“I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become. ”
~Carl Jung

At Nest Counseling Center, we believe that trauma isn’t only about what happened to you. It is essential to understand how you experienced that event as an individual and whether or not you were able to integrate your emotional experience.

Do you feel no-one in your life understands you?

Maybe you have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event in your life or maybe you are experiencing symptoms that aren’t related to a specific event.

Do you find yourself checking out/dissociating (such as not feeling present, detached from your body, watching yourself from a distance, etc)? Do you struggle with flashbacks, body memories, and nightmares? Do you have difficulty feeling connection in relationships?

I believe that healing is always possible. I am trained in both EMDR and attachment-based Emotionally-Focused Individual Therapy for Trauma. I will work with you to collaboratively understand your underlying trauma and create a plan for therapy that feels comfortable for you and leads you to hope and healing.

“We can let ourselves be carried by the river of feeling, because we now know how to swim.”
~ Jack Kornfield

Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime whether it’s a car accident, abuse or neglect, the sudden death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, exposure to the violence of war, or a natural disaster.

While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency, others may discover the effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or posttraumatic stress far after the event has passed.

In these circumstances, the support, guidance, and assistance of a therapist are fundamental to healing from trauma.

Trauma Symptoms

According to the four types of symptoms listed in the DSM-5.

Avoidance Symptoms

• Avoiding specific locations, sights, situations, and sounds that serve as reminders of the event
• Anxiety, depression, numbness, or guilt

Re-experiencing Symptoms

• Intrusive thoughts, nightmares, or flashbacks

Hyperarousal Symptoms

• Anger, irritability, and hypervigilance
• Aggressive, reckless behavior, including self-harm
• Sleep disturbances

Negative Mood and Cognition Symptoms

• Loss of interest in activities that were once considered enjoyable
• Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event
• Change in habits or behavior since the trauma

Research has proven psychotherapy to be the most effective form of treatment for trauma. Most commonly, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are used in treating trauma.

If you or someone you know matches the trauma symptoms listed above, I am confident that I can help and invite you to contact me today for a free consultation.