Therapy

Have you experienced trauma?

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Most people have experienced some sort of trauma in their lives. What we mean by “trauma” is how we each perceive and experience any challenging event. No two people will experience an event in the same way, so it is important not to discount events that have caused you to suffer in any way. The impact of trauma varies for everyone. You may live in fear and experience feelings of panic on a daily basis, or it may affect you on a deeper, subconscious level, where you are not even aware of its impact on your self-esteem, relationships, health, and happiness. 

 

Survivors of emotional, psychological, and narcissistic abuse may not realize that they are experiencing trauma, as they are often gaslighted and blamed for the reactions and situations of the abuser.  They may dismiss or minimize their feelings or feel shame and fear that they are somehow "crazy" or the problem.  But the problem lies with the abuser, not you or your reactions to abuse. 

 

It is very important to choose a therapist who is experienced in working with both narcissistic abuse and trauma, as both are significant factors in your healing journey. Most therapists only have basic levels of understanding of narcissistic abuse and pathological love relationships, and may not fully understand your experience. 

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The wound of trauma often lies deep in the body, ready to explode with certain triggers, movements, or memories of the event. A trauma survivor often feels hijacked by their own body, unable to control or escape the “residue” left behind from the trauma. You may hear a sound or experience a certain touch or smell, and find that your body and mind are suddenly reacting in a state of panic. You may even be able to tell yourself that you are safe, but your body reacts as if you were in the past, re-experiencing the event all over again.

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Trauma affects the entire being – the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Yet it is common to seek only traditional talk therapy to heal, which neglects the physical, mind/body connection that is commonly experienced with trauma. People may continue to suffer from symptoms of traumatic stress with little to no relief. Effective trauma treatment must have a component of somatic, mind-body focused work, such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), Somatic Experiencing, or Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS).

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I offer an array of options to support your healing.  I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Integrative Medicine Mental Health Provider, and Reiki Master.  My specialties include narcissistic abuse and trauma recovery, adult attachment, and holistic mental health care. I only work with adults, ages 18 and older. See the list below for a list of other areas that I treat.  While I specialize in narcissistic trauma recovery, I also see clients with various issues.  See below for a list of the areas that I treat.