Online Trauma and PTSD therapists in The Dalles, Oregon OR

Trauma is relative to the individual. Many clients come in not even realizing that what they’re experiencing is connected to earlier wounding—and that awareness alone can be a powerful starting point. I work with both what is often referred to as “little t” trauma—ongoing relational wounding—and “Big T” trauma, such as abuse, neglect, loss, or other significant life events. Whether these experiences are obvious or more subtle, they can shape how you see yourself, relate to others, and respond to stress. Many of the challenges clients face—such as difficulty setting boundaries, emotional overwhelm, or feeling stuck in patterns that don’t seem to change—are often rooted in these earlier experiences. Our work focuses on helping you understand these patterns with greater clarity while also developing the ability to regulate your nervous system. I incorporate both insight-based and somatic approaches to support you in creating new, more grounded and adaptive ways of responding. The goal is not just to cope—but to move toward a greater sense of freedom, stability, and self-trust.  

Trauma can leave lasting effects on the body, emotions, and sense of safety. I am Trauma-Informed, which means I focus on gently processing difficult experiences while building tools for regulation and resilience.  

My understanding of trauma has shifted along with international research on why some events create lasting challenging effects for some people but not for others. Our collective awareness has gone from thinking, “What's wrong with you?” to asking, “What happened to you?” and now focusing on, “Who was there for you?” A simple retelling of a traumatic experience does not always deeply heal the one who suffers. While it can feel good to be truly heard, especially for those who have never told it before and need real empathy, repeatedly telling the story does not often change the subconscious beliefs implanted during the trauma or the nervous system’s reactivity. Instead, we build a new relationship with a traumatic experience by re-approaching the memory and inviting a shift. Often the shift is around “Who could have been there for you.” While in factual reality, no one may have stopped the trauma, we can access another perspective that enables our bodies, hearts, and minds to feel supported. We can do this many ways: through role play, through calling in ancestors or pop stars or our highest selves, or by letting our wise adult-self take over the situation. Or we may use drawing materials or nature to discover a new part of the experience we didn’t realize before. I've taken many trainings in the origins and effects of trauma and PTSD, and I find working with the nervous system and imaginal realm (creative liminal space) highly effective. I'm not a licensed mental health therapist; I'm a spiritual life coach, so my work is integrative. I offer: calm spaciousness & empathy as you talk, embodied processing options (drawing, clay work, self soothing), and inner parts work (mediated inner dialogue or a “committee of voices,” similar to Soulwork or Internal Family Systems). Then we make a plan to implement the new shift into everyday life.  

I primarily use IFS to help treat trauma and PTSD.  

Trauma and PTSD can leave lasting effects on your emotions, relationships, and sense of safety. I help clients explore the impact of these experiences through a trauma-informed, parts-based approach, honoring the ways your system has adapted to survive. Together, we work toward healing, regulation, and reclaiming a sense of safety, self-trust, and empowerment in your life.  

Every year, more than 8 million people in the United States struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) along with another 350 million people worldwide. PTSD can occur in people who have experienced or even witnessed a severe trauma, and it affects areas of the brain connected to managing difficult emotions, especially fear and anxiety. PTSD can create intense physical, emotional, and mental distress, and if left untreated, it can lead to long-term psychological and physiological damage. Thankfully, energy psychology – specifically acupoint tapping -- can help! More Potent Than Other Therapies Tapping on acupuncture points while bringing the memory of a traumatic event to mind sends signals to emotional centers of the brain, specifically the amygdala and other areas of the limbic system. This can counter the body's threat response. Acupoint tapping has been shown to reduce: Exaggerated responses to triggers Hyperarousal in the limbic system Insomnia Elevated levels of cortisol and other stress hormones Impaired immune functioning Distortions in learning and memory, and Imbalances between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity The 7 Advantages of Acupoint Tapping in the Treatment of PTSD Advantage #1: Fewer Treatment Sessions Cognitive-behavioral therapies are the treatment of choice in most conventional mental health settings. They average between 12 and 16 sessions for treating PTSD. Nonetheless, up to two-thirds of those completing the treatment still carry the PTSD diagnosis after treatment. Meanwhile, a study of the use of EFT for treating PTSD in a public health facility in Scotland authorized patients to receive up to 8 treatment sessions. Voluntary termination of treatment occurred, however, after an average of 3.8 sessions, with strong positive outcomes on post-treatment measures. A landmark study by Dawson Church and colleagues found that 86% of 49 war veterans no longer scored in the PTSD range after 6 hour-long EFT sessions. The study has been replicated with similar outcomes. Advantage #2: Lasting Results Studies reporting treatment effects for the use of acupoint tapping and energy psychology in PTSD typically show significant overall reductions in symptoms and their impact, and these improvements tended to stand the test of time. Advantage #3: Low Risk of Negative Side-Effects Existing evidence strongly suggests that energy psychology and acupoint tapping can be safely used to treat PTSD. Advantage #4: Minimal Training Needed A seasoned clinician can learn and begin applying a basic tapping protocol very quickly. Even people who don’t have extensive mental health backgrounds can be effective with the method as long as they understand the boundaries of their scope of service. For instance, several studies used life coaches rather than licensed mental health professionals to use tapping sessions in the treatment of PTSD and found they were nearly as effective. Advantage #5: Effective for Groups Unlike many psychotherapy methods that require one-on-one sessions, acupoint tapping can be highly effective when delivered to groups. This makes it suitable for combat battalions returning from deployment, refugees living in camps, caregivers returning from humanitarian missions, and children in classrooms. Advantage #6: Improves Quality of Life and Reduces Medical Costs When PTSD is not successfully treated, it produces adverse changes in the brain, and the impact extends beyond the patient and their family. If symptoms persist, the data shows increased lifetime hospitalization, disease burden, and medical costs. By helping people overcome PTSD, acupoint tapping positively impacts their quality of life and society's medical costs. Advantage #7: In-Person Sessions Not Required A study focused on the effects of EFT delivered by phone versus in-office sessions showed that just 6 phone treatment sessions could effectively alleviate clinical PTSD symptoms in 67% of patients. In another study, 26 women diagnosed with fibromyalgia showed significant improvement in symptoms such as pain, anxiety, depression, vitality, social function, activity level, and performance problems following their participation in an online EFT treatment program. This makes it possible to utilize electronic media to offer acupoint tapping treatments to underserved populations or others who cannot access conventional in-person therapy, such as military personnel in combat zones and those living in rural areas. For millions of people with PTSD, energy psychology -- specifically acupoint tapping -- offers much-needed hope and relief. As discussed in this article, acupoint tapping can help large numbers of people relatively quickly. It is a powerful intervention that is proving to be an effective antidote to living with the pain of PTSD. As a survivor myself, I've spent a lifetime studying the effects of trauma on the body and the brain. I specialize in helping people understand the ways trauma impacts their lives, their relationships and their emotional and behavioral experiences. Trauma takes place as a singular event or many events that overwhelm a person's ability to cope. Unresolved trauma is complicated and it causes many in-the-present life problems. This is confusing because we often have no idea why we are getting upset about something, feel certain ways or have unexplainable anger. Whether it be to heal with the impact of discrete traumatic events or complex interpersonal trauma, I use a combination of techniques from Energy Psychology such as Emotional Freedom Technique (or Tapping, as most people know it), Tapas Acupressure Technique, RIM Hypnotherapy, EMDR, Cognitive-Behavioral techniques, DBT, grounding and centering techniques and Shamanic soul retrieval to help you build safety and seIf worth. I teach emotion regulation skills and we use the therapeutic relationship itself so that you can feel more grounded and secure in connection with yourself and others.  

I follow the work of the leaders in Trauma and PTSD, like Bessel Van der Kolk and Gabor Mate, and feel that this is some of the most important work in my field. I help many clients with their process through and sometimes even out of this type of conflict.  

I have several years of experience with trauma and assaults, PTSD. I am able to assist in the process, to create a safe place and teach relaxation techniques and move to a place of being a survivor.  

I specifically focus on people with religious trauma. You might not have thought about your trauma as religious. But did you have a tough time growing up in a strict church environment? So did I. Maybe you didn't even realize the effect it had on you until much later in life. I use Internal Family Systems therapy, which is an approach used specifically for trauma. However, it is not a PTSD approach. If you suffer from severe PTSD symptoms, I'm probably not the right fit for you. If you're not sure, schedule a free consultation. I can provide you with referrals to PTSD specialists if we decide that's appropriate.  

As a trauma specialist, I provide a trauma-informed, relational space that honors both the emotional and physiological impact of trauma. Together, we attend to attachment wounds, defensive patterns, and body-based responses to foster integration, safety, and resilience.  

I provide compassionate, trauma-informed care for individuals who have experienced emotional, physical, or psychological trauma, including those living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). My collaborative, evidence-based approach prioritizes safety, trust, and pacing care in a way that feels manageable for each individual. Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms such as hypervigilance, intrusive memories, anxiety, mood instability, and emotional distress while supporting clients in rebuilding a sense of safety and control. When appropriate, I integrate medication management with supportive therapy and coping strategies to promote healing, resilience, and long-term emotional recovery.  

I am a certified Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) practitioner, offering sessions in person or online. TRE can be a great adjunct to other therapies or a primary modality for addressing shock trauma, chronic stress, and compassion fatigue. TRE® accesses the body's inherent mechanism of shaking or vibrating to discharge long held stress and activation. Since we work directly with the nervous system, it is possible to experience relief from symptoms without ever talking about the source of trauma or stress. And once you learn how to self-regulate the technique, you can access it on your own as an ongoing self-care practice, enjoying increased benefits over time without the cost of ongoing appointments. Questions? Curious if TRE is right for you? Contact me today for your FREE consultation.  

Complex trauma and CPTSD stem from more than just events in our adult years. These are usually foundational from early developmental trauma and childhood trauma, and can be worked with and healed at any age. Trauma is not only what happened to you. It is also how those experiences continue to live within the body and nervous system long after events have passed. Using a gentle, body-centered approach, we'll work at a pace that feels safe - restoring connection, resilience, and the freedom to live more fully in the present. Therapy helps restore safety, connection, and the capacity to move forward without remaining organized around survival. You will learn how to reparent the little ones inside and have an easier relationship with yourself and your body.  

Trauma can affect the way people experience emotions, relationships, safety, identity, and the world around them long after traumatic events have ended. Individuals struggling with trauma or PTSD may experience anxiety, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, intrusive memories, shame, irritability, relationship difficulties, avoidance, or a persistent sense of emotional disconnection or instability. I provide trauma-informed therapy that is compassionate, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based psychological treatment. My approach focuses on helping clients process painful experiences safely and thoughtfully while building emotional regulation skills, increasing self-understanding, strengthening relationships, and reducing the long-term impact trauma can have on daily functioning and emotional wellbeing.  

When the Past Still Feels Present You may know, logically, that a painful experience is behind you — yet your body and mind don’t always agree. A sound, a tone of voice, or even a smell can suddenly bring back the rush of fear, shame, or helplessness. Trauma can make you feel like you’re living in survival mode, constantly alert, exhausted, or detached from yourself and others. Healing from trauma isn’t about “getting over it.” It’s about helping your brain and body learn that you are safe again. In therapy, we’ll use a structured, evidence-based approach called TEAM-CBT combined with the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) to calm your nervous system, rebuild trust in your body, and process painful memories at a pace that feels safe. Together, we’ll: Understand how trauma reshapes the brain and body’s threat response Learn grounding tools to bring the body back to the present moment Release shame, guilt, and self-blame that often follow trauma Rebuild a sense of safety, strength, and connection in your daily life Transform survival skills into sources of resilience and wisdom Our work focuses on restoring balance — helping you feel more in control, more connected, and more alive. Healing happens not by reliving the past, but by reclaiming your power in the present. I BELIEVE: Trauma changes how we survive, not who we are. Safety and connection are the foundation of healing. Your symptoms are not weakness — they’re evidence of strength and adaptation. You can feel safe in your body again. Compassion, not confrontation, is what restores the nervous system. Also Integrated In Our Work: • Interpersonal Work – to strengthen connection and empower you to be yourself using The 5 Secrets of Effective Communication • Mindful Self-Compassion – to cultivate a gentler, kinder inner voice through the work of Dr. Kristin Neff  

Your system learned to survive: hyper-vigilance, startle, shutdown, fawn, scanning rooms, losing your words under pressure, anything that would keep you safe. Then you notice the shame that crept off after. You might have family-of-origin wounds (emotionally immature parents), medical or relationship trauma, or years of criticism that trained your body to stay on alert. First, we build safety with a warm, honest, trauma-informed relationship and somatic regulation so your body has more than fight/flight/freeze/fawn. Then we use IFS parts work to understand the protector roles (perfectionist, numbing, over-functioner) and reassign them with compassion. When appropriate, we may use gentle memory reconsolidation methods (e.g., FLASH) to help your brain update old threat responses with less distress. Aim: fewer spirals, sturdier boundaries, and feeling like your life belongs to you again.  

Trauma can impact the way you think, feel, relate to others, and experience the world around you. Whether your experiences involve a single traumatic event or the cumulative impact of difficult life experiences, healing is possible. Using trauma-informed approaches, including EMDR, I help clients process unresolved experiences, reduce distress, and move toward a greater sense of safety, connection, and resilience.  

Trauma and PTSD usually go hand in hand. Negative emotionally charged experiences may be remain unresolved from early childhood or experienced as adults in extreme stress filled experiences such as combat, domestic violence or other traumatic situations. Unresolved trauma gets stored in the body, many times creating somatic/physical disorders if not treated. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) is a world wide treatment modality that searches for the somatic bridges that connect these traumas.  

The way that a person has learned to protect themself self from a traumatic event develops into a part of their character in adult life. I am trained to help you understand all of your parts and show you that the scary experience is over. I will help you truly feel that you got through it and you can protect yourself if you need to!  

Trauma can impact how you think, feel, and respond long after the original experience. We provide a structured, supportive approach that helps clients process experiences safely, reduce reactivity, and regain a sense of stability and control.