Online Trauma and PTSD therapists in Georgia

Trauma can change the way you feel about yourself and others, and change the way you interact with the world. It can inadvertently lead to volatile or abusive relationships or even exploitation. You are taking a brave step in getting help. I have over a decade of experience to assist you in working through your trauma using trauma-informed techniques, Person-Centered approaches, and Cognitive Behavioral techniques.  

We work heavily with complex PTSD. This diagnosis is often experienced by many of our patients. We approach this diagnosis with care, compassion, and patience.  

I offer support for individuals dealing with trauma and PTSD, providing a safe, compassionate environment for healing, regaining control, and finding hope for a brighter future, fostering resilience and well-being.  

I have training in multiple types of trauma and trauma treatment, ranging from complex trauma to relational trauma to standard PTSD from isolated incidents. I can help you understand the impact of trauma on your life and work towards resolving it so you can move forward.  

I became interested in trauma when working with adults who were using substances to change how they were feeling, forget the past, and escape from today. Repeatedly, trauma was the cause for unhappiness in today. This led me to years of training in EMDR to help my clients process the traumatic experiences so that they no longer had to relive these experiences everyday.  

As a psychologist specializing in trauma and PTSD, my treatment approach is rooted in compassion, safety, and evidence-based interventions. Through therapies such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), I collaborate with individuals to process traumatic memories, challenge negative beliefs, and develop effective coping strategies. Creating a safe therapeutic environment is paramount, allowing clients to explore their experiences at their own pace while feeling supported and validated. Psychoeducation about trauma responses and self-regulation techniques empowers individuals to manage symptoms and regain a sense of control over their lives. Additionally, I integrate mindfulness practices, relaxation techniques, and grounding exercises to promote emotional regulation and resilience. My goal is to facilitate healing, restore a sense of safety, and empower individuals to thrive beyond their traumatic experiences.  

Trauma is the experience not just of what happened to us, but by how our bodies, neurology, and hearts respond to what happened to us. Traumas of 'small t' and traumas of 'big T' both create adaptions to our true selves that can lead in our being 'stuck' in ways that don't serve us, that may create more trauma, or disconnection from our true selves and to our relationships with others. We have multiple ways of healing trauma, including complex traumas, including Flash Therapy, EMDR, hypnosis, somatic work, art therapy and more. Coming back to your true self, perhaps for the first time, is not a journey to be missed.  

Treatment for trauma and PTSD is really hard. It doesn't feel good to remember the things we most want to forget and unfortunately there is no easy way to heal. You've likely already discovered that avoidance won't work. What we will work on together is feeling the feelings in session so that they are less likely to creep up on you when you don't expect or want them. We'll look at your thinking surrounding the event and how your thinking has changed over time. It will get better.  

As a psychologist specializing in the full range of trauma, I integrate Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with Internal Family Systems (IFS) to reinforce a sense of safety, control, and worthiness. I draw upon the principles of Interpersonal Neurobiology to understand how our nervous system is forced to adapt in extreme and overwhelming situations, and how those adaptations can be reinforced or blocked by our relationships, internal conflicts, and past experiences. In our work together, you can expect a high level of collaboration, deeply compassionate understanding, and an abundance of metaphors as we tailor the therapy process to your needs, strengths, and situation.  

I have worked with individuals across the lifespan who have experienced varying types of trauma and believe the therapeutic space can provide a container for healing.  

Often distressing or disturbing life experiences overwhelm us and take away our ability to experience successful relationships and healthy emotions including connecting to self. I am here to support your journey and provide helpful interventions to empower you to reconnect to self and others. I specialize in Trauma/PTSD treatments and will assist you at your own pace and comfort.  

Many of our therapists specialize in trauma and PTSD. Dr. Sanness specializes in PTSD, Dissociation, Complex Trauma, and has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings to help clients with these difficulties. Dr. Nelson has training in Prolonged Exposure therapy which can be very helpful to individuals with PTSD.  

