Trauma
Trauma fundamentally changes the brain, and feeling stuck in past trauma often makes it challenging to feel safe in everyday life. Even if you don't consciously think your trauma affects you, you may not realize its full impact.
Many people with traumatic pasts struggle in their current relationships. You may find it hard to trust others, or you may trust too easily and quickly. Boundaries can seem like an abstract concept, especially if people badly violated them before. Sometimes trauma causes people to self-medicate or try to avoid their pain altogether. You may also try to distract yourself with work or try to reason that "things weren't that bad." While these strategies may provide some quick relief, they don't change your emotional state, and they can often stunt the recovery process.
You can't undo what happened in your past, but trauma therapy can help you heal from it.
Understanding How Trauma Affects You
No matter when a traumatic event occurred, the impact can affect you psychologically, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially.
You may be struggling with trauma if you:
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struggle to remember certain trauma-related memories
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avoid or withdraw from people/situations that remind you of past trauma
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experience chronic pain or unexplained and uncomfortable physical sensations
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have sleep problems or nightmares related to a trauma memory
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feel hypervigilant about your surroundings
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become angry or hostile when feeling triggered
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have trauma reminders that cause you to avoid certain situations or people
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feel immense guilt/shame over how you "should" have responded
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have mental health symptoms of depression or anxiety
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These symptoms can occur at any point, and some people feel surprised to notice them long after a trauma occurs. Chronic trauma symptoms may be indicative of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Recognizing Complex Trauma
Complex trauma doesn't have a defined beginning or end, which can make it more challenging to define or even understand.
Some of the main types of complex trauma I see in my practice include:
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generational trauma across families
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narcissistic abuse within intimate relationships
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past or current experiences of neglect
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emotional abuse
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systemic oppression related to being part of a marginalized community
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These traumas may be "normalized" by certain communities. For example, family members may justify unhealthy behavior patterns because "that's the way it's always been." In addition, if you're used to cycles of abuse, you may suffer from the effects of being gaslit, and you could also unknowingly seek relationships that perpetuate more traumatic experiences.
EMDR for Trauma Recovery
EMDR, short for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, is an evidence-based treatment model that resolves the emotional or psychological harm associated with trauma. Research on trauma recovery shows that EMDR often works faster than traditional talk therapy.
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EMDR works on the belief that repetitive sets of bilateral stimulation, which can be done through guided eye movements, sounds, or tapping, can desensitize people to their traumatic memories. You learn how to replace negative thoughts with more positive ones. EMDR can be a standalone treatment, but it can also be integrated with other trauma-focused techniques, including ego state interventions, somatic awareness, inner child work, and psychodynamic therapy.
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As you move through trauma therapy, you will likely notice significantly less stress and feel a sense of resolution with your past. Trauma-related body tension also decreases or goes away entirely. You won't forget the traumatic events that happened to you, but they will no longer have such a grip on your well-being. While many mental health professionals provide trauma-focused treatments, only a licensed therapist with EMDR training can provide EMDR in their therapy practice.
FAQ
What Experience Do You Have in Treating Trauma and PTSD?
I began my career by working in an inpatient, residential facility for youth ages 5-18. In this setting, I worked with kids and their families, many of whom had experienced prolonged, intergenerational trauma. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked in community mental health, where I provided virtual services and engaged in numerous home visits to support my youth clients. In my private practice, trauma is one of my key specialties.
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What Therapeutic Modalities Do You Use for Trauma Recovery?
My approach is integrative and draws from EMDR, ego-state therapy, somatic therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). In an overarching sense, I lean heavily into the heart of the therapeutic relationship. When clients feel genuinely heard and seen, their healing begins. Therefore, even more than specific interventions, there is tremendous value in me authentically attuning to your emotions and needs.
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What If I Don’t Feel Ready to Talk About My Trauma?
