Trauma, PTSD, and Anxiety Therapy in Phoenix, AZ

Therapy to help you live an integrated and meaningful life again

However you arrived here, I’m so glad you did.

Read on to see if Trauma, PTSD, and anxiety services might be for you.

Traumatic events are terrible to endure, and the neurological adaptations that occur in response to the event or events cause chronic, debilitating symptoms that continue like aftershocks for days, weeks, months, or years … even decades.

If you’ve suffered these adaptations, you might be tempted to view them as an indication of brokenness, but the opposite is true.

These biological changes make you better at spotting threats in your environment. You’re quicker and more efficient at protecting yourself. However, when the threat is no longer present, and the heightened reactivity remains, it’s hard to calm yourself. 

I’ll show you effective techniques for calming the nervous system. Your nervous system has developed pathways in your body that send chronic messages of panic or dissociation. Did you know that you have the power to build new pathways of peace and calm? I’ll help you develop a different relationship with the trauma so even though it happened, it won’t run your life. You will.

My Experience with Trauma, PTSD, and Anxiety Healing

I’ve found that trauma can be one big terrible event, several significant violations, or several small stressful incidents that accumulate and overwhelm the system.

Two people may be involved in the exact same situation, and it can be traumatic for one of the people, but not the other. Trauma is personal. Its impact on a person depends on the past life experiences of the individual impacted by trauma. Additionally, two siblings can grow up in the same household where one sibling experiences trauma and the other doesn’t because children play different roles for their parents. 

My experience has revealed that trauma can occur in response to observing others’ trauma regularly, as in the case of first responders, therapists, child welfare workers, and some medical professionals. This is called secondary traumatic stress. 

After observing others’ pain and trauma so regularly, these professionals may have a shift in their world view. They may come to see the world as a dark and unsafe place. This is called Vicarious Trauma. It’s caused, not just by one event, but by the culmination of many. This shift is world view is preventable, but it requires some awareness and insight. 

I’ve also found that workplace trauma is often caused by something called Sanctuary Trauma, which means that distress was relayed to a boss or person in a position of power. The employee’s suffering was belittled or ignored.

I have over 25 years of professional experience helping people navigate various forms of stress and trauma at the intersection of physical and mental health.

I use various techniques to help you heal your nervous system. I’ll find the right approach for you.

My recent favorites are Poly Vagal Nerve Theory, Compassion-Focused, and Mindfulness-Based.

I’m proficient in several standard modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

In 2002, I got a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Exercise, and Psychology, specializing in the mind and body connection. In 2016, I earned a master’s degree in Social Work, where I focused on the impact of trauma on the neurology of the brain and the way neurological changes drive behavior and perception.