Trauma Therapy

Heal from your past and reclaim your future.

Online in Minneapolis and 40 states

Your past doesn’t need to define you.

Whether you’ve experienced an accident, assault, or abuse/neglect, trauma can leave a lasting wound that you carry for the rest of your life. It can come in the form of a sharp and painful blow that’s easy to identify; it can also be less obvious, and manifest more like a thousand little cuts that form a giant gash over time. You may know exactly how damaging the event was when you experienced it, or you may only have a vague sense that something in your past is holding you back. You might minimize your trauma or try to forget about it because “it happened so long ago” or “it’s over and doesn’t matter anymore,” but your past keeps coming back to haunt you in surprising and upsetting ways.  

You’re able to get through most days without any major issues, but you’re living on autopilot. You feel like you’re just going through the motions, and not actually living your life.

You feel like you only cause trouble for those around you— strangely, it’s like you’re way too much and not at all enough all at the same time. You put on an act and pretend like everything’s OK. And you’re actually pretty good at it, because most of the time people seem to believe you—at least until you have one of those moments where you blow up or break down completely. You’re afraid to let people in because you’re pretty sure nobody would stick around if they knew who you really are. And even though keeping to yourself gets lonely, maintaining your distance from others it what feels safest.

There are periods where a good night’s sleep is hard to come by; sometimes you even experience nightmares. You often wonder to yourself how everyone seems to make life look so easy. You know you’re struggling and you’re starting to recognize that just putting your head down and trying to push through just doesn’t seem to be working very well.

You don’t want to live this way anymore, and you want help figuring out where to go from here.

Is trauma therapy right for you?

Do you:

  • You try to control your emotions, but they just end up controlling you?

  • Cope with emotions in unhealthy ways?

  • Feel tense, angry, anxious, guilty and/or ashamed much of the time?

  • Struggle asking for what you want/need and saying “no” to others?

  • Beat up on yourself?

  • Lack a clear sense of who you “really are?”

  • Try to forget your past?

  • Struggle with unwanted and intrusive memories?

  • Have moments where your past comes rushing back at you?

  • Struggle in your relationships?

If you experience these issues, you’re in the right place.

WHAT WE’LL FOCUS ON:

I want to help you heal your old wounds so that they’re no longer the driving force in your life.

In trauma-focused therapy, we’ll move at your pace. I will provide a safe and supportive environment so that, when you’re ready, you can start talking about the hard stuff. As we start processing your trauma, you will begin to gain a new perspective on your past and learn to recognize how it impacts your mind, body, and behavior in the present. You’ll also learn new ways of coping with difficult emotions to help you feel more grounded, confident, and safe when you experience triggers. In addition, we’ll focus on strengthening your support system so that you’ll have access to important resources that will aid you in your healing journey. Finally, you’ll begin to dig up old patterns of behavior that grew out of your trauma and replace them with new strategies based on your values and what matters most to you.

MY SPECIALTIES

  • Complex trauma is a broad clinical term that is used to describe the mental and emotional injuries an individual experiences after multiple or prolonged traumatic events, which are often based in their closest relationships (such as with a parent or caregiver). Although complex trauma often has its roots in an individual’s earliest relationships, it can be experienced at any age. Common examples of events or situations that can cause complex trauma include:

    -Physical/emotional/sexual abuse

    -Neglect

    -Abandonment

    -Caregiver addiction/substance abuse

    -Caregiver emotional withdrawal/unavailability

    -Families who have poor relationship boundaries

    Complex trauma can have a profound impact on the way you engage with the world. Its effects can last long into adulthood and can make it very difficult for you to form healthy relationships.

    With the right kind of support and coaching, you can heal from complex trauma. Learn more about my approach to helping folks who have experienced complex trauma in thier relationships here.

  • Unlike complex trauma, PTSD is a specific mental health disorder that can develop after a single traumatic event or a series of events. Common examples of events that can cause PTSD include:

    -Accidents such as car crashes or incidents at work/home in which someone is seriously hurt or killed.

    -Experiencing physical or sexual assault

    -Experiencing physical or sexual abuse in childhood

    -Witnessing violence

    -Experiencing natural disasters

    -Experiencing medical trauma

    -Exposure to combat in a warzone

    If you’re struggling with PTSD, you will also experience a number of symptoms, including:

    -Re-experiencing the event in some way (through intrusive memories, flashbacks, and/or nightmares)

    -Avoidance (staying away from people, places, and/or activities that might remind you of the event)

    -Hyperarousal (being easily startled, having difficulty sleeping, experiencing anger/irritability, and/or being on constant alert for potential danger)

    Negative changes in your mood or thoughts (negative beliefs about yourself or the world, feeling guilty or shameful, and/or having difficulty remembering key aspects of the traumatic event)

    PTSD can seriously impact your quality of life, but recovery is possible. My approach to treating PTSD is based heavily on an evidence-based treatment called Written Exposure Therapy. This form of therapy involves writing about your traumatic experiences and related emotions as means of recovering from your trauma. In therapy, I will utilize a structured protocol to guide you through writing about your traumatic experience(s) and the emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations that are connected to them. The goal of this approach is to help you process your traumatic memories, reinterpret your trauma in a more adaptive way, and ultimately reduce the intensity of your symptoms.

    My clients appreciate this approach, first and foremost, because it works. Several research studies have shown that it is just as effective as other evidence-based treatments for PTSD, like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Compared to such treatments, it’s also experienced as easier to tolerate because it doesn’t require clients to talk about thier trauma out loud. In addition, it’s very time effective— usually the treatment requires just five writing sessions. Finally, unlike many other PTSD treatments, it does not require clients to do any homework in between sessions.

  • Gain a new perspective on your past.

  • Understand the roots of why you think and behave the way you do.

  • Stop living in fear.

  • Live in the present.

  • Reconnect with the important people in your life.

  • Become more compassionate toward yourself.

  • Cope more effectively with difficult emotions.

  • Communicate more effectively with others.

  • Reduce unhealthy coping behaviors (like substance abuse, isolation, avoidance).

  • Take back control of your life.

Trauma therapy can help you:

Frequently asked questions about trauma therapy

  • I believe it’s extremely important for you to be in control of your own healing process. Although processing traumatic memories is at the core of true trauma-focused work, I will never push you to do something you’re not feeling ready for. Many of my clients who struggle with trauma prefer to ease into the work by focusing on building trust and improving coping skills/functioning in the present versus diving strait into processing their trauma. I will meet you where you’re at and move at a pace that feels right to you.

  • This depends on your needs and goals. The process of therapy is unique for everyone, and I tailor my approach based on where you are and where you want to be. We will regularly check in throughout the process to discuss your progress and timeline.

  • Making the decision to start any type of therapy is deeply personal and it’s important not to push someone who’s not ready. If someone is open to trying therapy, it can be helpful to practice empathy and remind them that seeking help is a normal part of life and that therapy can provide a safe, confidential, and supportive space for someone to work on their difficulties. If you’ve had positive personal experiences with therapy, it can be helpful to share these. Finally, it can be helpful to talk with the person about what they might be looking for in terms of the therapist’s specialization, experience, and personal characteristics to help them find a good fit.

Ready to begin your healing journey?