Specialties
Trauma and PTSD
Many people have experienced trauma during their lifetime. Both “little T Traumas” (repeated, chronic experiences) and “Big T traumas” (a singular major life event) can lead to difficulties in our daily functioning and sometimes can manifest themselves in symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Flashbacks of the event, distressing dreams, avoidance patterns, hypervigilance, and symptoms of anxiety and depression can be indicators that the events we experienced are impacting our daily functioning.
How I Can Help
My work with you will focus on supporting you to change the way your body experiences traumatic memories and future triggers. Research tells us that trauma is stored in the body. When we encounter a similar smell, situation, sound, or relationship, often we will have survival responses such as fight, flight, freeze or fawn.
Through evidence-based practices such as EMDR and Ego State Therapy (parts work), patients are supported in decoupling the experience of trauma from the body. By enhancing patients' abilities to understand their past experiences, I help them to live fuller lives. This can look like acknowledging the traumatic event(s) and grieving them, while also developing adaptive ways of coping and relating to others and our environments.
