Expert Trauma Counseling in Texas
Compassionate, expert support for post-traumatic growth
Trauma is more than an event.
It’s more than just something that happened in the past. For trauma survivors, trauma is a lived experience that continues to invade their present reality.
This is why trauma isn’t something we can just ‘get over.’ Moving on isn’t possible – we need to move through.
How to know if you have trauma
Adverse experiences overrides our ability to protect ourselves and experience safety – which often disturbs our nervous system, causes thinking errors, and wreaks havoc on our inner world. For example…
Do you ever feel...?
- Muscle tension or pain
- Constant hypervigilance
- Panic or anxiety
- Emotional numbness
- Exhaustion or burnout
- Difficulty breathing
- Disempowered, powerless, or a lost sense of control
Do you ever think...?
- “I’m not safe.”
- “I’m too much.”
- “I’ll always feel this way.”
- “Why can’t I feel normal?”
- “I can’t trust anyone.”
- “No one understands me.”
- “I’ll never be safe.”
Do you experience...?
- Intense memories or flashbacks
- Overwhelming triggers
- Difficulty relaxing or falling asleep
- Intrusive thoughts that feel uncontrollable
…then please know – these are all symptoms of trauma. Through trauma-informed therapy, we examine these beliefs, sensations, and experiences with compassion and post-traumatic wisdom.
Healing from trauma
The impact of trauma is often complex, because it can literally reshape the way you see yourself, the way you navigate relationships, and even your worldview. Trauma shifts the nervous system into survival mode, and can cause symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD long after the original event has passed.
In this way, trauma isn’t necessarily ‘what happened’ – it’s the aftermath. It’s the intrusive thoughts, emotional triggers, constant internal tension, and relational patterns that formed because of what happened.
Trauma counseling can’t change the past. But it can change your future. The symptoms of trauma are highly treatable, and my trauma counseling service offers trauma survivors a safe space to heal and discover post-traumatic growth.
About trauma counseling — at a glance
What is trauma counseling?
Trauma therapy is a highly specialized form of psychotherapy that is specifically designed to help individuals process deeply distressing experiences and recover from the physiological impact of trauma. This holistic, trauma-informed approach to therapy addresses the impact of trauma on your nervous system, emotional responses, thought patterns, and personal story.
Please rest assured – we’re not going to dig up the past just to stare at it in horror. That is not what we do. The goal of trauma counseling isn’t to trigger you or make you re-live something you wish never happened. It’s to help your mind and body process unresolved experiences in the present moment so those past experiences no longer carry the same psychological weight and emotional charge.
About Trauma Counseling — A Closer Look
During our first few sessions together, we probably won’t even talk about ‘what happened.’ And in some cases where there are memory blockages, we may not even be able to talk about ‘it’ at all. Instead, we’ll focus on what’s happening right now. We’ll explore how trauma is showing up in your day-to-day life, your thoughts, and your relationships. Together we’ll work through…
- Anxiety and chronic stress
- Depression and emotional numbness
- Relationship difficulties
- Self-esteem and identity struggles
- Shame or guilt connected to past experiences
- Persistent feelings of fear, helplessness, or disconnection
- Emotional triggers that hijack your sense of safety
- Intrusive thoughts that destabilize your inner peace
…And if we do revisit the past, we’ll do so in a very respectful, grounded way. There is never any pressure, obligation, or even need to share all the details. If you ever feel triggered or overwhelmed, I’ll guide you through a somatic pause and help you regulate your nervous system before continuing.
Who is this service for?
My trauma counseling services is for anyone who has experienced any type of trauma, including:
Acute trauma
a single, one-time overwhelming event
Relational trauma
hurt that occurred within close relationships
Sexual trauma
violation of sexual safety or consent
Emotional trauma
wounds that live beneath the surface
Family of origin trauma
harmful patterns from your early family environment
Spiritual or religious trauma
wounds tied to faith or belief systems
Natural disaster trauma
trauma from events like fires, floods, or storms
War or combat trauma
exposure to violence in conflict settings
Crime-related trauma
trauma from being a victim or witness of a crime
Medical trauma
distressing or invasive medical experiences
I provide trauma counseling for adults and adolescents (15+) both in-person in Kyle, Texas and via online trauma counseling throughout Texas.
TRADITIONAL THERAPY VS TRAUMA COUNSELING
How is trauma therapy different?
1. Trauma therapy involves specialized, trauma-informed training.
In a trauma counseling session, the trauma therapist will be well-versed in the specific ways trauma can impact mental health. Additionally, due to the sensitive nature of the work, trauma therapy often involves advance clinical techniques including:
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
2. Trauma therapy carries a somatic element, meaning it involves bodily attunement.
By reconnecting with the body’s ability to identify safety and experience calm, trauma survivors learn to regulate emotions and feel grounded and safe in their body again.
3. Healing from trauma requires healing the nervous system.
By reconnecting with the body’s ability to identify safety and experience calm, trauma survivors learn to regulate emotions and feel grounded and safe in their body again.
How does trauma therapy work
For some individuals, trauma counseling may focus on building coping skills, increasing emotional awareness, and strengthening self-trust. For others, therapy may involve deeper exploration of past experiences and the beliefs that formed around them. Whatever your therapy goals are, trauma counseling works to help you process unresolved pain and experience the relief of healing.
My trauma counseling service integrates Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) with polyvagal-inspired techniques to help you process traumatic pain and regulate your nervous system. While every client is unique, I often blend from a variety of specialized techniques including Motivational Interviewing and Solution Focused Brief Therapy.
If appropriate and upon request, we may incorporate an EMDR therapy treatment program. However, EMDR therapy follows a specific structure. Please click here to learn more about my EMDR therapy service for trauma.
These approaches work together to help you:
- Understand how trauma affects the brain and nervous system
- Identify thought patterns shaped by past experiences
- Reduce internal tension and emotional overwhelm
- Strengthen emotional regulation skills
- Rebuild a healthy belief system about yourself, others, and the world
What to expect in a trauma therapy session
A safe, private, confidential space that is 100% focused on you.
You will be taken very seriously and by someone who deeply understands the nuances of trauma. I know from personal and professional experience how bizarre and confusing the symptoms of trauma can feel, and you can expect a safe space and a helpful, understanding therapist to help guide you through the healing process.
Emotional regulation skills and somatic grounding exercises.
Trauma isn’t just a mental concern. It’s physiological, meaning the symptoms of trauma are experienced in the body. During a trauma counseling session, I take a highly somatic approach and utilize polyvagal-inspired techniques to help address the physical symptoms of trauma.
A flexible and integrative trauma therapy experience.
One of the defining features of my trauma counseling service is flexibility. Trauma therapy is not one-size-fits-all, and each client’s healing journey is unique. My approach allows us to adapt the therapeutic process to meet your specific needs, experiences, and goals. And we’ll always go at a pace that respects your comfort level.
EMDR, Trauma, & Anxiety Therapy in Texas
Pursuing post-traumatic growth
It takes immense courage to seek healing, and I applaud you for refusing to give up hope. Your story is far from over. The symptoms of trauma are treatable, and if you’re interested in exploring what trauma therapy with me looks like, I’d be happy to meet with you.
I offer a free 15-minute discovery consultation where I can answer your questions and help you determine whether trauma counseling feels like the next right step for you. If you’re interested, I invite you to book a discovery call at the link below.
You don’t have to carry your story and figure healing out alone. Whenever you’re ready, I’m here.