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The word trauma comes from Greek, and it simply means "wound." We all have emotional wounds. Some are big enough to meet the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis, and others may not check that particular box but still run deep—and still deserve attention and care. The good news is that the past few decades have brought major advances in how we treat trauma. You don't have to live with these wounds forever. With the right treatment, they can heal, and you can go on to live a full, happy life.

I know that starting trauma work can feel intimidating. A lot of people worry about how painful or difficult it might be. I can't promise it'll be painless—there's likely to be some discomfort along the way—but it shouldn't feel like being re-traumatized. About fifty years ago, the thinking in the field was to just talk about the trauma over and over until it stopped hurting. We now know that approach actually retraumatizes people, and it's not considered sound practice by trauma specialists today. Some practitioners may still use it, but it's outdated—and it's not how I work.

Today, we use specific methods that prepare you with the tools to reprocess trauma without being overwhelmed by it.

If you're still feeling nervous about starting, I want you to know a few things about how we'll work together:

You set the pace. You tell me what feels right.
We make sure you have solid coping tools in place before we start reprocessing anything.
We don't have to do it all at once.
You can take time to build trust with me first—we don't need to dive into the trauma right away.
We'll work on getting to the roots of the suffering you experience day to day, not just managing symptoms.

I use a combination of approaches depending on what each person needs. The methods I commonly draw from are Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), parts work, Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), mindfulness, somatic work, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

I plan to write blog posts on trauma treatment and the methods I use, so check those out if you'd like to learn more.

Or—if you're ready to start or continue your healing journey—contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.

Trauma Treatment

Tranquil Roots