Trauma and PTSD therapists in Portland, OR

Trauma can continue to affect how you think, feel, and relate to others long after the event has passed. Whether you've experienced a single traumatic event or ongoing adversity, healing is possible. I integrate evidence-based approaches, including EMDR when appropriate, to help clients process difficult experiences and move toward greater peace, resilience, and connection.  

I work with adults who have experienced trauma and are coping with its lasting emotional and psychological effects. Therapy may address PTSD symptoms, anxiety, depression, intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance, emotional distress, dissociation, and difficulties with trust or relationships. Together, we work to develop greater safety and stability, strengthen coping and grounding skills, process traumatic experiences when appropriate, and support recovery and renewed well-being.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

Working with trauma and PTSD symptoms requires patience, compassion, courage and intention. The results are well-worth the effort, and having the support of a trained professional is imperative to this type of work. You have made it this far and I congratulate you. Please contact me for a free consultation session, to see if we are a good fit to address trauma you have experienced.  

I am trauma informed in my treatment. I have worked with many clients with PTSD and complex trauma over the last 14 years, with excellent results. I use trauma-informed techniques such as TFCBT, DBT, desensitization, guided meditation, muscle relaxation, IFS, bilateral stimulation, hypnosis techniques and somatic therapy.  

I use a variety of approaches to help people heal from trauma. We will explore the options together and develop a plan that feels safe.  

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.  

Unresolved trauma can live in the body long after the danger has passed--in numbness, hypervigilance, emotional flashbacks and chronic dysregulation. I specialize in helping survivors of trauma take care of their nervous systems and create more safety in their lives so they can begin to come home to themselves.  

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 can show up in many ways, including anxiety, emotional reactivity, numbness, intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, or feeling stuck in patterns that don’t make sense. These responses are often rooted in how the nervous system has adapted to overwhelming or unsafe experiences. I provide trauma-informed therapy to help you understand both the emotional and physiological impact of trauma. Together, we’ll explore what’s happening beneath your symptoms, including how past experiences continue to shape your present-day reactions and sense of safety. The focus is on supporting nervous system regulation, processing underlying experiences at a pace that feels safe, and helping you rebuild a greater sense of stability, connection, and control in your life.