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
Category: PTSD
Trauma has a deep impact on our whole life. For many people, they describe life before trauma compared to life after trauma. It is not just the trauma itself that impacts a survivor, it is the support they receive around the event. In fact, the support received following a traumatic event is the biggest factor … Continue reading Your experience matters; why it is important to believe survivors of assault
Self-harm is intentional, non-suicidal injury to one’s body. It is common—as many as 1 in 3 adolescents report they have self-harmed at some point. Self-harm can be scary and difficult to understand. I hope to contribute to greater understanding of self-harm and provide a starting point for intervention. Like most of my blogs, this is … Continue reading Understanding Self-Harm
Have you ever had an experience where the "right" choice would make life more difficult? Perhaps it was ending a toxic relationship, stopping an unhealthy coping mechanism, or leaving a job that did not honor your values. Sometimes, the next best step is essential for your health and healing. Sometimes the next best step hurts. … Continue reading The Healing Crisis
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
Amarillo Professional Counseling and Consultation 