The UCEBT Trauma, Stress, and Resilience (TSR) Program provides expert care in the treatment of stress and trauma-related issues. Most people at some point in their lives will experience a trauma or other difficult event, such as a loss of a loved one, medical illness, financial stressors, work burnout, divorce, etc. Depending upon our unique past and current circumstances, these events impact each of us differently. In the aftermath, some may develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, grief, or experience other life challenges. In spite of our best efforts, sometimes the problems persist and common coping strategies (like isolation, working long hours, alcohol, etc.) can create new problems. Fortunately, there are now several proven therapies to get people unstuck and tap into our natural human ability to heal after a painful life event. Our center is committed to offering the most effective treatment options for both supporting you during a difficult period as well as long-term skills to foster resiliency for the future. There are several gold standard evidence-based treatments right now for trauma. Our clinicians in this program have formal training and expertise in: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Cognitive Processing Therapy -- CPT is a therapy that focuses on helping individuals identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs related to their traumatic experiences. It aims to promote cognitive restructuring and reduce distressing symptoms. CPT has been recommended as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA/DoD). This episode of This American Life does a great job capturing what to expect in CPT and illustrating its effectiveness: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/682/ten-sessions Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Interventions -- TF-CBT is a structured therapy that focuses on helping individuals process and cope with traumatic experiences. It combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with trauma-specific interventions. TF-CBT has also been widely recommended as a treatment PTSD by the APA and the VA/DoD. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) -- This modality uses eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help individuals process traumatic memories and reduce distressing symptoms. In contrast to the "top-down approaches" listed above, this is a "bottom-up approach," meaning that it starts with addressing the physiological and sensory aspects of an individual's experience before moving on to cognitive or higher-order processes. This approach recognizes that trauma can have a profound impact on the nervous system and bodily sensations. The goal is to help individuals process and release traumatic experiences by accessing the body's wisdom and resources. By directly targeting the limbic system (the feeling center of the brain) and sensory receptors throughout the body, a bottom-up approach aims to undo trauma's imprint on the body and promote healing. It acknowledges that trauma responses are not solely cognitive but also involve physiological and sensory aspects. Prolonged Exposure -- PE is a type of therapy that involves gradually and systematically exposing individuals to trauma-related memories, situations, or objects that they have been avoiding. The goal is to help individuals confront and process their traumatic experiences, reducing avoidance and fear. PE has also been recommended as a treatment for PTSD by the APA and the VA/DoD. The Gottman Method for Couples Therapy Written Exposure Therapy (WET) -- Sometimes, flashbacks can be so debilitating and spike our SUDS so suddenly, that all of the above-mentioned modalities end up doing more harm than good. This modality is a brief, trauma-focused talk therapy that involves a series of [typically] five 30- to 45- minute sessions. The therapy involves writing about the thoughts and feelings experienced during the traumatic event, which allows individuals to engage with the memory and potentially overcome shame or embarrassment associated with the experience. The goal is to help individuals find new ways to think about their traumatic experiences and gain relief from PTSD symptoms. There is little 'down time' between sessions, meaning an individual could schedule all five sessions back-to-back and effectively stop flashbacks or other reexperiencing symptoms within a week, which no other modality can match in terms of efficiency.  

Healing from trauma can help you feel more in control of your life and feel entitled to your own thoughts and feelings, develop closer relationships with others, relieve trauma symptoms, an learn healthy ways to re-connect with your body. Joie de Vivre offers a variety of effective treatment interventions for women who have survived traumatic events. We want you to know that you will not always feel like this, and we are here to help until you feel better.  

My approach to trauma and PTSD therapy emphasizes healing from past experiences and regaining a sense of control over one’s life, using trauma-informed care and evidence-based techniques that address the root causes of distress. This method aims to foster resilience, promote recovery, and rebuild a sense of safety and trust in oneself and the world.  

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often creates very painful symptoms and is something for which I use a therapy called Prolonged Exposure (PE). In this therapy, we will revisit traumatic situations, process painful emotions, and change unhelpful beliefs about yourself and the world around you as a result of your trauma. People are often amazed at how quickly this treatment can work and by the very meaningful change that can result. For these reasons, this is one of my favorite treatments to provide.  

I received much of my clinical training at the National Center for PTSD in Boston and have over a decade of experience working with trauma survivors. I offer an array of treatment options for trauma/PTSD, which I detail on my website. Some of the forms of trauma that I routinely treat are childhood emotional/physical/sexual abuse; sexual assault; physical assault; motor vehicle accident; traumatic loss; traumatic birth; and combat.  

There is this thing that has been weighing on you for years. While you have been able to keep it at bay for so many years it's now peeking its ugly head. You can't seem to manage relationships or even your job. Survival mode is all you know. You don't have to keep suffering. Relief and confidence can once again be you. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) utilizes the brain to help heal the pain you have dealt with all your life. Healing can finally be possible. EMDR is integrated into the therapy process through weekly sessions or through intensives to really work through those issues in a condensed capacity.  

We will process and integrate your traumatic experiences in a safe and supportive environment. In therapy you will understand the impact of trauma on their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, as well as develop coping strategies to manage trauma-related symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance. Additionally, therapy may involve psychoeducation about trauma reactions, emotion regulation techniques, and building skills for self-care and resilience.  

I utilize EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and IFS (Internal Family Systems) to help you identify traumatic wounds and begin your healing journey. Trauma work is incredibly worthwhile but can be taxing, so we will move at the pace that feels safe and manageable for you. We explore the full scope of your life, as you are more than your traumatic experiences; we focus both on what has happened in the past, and how to live your life now in a way that feels fulfilled, peaceful, and balanced.