Counseling

Counseling is a confidential and non-judgmental process that will help you work through problems, gain insight, develop strategies and come up with real life solutions to the challenges you face.

Trauma

Trauma is an emotional response to a distressing event that can have lasting effects on a person's life. It can be caused by a single event or a series of events, and can be physical, emotional, or psychological.

Anxiety

Anxiety is an emotion that can feel like fear, dread, or uneasiness, that often causes a bodily reaction that you struggle to know how to manage.

Depression

Depression is a constant feeling of sadness and loss of interest, which stops you doing your normal activities, that can range from relatively minor to severe.

Trauma

“The paradox of trauma is that it has both the power to destroy and the power to transform and resurrect.”
— Peter A. Levine

Trauma is an emotional response to a distressing event that can have lasting negative effects on a person's life. Trauma can affect a person's sense of safety, self, and ability to regulate emotions. One result of trauma is that the brain (and body) thinks you are back in the trauma when triggered by something in the environment.

Some common reactions to trauma include:

  • Feeling anxious, sad, or angry

  • Trouble concentrating and sleeping

  • Continually thinking about what happened

  • Flashbacks

  • Strained relationships

  • Physical symptoms like headaches or nausea

EMDR and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (A.R.T.) are two specialized ways to resolve trauma or loss, by processing, desensitizing and retraining your brain to understand you are NOT still living in the memory. It allows you to take back control of your life. This involves briefly working through the memory while incorporating bilateral stimulation, until the memory is no longer distressful.

EMDR and A.R.T. are well researched psychotherapy techniques for trauma and have been found to be effective trauma treatments.

Types of Trauma

Big T Trauma

War
Physical Assault
Sexual Assault
Natural Disaster
Child Abuse
Neglect
Violence
Bullying

Little t Trauma

Changing Jobs
Divorce
Infidelity
Death in the family
Frequent yelling
Family secrets
Financial struggles
Moving

Individual Counseling

Individual therapy is tailored to meet your needs. Topics addressed include, but not limited to:

  • Trauma

  • Childhood trauma

  • Grief

  • Abuse/Assault

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Self Esteem and identity, self confidence

  • Motherhood stressors, parenting, co-parenting

  • Divorce

  • Battered Women

  • Infancy Loss

  • Life Transitions and adjustments

  • Communication Struggles

  • Stress Management

  • PTSD

  • Betrayal

  • Relational distress

  • Eating disorders

  • Loneliness

*faith based counseling available upon request

Anxiety

“Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.”
— Swedish proverb

Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. You might feel anxious and struggle when faced with a problem at work, in a relationship or making important decisions. However, if anxiety is more than a temporary or occasional worry and fear, and is interfering with your daily life, you may need assistance in working through this and learning the strategies to manage the anxiety and thrive. There are several different types of anxiety we can address:

Depression

“Depression is a war you fight alone, but don’t have to win by yourself.”
— Unknown Source

Depression is a common mental health condition that causes a persistent feeling of grief and sadness that becomes intense and includes feelings of being helpless, hopeless, or worthless. In most cases, having five or more of the following symptoms for at least two weeks could indicate depression:

  • Feeling tired or lacking energy most days,

  • Feeling sadness or grief most of the day,

  • Difficulty focusing, remembering details or making decisions,

  • Feeling guilty or unworthy

  • Inability to sleep or sleeping too much most days

  • Feeling restless or slowed down

  • Persistent thoughts of selfharm, death or suicide

  • Lack of desire to participate in activities you used to enjoy,

  • Frequent headaches or body aches and pain with no apparent reason