Category: grief

boundaries, Coping, counseling, grief, Post Traumatic Stress, PTSD, relationships, self care, Trauma Therapy, Uncategorized

The healing work of forgiveness; a trauma sensitive perspective

I (Elizabeth) am a practicing Christian, raised in the church, and living in the Bible Belt. I am also an experienced trauma counselor. I work with those who have suffered great abuses, many times at the hands of those who were supposed to be safe and almost always from those in positions of power. In … Continue reading The healing work of forgiveness; a trauma sensitive perspective

Complex trauma, Coping, counseling, grief, Mindfulness, relationships, self care, self worth, Therapeutic relationship

The Compassionate Witness

I believe that counseling (or any therapeutic intervention) should be intentional. Having a treatment plan in place is, after all, required by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council for Licensed Professional Counselors. I tell my clients that it is never their job to have “material” for the session. It is not their job to come … Continue reading The Compassionate Witness

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