ONLINE THERAPY IN MN
Therapy for Trauma
Do you feel stuck in the pain of past events?
Maybe you’re noticing:
Difficulty focusing at work
Challenges in feeling connected and safe in relationships
Overwhelmed by your emotions
Unmotivated in ways that aren’t like you
Physical distress and body aches or tension
In simple terms, trauma can be described as acute or chronic painful, emotionally-charged memories which can have lasting mental, emotional, and physical effects. Trauma may be caused by neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse as well as exposure to violent or near-death experiences.
Unaddressed trauma from our formative years will inevitably impact our well-being and show up in our adult relationships, in our parenting, and in our family life. I help adults heal from trauma— supporting you in creating the fulfilling and beautiful life you deserve through processing childhood wounds; prioritizing emotional safety and wellness; building up self-esteem and self-compassion; developing health boundaries, communication, and coping skills; and investing in current relationships in your life.
EMDR Therapy
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. It is a well-researched approach to treating trauma, and particularly symptoms of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which individuals can develop after witnessing, learning of, or experiencing a traumatic event).
This therapy approach uses bilateral stimulation (eyes moving back and forth, or “buzzies” buzzing side to side in each hand) to activate systems in our brain and body that help process memories.
In the safety of the therapeutic dynamic, EMDR can help you to
Identify past events that inhibit you in the present
Understand the impact of those events on your perception of yourself and the world
Reduce the discomfort you feel when you think about the past event
Shift the meaning of the past event to something more helpful in the present
Relieve physical distress associated with past painful memories
Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN)
Childhood Emotional Neglect occurs when a parent/caregiver consistently fails to meet a child’s emotional and psychological needs. CEN is often subtle, invisible and unmemorable—no traumatic event has to happen. All it takes is a parent’s failure to notice, respond to and validate a child’s feelings. Oftentimes, parents may be unaware they are emotionally neglecting their children, especially when they struggle with mental illness, extreme stress, and external pressures from work, poverty, military service, etc. In fact, they may have experienced CEN themselves.
Almost everyone realizes that what did or didn’t happen to us in childhood has an effect upon who we become as adults. What didn’t happen to us is equally important as what did happen. In fact, CEN is primarily caused by the absence of good things that should have happened in childhood. Repeated patterns help children make sense of the world around them and help them predict what will happen next based on experience. Whether conscious or unintentional, this pattern of negligence leaves children with deep insecurities that can affect them throughout their lifetime. They may struggle to establish a stable sense of self in adulthood. Most describe feeling like something is wrong with them, but they’re not sure what it is so they often blame themselves.
Fortunately, overcoming CEN is possible through therapy. Receiving support can help break the cycle of emotional neglect.
Common Signs of Childhood Emotional Neglect
You feel like you don't really know yourself
You have difficulty with identifying and regulating emotions
You have a hard time with developing and maintaining healthy relationships
You struggle with low self-worth, perfectionism, and people-pleasing
You have difficulty remembering large parts of your childhood