This is completely understandable. It may be reassuring for you to hear that I won’t directly ask you to outline your trauma history (unless that feels important for you to share). Instead, we focus on strengthening therapeutic trust and understanding your window of tolerance. My goal as a trauma-focused therapist is to promote a secure, supportive environment where you can open up safely. With that, it is okay if you don’t feel “ready.” I will meet you exactly where you are.
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How Will Therapy Help Me Manage My Trauma Triggers or Distressing Memories?
I focus on resourcing, which refers to identifying and strengthening both internal and external resources that promote emotional safety. Resourcing helps you feel more resilient and empowered- it can also allow you to self-soothe when you feel overwhelmed. I use a significant amount of somatic work to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, bodies, and nervous systems. The intersection of these interventions can increase your window of tolerance, helping you feel more regulated in daily life.
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How Long Does Trauma Treatment Typically Take?
There’s no fixed timeline. However, we’ll check in regularly to check in how you feel therapy is going. Sometimes different seasons of life call for different types of support, so we may notice the need to increase or decrease session frequency. This is common. Some clients want to commit to a few months of therapy; others are open to a more long-term relationship. Both types of treatment are okay (and you may change your mind!), and I honor being flexible in my approach.
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What Should I Do If I Feel Worse After a Therapy Session?
You aren’t doing anything wrong! But, as your coregulator, I want to know how you feel after meeting. If you feel overwhelmed by our therapy, it may mean we’re pushing too hard or too fast. This can be worked through together. We may need to engage in more resourcing and grounding during our time together. I also encourage clients to be mindful of what they do just before and after therapy. Trauma work can be heavy, so consider how you can care for yourself after ending each session. You may benefit from taking a walk, resting, or journaling.
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How Do You Address the Physical Symptoms Associated With Trauma?
Somatic symptoms often coincide with trauma, so it’s important for us to really build upon your mind-body connection. In therapy, we’ll stay in the present moment, focusing on the what (What’s coming up? What do you notice in your body?) more than the why. This can pave the path for mindfulness and grounding techniques, including body scans, guided imagery, containment, calm place, distancing, and more. The goal is to increase your capacity to practice self-regulation, even when symptoms feel active.
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How Do You Measure Progress in Trauma Therapy?
Progress is an individual journey. Self-awareness is a form of progress that allows you to understand why you may act or think in the ways that you do. For most people, trauma recovery progress looks like a reduction in symptom frequency and intensity. The idea is that you end treatment feeling more whole and more empowered than you did when you began it- even if symptoms still show up from time to time.
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What If It’s Hard for Me to Trust People (Including Therapists?)
I get it. Choosing to engage in therapy is as vulnerable as it is brave. Trust is sacred to me, and I’ll do everything in my power to offer you a compassionate, safe space. It is okay if takes time to build that trust together. And, if I do make a mistake or get it wrong, I’ll also do my best to provide you with a genuine, reparative experience. I hold myself accountable in everything I do.
Trauma Therapy in Northwest Arkansas
The decision to seek support can feel scary, but it's so courageous to reach out for help. Unresolved trauma can affect every part of your well-being. If your trauma-related issues are causing you distress, I want you to know that healing is possible, and trauma survivors can become thrivers.
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While you can't change what happened to you, you can change how you interpret and react to the distress you experienced. Trauma therapy allows you to harness new strengths and unleash a resilience you've never known.
As an EMDR certified therapist and someone who continues this work personally, I recognize the vulnerability associated with the trauma healing process. In addition to EMDR, I continue to obtain training and consultation and utilize components of ego state work, grounding exercises, person centered validation and psychodynamic interventions to enhance embodiment.
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Regardless of what happened to you, I know how hard it can be to talk about. I will never push you further than you feel ready to be pushed, but I will also encourage you to take healthy risks that promote a more meaningful recovery. You deserve support and guidance. I serve Rogers, Fayetteville, and the surrounding greater Northwest Arkansas area. I would be honored to join you on your healing journey.