Blogs

Have you ever felt outside of yourself, watching your actions and hearing your words but feeling like they aren’t yours? Maybe there’s a...

You look good. You show up. You get through the day. Maybe you even manage a smile. You might be the person others rely on—the dependable one, the responsible one, the one who always seems okay. On the outside, you're functioning. On the inside, you might feel numb, overwhelmed, or like you're holding your breath without even realizing it. This may be survival mode. And here’s a truth that deserves space: living in survival mode is not the same as living.

For those who never thought trauma applied to them—but still feel stuck, anxious, or disconnected. You’ve never been in a warzone. You weren’t abused. You had what looked like a “normal” childhood. So why is there a constant undercurrent of tension in your body? Why do you feel numb sometimes, or jumpy for no reason? Why do certain situations leave you overwhelmed when others seem to take them in stride? You might be carrying trauma—and never knew to call it that. Many people

Experiencing trauma can shatter one's sense of safety, leaving deep emotional scars that linger long after the event has passed. Trauma...

In the intricate landscape of mental health and well-being, unconventional journeys often lead us to unexpected places in search of solace. For those entrenched in the relentless grip of depression and burnout, the quest for a lifeline can be profoundly disheartening. Yet, there's a flicker of hope on the horizon: ketamine assisted psychotherapy. It's not just about addressing depression; it's also about offering a sanctuary for those navigating the labyrinthine overlap of de

In recent years, there has been a growing body of research exploring the relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder...

It’s no secret that we are in a mental health crisis that was exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, growing economic instability and social unrest. At our clinic we have seen an increase over the last few years in not only the demand for mental heath services, but also an increase in the severity of symptoms. The last few years have taken a toll and it is showing. Mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and complex trauma are a major public health concern worldwide,

This week I am starting from a phrase used often by one of our therapists, Jesalyn Eatchel, LCSW: "Our issues are in our tissues!" This...

“There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.” — Laurell K. Hamilton,...

Sexual assault on school campuses has received a lot of attention in the press lately. That doesn’t mean that the number of rapes is...

Awareness of the prevalence and impact of sexual abuse has recently surged in the media following such events as the #MeToo movement and...

Childhood abuse happened in the past. Unfortunately the effects of abuse don’t stay tucked in the past but rather invade your daily life...

Awareness of the prevalence and impact of sexual abuse has recently surged in the media following such events as the #MeToo movement and...

I was interviewed by Guy Macpherson of The Trauma Therapist Project this week about my “why” for becoming a trauma therapist. I was...

I am passionate about Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I use it in my own life and it has made all the difference. I cope with...

Diagnosing mental illness is an imperfect science. The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) describes bipolar, borderline personality disorder (BPD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as distinct problems, but they share a lot of the same symptoms and can be very hard to distinguish. They also can occur together, which makes it even tougher to sort out. Some common symptoms of these illnesses are trouble sleeping, thoughts of suicide, not being able to maintain rel

60% of adults report experiencing trauma in their childhood (National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention,...

"Anything that is “wrong” with you began as a survival mechanism in childhood." ~ Dr. Gabor Maté Being sexually abused as a child,...

You are not alone. Healing from sexual abuse and rape requires working with every part of the trauma experience – instinct, emotion, images, and thoughts. When faced with a life threatening experience, primitive instincts kick in – fight, flight, freeze, submit (see part 1 and part 2 of this blog). These instincts help you survive the encounter, but leave evidence behind in the form of body memories. The cortisol response that was triggered by the original trauma, can be re-t

You aren’t broken. Trauma and complex PTSD caused by sexual abuse and rape are underdiagnosed and often misdiagnosed as something else....