Do experiences from your past hold you back from living your life in the present?

Do you find yourself frequently triggered by past traumas or upsetting experiences?

Do you experience shame, guilt, or feel like you are a bad person?

Is it hard for you to feel safe?

Trauma affects our brains and bodies and can stay with us long after the conclusion of the traumatic events. You may find that you are haunted by memories of what happened, feel negatively about yourself, struggle to trust other people, feel on edge all the time, can’t sleep or have nightmares, or lose interest in or enjoyment of life. Trauma affects different people in different ways, but for all of us it is a thief of joy, presence, and peace.

Trauma is common

It is a difficult world out there, and most of us will experience trauma at some point in our lives. Some of these traumas are major events, like natural disasters, war, sexual assault, or the death of a loved one, while others are more everyday painful experiences, like bullying, conflict in relationships, emotional neglect, divorce, or financial stresses. Some people who experience trauma will experience the effects of it strongly and may go on to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), while others will remain relatively high functioning but live with a sense that something is “off.”

Whether you would describe what you have experienced as traumatic or not, you may still be dealing with the effects of past experiences in the present. The good news, however, is that our present does not have to be dictated by our past. Our brains have the natural capacity to heal themselves, and with the help of an experienced trauma therapist you can start your healing journey today.

EMDR Therapy Can Help You Heal and Move Forward

I practice a type of therapy called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). According to the EMDR International Association, EMDR has a deep body of research proving its effectiveness at resolving trauma and other distressing life experiences.

EMDR starts from the assumption that challenges we experience today are the products of traumatic or upsetting life experiences that have gotten “stuck” in our brains so they continue to trigger us in the present. Through EMDR therapy, we identify the events in your life that underlie your current struggles and use eye movements, taps, or tones to “unstick” them so your brain can resume its natural healing work.

It is vulnerable and courageous to work through your most difficult life experiences in therapy, and I take very seriously my role as your guide, partner, and supporter in this work. I am a trauma-informed therapist with 7+ years of experience, and I pride myself on my ability to create a safe and affirming environment for my clients. You will be embraced for the person you are from the moment we begin our work together, and you will be control of what we work on and the pace at which we work in all of our sessions.

Even if you overwhelmed, helpless, or stuck right now, with the help of a certified EMDR therapist it is possible to reclaim ownership of your life. You are so much more than your worst experiences, and I am here to help you move beyond them so you can live with joy, peace, connection, and purpose in the present.

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Seeking trauma therapy is a big decision, and you may still have some concerns…

This EMDR thing sounds kind of weird. Are you sure it really works?

EMDR is a little strange when you’re first getting used to it! It can be hard to believe that moving your eyes back and forth while you think about a traumatic memory from the past can actually make a difference. Yet EMDR is well-researched and endorsed by the American Psychological Association, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, National Alliance on Mental Illness, US Department of Veteran Affairs, World Health Organization, and many more professional organizations as a safe and effective treatment. I will ease you into EMDR slowly and with a dose of humor when it’s helpful to help you get oriented and comfortable with this type of treatment.

Will I have to relive my trauma?

This is a common and valid concern. Many people who have experienced trauma or distressing experiences put a lot of effort into trying not to think about or remember them, and the thought of having to confront these memories in therapy can feel overwhelming.

One of the cool things about EMDR therapy compared to other trauma treatments is that it does not require you to describe in detail or relive your traumatic experiences with your therapist. I will have a general sense of what we are working on, but any detail beyond that is not necessary for me to know unless you want me to. While you will sit with your traumatic experiences during our EMDR work, you will only do so for brief periods at a time and with a focus on the safety of the present as well.

I don’t think I have PTSD. Is EMDR still right for me?

Some people after trauma will experience a constellation of symptoms known as PTSD. Yet many people who do not meet the full diagnostic criteria for PTSD are still impacted by previous traumatic or distressing experiences in less marked ways. EMDR can be a wonderful tool to help minimize negative effects of the past on the present whether you have PTSD or not.

Further, while EMDR was originally developed as a treatment for PTSD, its use has been expanded to also include issues like anxiety, grief, and depression. Therefore, even if you don’t think of yourself as a “typical” client for EMDR therapy, you would likely still benefit from this type of treatment.

Find Peace Today

I invite you to connect with me today to discuss how EMDR therapy can help you on your personal healing journey. I offer a free phone consultation where we can get to know one another and see if we feel like a good fit. You can reach me at 720-399-7465 or by filling out my contact form found by clicking on the button below to get started.

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