Trauma and PTSD therapists in Lyndon, Kentucky KY

I have experience in utilizing psychotherapy, narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and prolonged exposure therapy, PE. PE is for those who are ready to confront their past trauma head on in a safe and controlled environment. My goal is to build a solid, therapeutic rapport first before we deeply process trauma.  

Traumatic experiences can breed feelings of confusion, sadness, anger, and shame. Let's slowly look at the parts of these experiences that often go unspoken and work on being resilient in the face of them.  

An event, that can cause you to fear for your safety or your very life can happen to anyone. When such an event occurs, we are often so stunned by it, that we think “This isn’t supposed to happen to me or to someone I love. This only happens to other people.” There are a variety of ways to experience such a trauma: a car accident, sexual assault, robbery, witnessing an illness or death, domestic violence, being a soldier, being left abruptly by your spouse or parents, and experiencing severe weather catastrophes. Often when this happens, our bodies and minds do predictable things to protect ourselves. These symptoms might seem strange if you have never experienced them before.  

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.  

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.