Category: counseling

change, Complex trauma, Coping, counseling, EMDR, grief, Post Traumatic Stress, PTSD, secondary gains, Trauma Therapy

Staging Treatment in Complex Trauma

We have all seen a movie in which the protagonist experiences a life-changing epiphany and their course is suddenly changed for the better. Sometimes it’s a moment of disclosure, finally getting it “all out”. And while I think moments of insight and disclosure can be powerful, they represent only one aspect of the therapeutic experience. … Continue reading Staging Treatment in Complex Trauma

change, Complex trauma, counseling, grief, parts, Post Traumatic Stress, PTSD, secondary gains, Trauma Therapy

Trauma Related Grief

Trauma therapy is difficult and complex. Generally, trauma therapy takes place in 3 stages—stabilization and resourcing, memory work, and grief work coupled with the practice of new behaviors. Each stage likely involves multiple interventions and approaches. It is not fast work. When I talk to people about trauma work, they often have some awareness of … Continue reading Trauma Related Grief

boundaries, counseling, relationships, self care, Therapeutic relationship

Why can’t we be friends?

Counseling is a unique experience. It is vulnerable, raw, excruciating, and profound. The therapeutic relationship is unique and unlike any other relationship. The therapeutic relationship can be difficult to understand but it is one of most important factors that influences the outcome of therapy. Because the therapeutic relationship is so unique, and perhaps mysterious, it … Continue reading Why can’t we be friends?

boundaries, change, Complex trauma, counseling, Post Traumatic Stress, PTSD, relationships, self care, self worth, Therapeutic relationship

Compliance as a survival response

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Survival is complicated and incredible. We are innately wired with a sophisticated stress response system that allows us to survive hard things. To put it simply (although this is an oversimplification) there are 3 primary default responses to threat. First we seek social connection—safe people. If safety is not found … Continue reading Compliance as a survival response

Coping, counseling, Mindfulness, PTSD, Resources, secondary trauma, self care, self worth

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness exercise abbreviated and adapted from Dan Siegel's wheel of awareness exercise. Mindfulness is the art of being aware of our internal and external experience. Mindfulness allows us to recognize and stay curious about each part of our experience--our thoughts, our emotions, our sensations--without being swept away by them. After all, each of these is … Continue reading Mindfulness Meditation