Trauma and PTSD therapists in West Haven, Oregon OR

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.  

Trauma/PTSD lingers. No matter how much one tries to suppress or ignore it, trauma/PTSD will influence relationships, one's reactions to triggers, and more. I join clients on a journey to explore their trauma/PTSD, and I help them navigate how it can exist in their lives without running their lives.  

Trauma and PTSD therapy is evidence-based, short-term psychotherapy designed to help patients process traumatic memories and reduce symptoms like nightmares or hypervigilance. PTSD is not curable like the flu, but it can be managed with coping skills. I use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help clients process their trauma.  

In working with Trauma and PTSD/CPTSD we will explore the challenging aspects of your life that may be obstructing your personal growth and the actualization of your inner powers. I understands that these experiences can trap individuals in patterns of beliefs and behaviors that diminish their capabilities. Working with me on healing from trauma involves: * 
A Safe and Respectful Foundation: Our work begins with a foundation of respect and building trust, focusing on a therapeutic presence that is heart-centered, empathetic, and culturally humble.
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Integrative and Specialized Training: Palma’s academic training specifically includes treatment interventions for trauma. She is also currently pursuing a certification in EMDR and is integrating other modalities which focuse on how the body holds and processes trauma.
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Somatic and Body-Based Practices: If you feel ready for deeper work, she incorporates somatic (felt in the body) practices and nervous system mapping to help you manage the physical activation often associated with PTSD.
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Relational and Attachment Lenses: We will exploring your experiences through the lenses of attachment and human development which will helps us understand how the past trauma(s) are impacting your present relationships and sense of self.
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Flexible Channels of Expression: Because trauma can often be difficult to put into words, I offers various ways to explore and process your experiences, including visualization, writing, movement, sound, and making visual art.
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Untangling the Past from the Present: I works collaboratively with you to untangle the confusion between your external situations and internal experiences, helping you transform or let go of the "luggage from your past".  

Trauma can shape how you relate to yourself, others, and the world long after the event has passed. Therapy offers a steady, collaborative space to explore these effects with care, helping you build safety, awareness, and integration without rushing or re-exposing before you’re ready.  

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.  

Trauma isn’t just what happened to you—it’s what stayed in your body long after. I help clients safely process and integrate traumatic experiences using a relational, grounded approach that respects your pace. Whether you’re living with flashbacks, hypervigilance, or emotional numbness, healing is possible. You don’t have to carry this alone anymore.  

I believe we all have experienced adverse events, significant moments in life and undeniable little and big traumas that have defined how we view the world. My goal in working with clients who have experienced trauma and who are addressing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is to provide a gentle, slow approach to explore and reveal trauma, rewire the body and brain's response to the trauma and reconnect with our family, friends and the world-at-large again feeling safe and secure.  

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.  

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.