Often, trauma and substance abuse go hand in hand. For many people, behaviors that began as a search for a small amount of peace develop into addiction, which can further derail every aspect of your life. But, even if you feel as though your life is currently shaped by bad choices, know that you are not broken, and you don’t have to carry the immense weight of shame. Rather, like so many others, you have survived in the best way you know how. Few of us go through life without developing a hole in our souls, and we all seek ways to fill that hole up.
Thankfully, a skilled, compassionate trauma therapist can help you figure out how your hole developed, make sense of the past and discover new, healthy ways to move forward and create lasting relief.
Trauma can make it feel as though the dangers of the past are still present, keeping you caught in a seemingly endless state of distress. But, with expert guidance and support, you can stop feeling as though you are merely surviving. You can start moving through the world with a new sense of trust, balance and possibility.
During trauma treatment sessions, my initial focus will be on getting to know you and developing a therapeutic relationship based on security and trust. No matter how unstable the world seems outside sessions, the therapy room is a place of safety in which you can feel and express anything without fear of judgment or criticism. As we gently investigate the challenges you’re facing now, I can help you develop strategies to regulate uncomfortable thoughts, emotions and physical sensations, including deep breathing, mindfulness exercises and calming movement. Once you feel ready, we can begin the process of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT).
EMDR is a highly effective therapy approach, recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs as the foremost method of treating trauma. EMDR helps you to release the trauma stored in your body and brain, allowing you to more fully integrate the memories of what happened through a safe, guided process. You won’t forget your experience, but you can become able to look back on it without feeling the same emotional charge. The traumatic event will become just another past experience that contributed to who you are, losing its power to define or control you in the present.
We specialize in both trauma and addiction therapy because We have seen firsthand how many people struggling with addiction have trauma buried inside. EMDR and RRT therapy is proven extremely effective in treating both trauma and addiction. As you address the pain of the past, we can also help you better understand how your history might be related to your perspective and behaviors today. With this increased awareness, you can begin to let go of guilt, develop greater self-compassion and feel empowered to make more positive choices in your life.
You don’t have to continue suffering, and you don’t have to go through it alone. If you feel motivated to reclaim your life and engage with the present, we know that relief is possible. We believe that you have the courage to reach out and declare that you want something better. Once you take that first step, we will be here to guide you toward deep, lasting healing.
Deep healing takes commitment and dedication. But, you do not have to do it alone. Whether you are struggling with trauma or trauma and substance abuse, we will be there every step of the way, guiding you through the therapy process with patience and understanding. We fully believe that you can do the work. You inherently already have what it takes to address the past and make positive changes in your life. As your therapist, We will offer the education, skills and guidance you need to believe it for yourself.
If you have gone through most of your life feeling threatened, betrayed and defeated, it can be difficult to believe that it’s possible to live in a different way. But consider this—what do you have to lose by trying, except for this suffering? What do you have to gain? Just by finding your way to this page, you have demonstrated a desire to let go of distress and see what else life has to offer. We believe there is so much more out there for you.
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