Treatment Specialties and Therapies
Treatment Specialties
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
A very serious condition which includes a variety of domains: Life-threatening events and
injuries, such as combat experience; sexual assault and rape; natural disasters; and severe
motor vehicle accidents. Although some traumatic events (such as bullying, or sudden loss of a
loved one or romantic partner) might not meet the diagnostic criteria for the disorder, the
prolonged effects they cause can, nonetheless, make life exceptionally hard on those who’ve
endured them
These events may cause symptoms which disrupt people’s thoughts, emotions and behaviors:
- Disturbing memories of the event(s). These often seem to come out of nowhere. They’re frequently accompanied by nightmares
- Flashbacks: Prolonged, excessive reactions to triggering thoughts. They may seem impossible to let go of. Or seemingly minor problems spark emotional meltdowns
- Triggers can include people, landmarks, sounds, smells, sensations in the body
- Those who’ve experienced trauma often avoid potential triggers; struggle to remember key aspects of the event(s); start to experience negative feelings about themselves, others, and the world
- Victims can begin to isolate; they may constantly guard against all threats or engage in self-destructive behaviors (substance abuse, cutting, out-of-control spending, reckless driving, promiscuity)
- Trauma often leads to poor concentration and insomnia
- Suicide and thoughts of suicide are exceptionally high in those who’ve been traumatized
- Such a potent cluster of symptoms explains why Posttraumatic Stress isn’t a state that you can simply “snap out of.”
**Of particular concern are the body’s reactions to long-term trauma-related stress: chronic
pain, digestive problems, cardiac and respiratory challenges
By conducting a thorough assessment, I can determine how Posttraumatic Stress has impacted
you. This enables me to design a plan which allows you to make peace with the past and to live
more comfortably in the present. This sometimes includes collaborating with other professionals
on your health team to promote whole-person wellness.
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Sexual Assault and Rape
- Life-Threatening Events and Injuries
Complex trauma
For various reasons, some people don’t receive the nurturing they need during their neonatal,
childhood, and adolescent growth phases. This makes it particularly hard for them to regulate
emotions and to form strong attachments to others. Similarly, victims of ongoing physical
and/or emotional abuse often develop significant mental health challenges, such as anxiety,
bitterness, and anger
To help people who have been or continue to be affected in these ways, I frequently blend
treatments. This helps to untangle what are often deeply tangled thoughts and feelings. While
doing so, I work with you to define your boundaries and values, to develop problem-solving skills
to overcome life challenges, to discover your interests (maybe even your passions!), and to like
and believe in yourself. Some of the stuff you may not have received earlier in life…
- Disruptions in emotional attachment
- Exposure to abuse and neglect
Co-occurring Disorders
Often, the ways in which people cope with trauma unintentionally spawn or contribute to other
destructive behaviors. In cases such as these, I partner with you to establish stability and to build
new, more adaptive coping skills. This commonly leads to productive exploration and processing
of underlying trauma issues
- Depression
- Substance Use
- Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Traits
- Anxiety and Panic
- Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder
- Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity
**The conditions listed above are ones in which I specialize; however, I also have experience
in treating additional disorders. Included in these are Schizophrenic Spectrum, Bipolar,
and Dissociative Identity. If you believe that I can help you
or a loved one in any of these areas, please contact me!
Treatments I Use
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Helps patients to challenge thoughts which may contribute to negative emotions; promotes exploration of values and fears
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Encourages development of emotional regulation skills, adaptive responses to stressors, sense of identity
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Through carefully-modulated exposure and stimulation techniques, patients begin to perceive traumatic events in self- empowering manner; also improves tolerance of distress in the body
Motivational Interviewing
A powerful tool for establishing goals, pushing through resistance, and rebounding from setbacks
12-Step Methods
Borrowed from the groups which formulated them, the principles contained within can be used to diffuse anger, understand motives and expectations, improve interpersonal relations, and enhance self-worth
Mindfulness and Meditation
Promotes mental focus and relaxation through use of guided imagery, breathing techniques, muscle movement, and body awareness