relevant eye positions to access trauma and unveil the emotions, sights, sounds, and feelings surrounding it.
Through this unique process, clients often report profound insights and emotional release.

Your therapist will help you find your brain spot with your eyes, ears, and felt sense in your body to process problems from the inside out. Ultimately, brainspotting opens a pathway for deeper self-exploration and healing.

EMDR and Brainspotting tap into our inherent wisdom and resources our innate ability to heal

Northern Colorado & Cheyenne Wyoming Veteran Affairs Locations

If you are a veteran and need assistance with your VA Benefits, the following are some of the local resources: