Online Trauma and PTSD therapists in Sandy, Utah UT

Trauma can leave the body and mind stuck in a state of constant survival, making the present moment feel unsafe. I use a trauma-informed approach to help you gently reconnect with your sense of agency and calm your nervous system. Together, we will work at a pace that respects your boundaries, moving through the past so that it no longer dictates your future.  

As a psychologist working with trauma, I utilize evidence-based treatments to help clients process and heal from their experiences. I often use Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to assist clients in addressing and reframing the negative thought patterns and emotional responses associated with their trauma. This approach helps them develop coping strategies and gradually face and work through their traumatic memories. Additionally, I incorporate Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to facilitate the processing of distressing memories and reduce their emotional charge. My approach is empathetic and client-centered, ensuring that each individual feels supported and empowered throughout their recovery journey. By applying these evidence-based treatments, I aim to help clients regain a sense of safety and control, ultimately guiding them towards healing and resilience.  

Trauma can haunt you for years and dictate how you should live your life. I focus on the impact of trauma which can result in PTSD, C-PTSD anxiety, depression, relationship problems, insecurity, and overthinking. I approach therapy from a trauma- informed lens with a light-hearted, genuine, and non-judgmental attitude. I provide a safe space for you to share that thing/event/story that is hard to talk about.  

When the past continues to intrude on your present through flashbacks, nightmares, or constant hyper-vigilance, it can feel like you are never truly safe. Utilizing evidence-based approaches like EMDR, I help you process "stuck" memories so they no longer hold the power to overwhelm your daily life. We will work to move your system out of survival mode and into a state of true healing and resilience.  

Dr. Houben has extensive advanced training in complex trauma.  

Are you feeling anxious, overwhelmed and unable to cope with daily demands? Do you have unresolved trauma from past experiences which make it difficult to function? Utilizing a Cognitive Behavior (CBT) approach, we will help develop new ways to respond to your past and help you take charge of your life.  

The word trauma is often used only for the "Hollywood" version. Your brain responds with traumatic patterns of thought and behavior to many things it cannot understand and solve in the moment. If you think I am not good enough, I am not valued, I am a failure, it's not safe to feel, it's not safe to be me...all of those messages and more are a part of traumatic response. There are techniques that help reprocess those messages and lead to internal peace. "I am" is a powerful thought process that comes from post traumatic growth. That work is something we can do together.  

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.  

Trauma doesn't just stay in the past; it lives in your present-day nervous system, keeping you hypervigilant, reactive, and emotionally exhausted. Even if you completely understand the history behind your symptoms, your body may still feel trapped in survival mode, leading to sudden outbursts of anger, deep self-criticism, or relationship strain. Using evidence-based trauma therapy and EMDR, we go beyond traditional talk therapy to actively process how your body stores stress. You can clear these deep-seated blocks, find physical relief, and safely step into a life defined by emotional safety.  

I am trained in EMDR and have worked in a trauma therapy office for 2 years. This background allows me to facilitate deep healing by helping your brain and body process distressing memories that feel 'stuck.' I combine this clinical expertise with a steady, compassionate presence to ensure you feel safely supported as you transition from simply surviving to truly thriving.  

When the foundation of trust shaken (if not feeling broken) through experiences of trauma, the approach to restoring one's life must always be one of sensitivity, patience, and compassion. Without this, there will always be a risk that it will never feel safe enough to heal.  

Traumatic events, big and small change feelings of safety and power as well as responsibility and self worth. Often times with PTSD, we are taking on too much responsibility for past events, which are crippling the ability to move forward and be present. Through a combination of Modalities are minds are able to clear the negative beliefs and rewire the brain to help install adaptive truth about ourselves (that our own system already possesses!) and empower us to heal and move forward in new ways, with self trust and tools to identify triggers as trailheads for healing. This is very overlooked state, effecting many Individuals, manifesting as anxiety, lack of attention, difficulty sleeping, adrenal fatigue, somatic symptoms of all kinds and chronic illnesses. When we address these through well researched modalities, we are able to clear past trauma and trust ourselves and live again in self-lead energy!  

Trauma and PTSD can leave lasting effects on your sense of safety, emotions, and relationships. I work with individuals to gently process traumatic experiences, reduce distressing symptoms, and regain a sense of control and stability. Therapy offers a trauma-informed, supportive space to build coping skills, foster healing, and move forward with greater resilience.  

Are you tired of reliving the same old script of past traumatic experiences? I'm here to help you kick trauma's butt and help you find your fierce again (i.e., reclaim your power). Together, we'll craft personalized strategies to reclaim your peace, banish those haunting memories, and arm you with superhero coping skills. Let's show trauma who's boss and pave the way for your badass comeback!  

Traumatic experiences can leave lasting emotional and physiological effects. In therapy, I provide a safe and structured environment for processing these experiences at a pace that feels manageable. We work to reduce the impact of traumatic memories while strengthening coping and resilience. Healing involves reconnecting with a sense of safety, stability, and personal empowerment.  

Healing from trauma involves more than managing symptoms—it means helping your mind and body feel safe again. Using trauma-focused therapy, EMDR, IFS, and attachment-based approaches, we work to process painful experiences and restore a sense of stability.  

Trauma can stay with you long after the event is over — showing up as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, or a constant sense of being on edge. Many of my clients feel stuck in survival mode, unable to relax or trust that they are safe, even when life looks stable on the outside. In therapy, I provide a steady, compassionate space to process what you’ve been through, make sense of how it still affects you, and begin to release its grip. Over time, you can feel more grounded in your body, calmer in your mind, and more free to live fully in the present rather than being pulled back into the past.  

I specialize in the assessment and treatment of PTSD and cPTSD. As mentioned elsewhere here, I utilize a multifaceted approach that is customized to the needs of each individual person I work with. When suitable, and with sufficient preparation, I emphasize EMDR as my treatment approach of choice.  

Within the last 15 years, the concept of trauma has evolved to the extent that most people have a working understanding of this problem. My approach is to help people not only cope with the effects of trauma, but to also find relief through resolving the problem through improving self concept, adjusting cognitive perspectives, and revamping their emotional regulation process.  

I support clients experiencing trauma and PTSD by providing a safe, empathetic, and nonjudgmental space where they can process their experiences at their own pace. I help clients understand the effects of trauma on the mind and body, including symptoms such as hyperarousal, intrusive memories, avoidance, and negative beliefs about self or others. I use evidence-based interventions, such as trauma-focused CBT, IFS, and grounding techniques, to help clients process traumatic memories, reduce distress, and develop healthy coping strategies. I also teach skills for emotion regulation, mindfulness, and safety planning to manage triggers and anxiety. Throughout therapy, I provide validation, support, and empowerment, helping clients rebuild a sense of control, safety, and resilience while working toward healing and post-traumatic growth.