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On Trauma

All day, every day, we receive information. Our brain processes that information and stores it accordingly in many different “filing cabinets” (if you will) for later use or recall. However, when a person experiences a trauma, the body goes into “fight or flight” mode, and the information of that trauma does not get stored as other, non-traumatizing, information would have been. Rather, the traumatic memory engages in a continuous loop on the emotional side of the brain, never finishing the process of communicating with the part of the brain that conducts the cognitive processing and reasoning. Thus, the emotions of fear, terror, and helplessness are attached to that memory in a perpetual loop, rather than that information being stored as any other memory.

In efforts to try to cope or protect oneself, a person may repress those memories subconsciously, which is why sometimes months and years could go by without a person consciously feeling that “loop”—that is until a trigger occurs. A trigger is essentially a person, place, or thing that causes the negative emotions attached to a traumatic memory to surface into consciousness. Once triggered, it can feel like a daunting or hopeless situation to overcome. Fortunately, there is a breakthrough treatment protocol that can eliminate those unwarranted, inappropriate reactions to the trauma, thus allowing you to feel the warranted, appropriate emotions your brain never originally processed at the time of the trauma.

That being said, trauma is subjective. To be negatively affected by trauma, you don’t even have to have experienced the traumatic event directly. You could have witnessed the event. You could have learned that the event happened to a close family member or friend. You could have even experienced repeated or intense exposure to the distressing details of the event. Regardless of how you were exposed to the traumatic event, the end result is oftentimes the same—you feel a sense of fear, terror, and/or helplessness when you think about/dream about the event. This is where RTM & tf-NLP come into play.

Specializations

Domestic Violence

Many times, when people hear “domestic violence,” the thought of physical violence enters their mind. While this is certainly a type of domestic violence, it is not the only kind. Domestic violence (interchangeably known as “domestic abuse,” “intimate partner violence,” or “relationship violence”) can include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and intimidation (including gaslighting), isolation, verbal abuse (coercion, threats, and blame), economic/financial abuse, reproductive coercion, digital abuse, and stalking. Contrary to popular belief, domestic violence is not caused by alcohol/substance use or anger. While these factors may certainly exacerbate the effects of the abuse, domestic violence is about power and control. Together, we can explore the different kinds of abuse and the cycle of violence, create a safety plan, and guide you on your journey to living a safe and peaceful life.

Substance Abuse

In a nutshell, whether it’s one day a month, one day a week, or every night—if you start and you can’t stop; if you experience negative life consequences and still engage in the behavior; if the obsessions and compulsions are overwhelming—you’re likely addicted. Addiction does not only include drugs or alcohol. Addiction can also include, but is not limited to: food, gambling, internet, nicotine, prescription drugs, sex, shopping, and work. Addiction is a chronic brain disease, and in order to combat it, a holistic lifestyle change is in order. Recovery is a lifestyle; a complete change in your way of existing. In the words of one of my past mentors, “Recovery is a profound internal change in your thinking, attitude, and behaviors.” Together, we can explore triggers, relapse prevention, and coping skills to help you create a peaceful and balanced lifestyle.

Military

There is a vast difference between military life and civilian life, and the readjustment process can prove to be challenging and full of irritating obstacles. The traumas a service member may experience during and after deployments can affect not just the service member, but the entire family unit. Whether you are a service member trying to readjust back to civilian life, or you are a military dependent who is trying to navigate the cycle of deployment, I am here to guide you through this oftentimes daunting and frustrating process.

CHOICE THEORY THROUGH REALITY THERAPY

I approach therapy from a Choice Theory standpoint. "Choice Theory teaches us that we are much more in control of our lives than we realize...Taking more effective control means making better choices" (Glasser, 1998, pg. 4). Pulling from Choice Theory's "here and now" actions of the client, as well as from my own clinical experience, I have created a specialized therapeutic treatment plan called L.I.V.E. Therapy.

Video

On Trauma

Specializations

Domestic Violence

Substance Abuse

Military

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