How do you work with clients with trauma and PTSD?

Our brains and bodies are so in tune that anything can be perceived as traumatic even when we logical may not think it is, I thoroughly enjoy helping clients heal past trauma. I am trained in EMDR.

Welcome, it is my pleasure to walk alongside you on this journey. I understand that finding the right therapist may be a daunting and difficult task, feel free to contact me for a free consultation. I too am a daughter of immigrants, wife, mother, sister and friend. I look forward to working with you.

When you don’t process trauma your feelings come out in subtle ways that you probably won’t even realize probably until much later down the line. Also, a common misconception is trauma  doesn’t have to be a huge catastrophic event it can be a break up or losing your job and one persons trauma is just as valid as the next persons. 

I believe that you are the expert in your own life and and the modalities I use are geared in empowering you as the client. I utilize solution focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy as well as a person centered approach in my sessions. I understand how it can be hard to open up sometimes, I meet you where you are and go at the pace you feel comfortable as it pertains to exploring what is going on in your life. I have a deep passion for helping others, allow me to join you on your journey of healing and self discovery.

I am trained in EMDR, a powerful technique that uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain speed up the process of healing from traumatic memories and experiences. Symptoms of trauma can be so burdensome and problematic in people's lives and it can be exhausting dealing with these symptoms day in and out. I have seen EMDR work well as an effective and efficient technique to help people just feel better and be able to freely live their lives again.

Hi! I'm Nic Dahlberg (he/him) and I am a LMHC in the state of Washington. I provide therapy services as a contractor for Seagate Psychological Services. How are you? Because in a world where unprecedented events are happening on the daily, it's likely you're feeling a teensy bit (or a lot a bit) overwhelmed, out of control and lost. I help people deal with all sorts of mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma, oppression related stressors and identity issues. In therapy, I strive to create a casual, warm atmosphere where you'll feel comfortable sharing your honest answer to "so, how's life?" We'll dig deep into the heavy stuff and the challenges you face with the seriousness they deserve while also incorporating a bit of joy and humor along the way. I practice ACT and EMDR as my primary modalities.

Working with trauma and PTSD is my specialty. I move away from traditional talk therapy and work with my clients from a bottom-up, embodied approach. I utilize Somatic therapies, parts work, and attachment repatterning to address both the nervous system and the attachment system. Both systems typically are negatively impacted by trauma. By bringing in a focus on the therapeutic relationship and opening awareness to what is happening in the body (sensations, emotions, impulses, images, thoughts), we are able to target the stuck points that keep people in their trauma vortex all while staying within one's window of tolerance. This is a gentle approach that allows my clients to move through their trauma experiences without reexperiencing distressing memories that can be debilitating.

Ilsa is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-S, LPC-A), Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), Certified First Responder Counselor (CFRC), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCPT-II), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Board-Approved Supervisor. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University and is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing (SE) and Relational Bodywork and Somatic Education (BASE), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dynamic Attachment Repatterning experience (DARe), Brainspotting, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Gottman Method Couples Therapy. Ilsa is also a Certified Animal-Assisted Play Therapist, Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional and Certified SYMBIS Facilitator. In addition, Ilsa is a member of Somatic Experiencing International and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). Ilsa is a trauma-informed counselor with extensive experience working with individuals, couples, and First Responders presenting with anxiety, depression, sexual trauma, childhood trauma/attachment issues, complex trauma, PTSD/C-PTSD, and relationship conflicts. Ilsa works in collaboration with her clients, creating a safe space, towards desired goals. She believes that all individuals have within themselves the capacity for growth. She provides a holistic integrative approach, tailored to the client’s unique needs, that promotes wellness and facilitates healing through somatic and attachment-based work. Clients move from chaos towards a sense of agency & internal safety. Providing an environment of acceptance, warmth, and understanding, Ilsa supports and empowers clients to build on their strengths and attain the growth needed to address challenges and experience a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

I completed a training that is known to make a big difference for trauma survivors, this technique is called EMDR. I continue to learn how powerful reprocessing difficult memories it by witnessing the changes that happen in my clients.

Having over 20 years of experience, I specialize in guiding and supporting individuals as they navigate complex relationship issues. Many are family members who have loved ones that struggle with addiction. I help people resolve unhealed emotions and break patterns they’ve been stuck in so they can grow in setting limits, building confidence, and feeling better.

Trauma can be a stressful part of life and sometimes additional resources such as therapy are need it to overcome it. Therapy shows how to develop resilience and improve coping mechanisms which promote a happier life.

Change is often difficult, so my role is to work alongside each person as they navigate through challenges on the way to the life they want for themselves and their loved ones. Each has within them the tools necessary to learn and grow toward a brighter future both personally and in relationships, and it is my privilege to help discover unknown potential and paths forward.  

I am a trauma expert and highly trained in many evidence-based therapies including EMDR, TF-CBT, Mindfulness. You are not your trauma. And you have everything you need to heal.

You have been through so much and come so far! What keeps holding you back from experiencing all of the joy and calm you are seeking? There are protective parts of self that surface to move us through times of trauma and loss, social discord and injustice, economic and environmental crisis, and separation and isolation in our relationships...and these extremely valid coping responses might be contributing to more pain and keeping you from a full, authentic connection to all of your world. Awareness is a big step, yet also needs momentum and action to actualize and heal. Take your journey further. The time is now.

Trauma can be very difficult to move past. Often it get stuck, not only in our memories and emotions, but also in the body. There can be times when a person has a physiological reaction, such as a panic attack, that seemingly comes out of nowhere. This can leave a person feeling helpless and powerless to control their circumstances. These symptoms can interfere for normal functioning or relationships. This is why it's important to face traumatic events and learn about how trauma affects not only the mind (memories, emotions and thoughts), but also the body. Dealing with trauma can feel like a daunting task. I don't treat this issue lightly. I don't force clients to dive into their trauma when they're not ready. Rather, I educate my clients about what trauma is, how it affects someone, why it causes people to suffer in the way that it does and what they can do about it. Then, once you've developed some coping skills to manage the distressing feelings and reactions, you will feel more confident processing the traumatic memories in an appropriate way.

I work with adult survivors of early childhood trauma. I also work with people who suffer from generalized anxiety such as over-thinking and inability to control worry. Lastly I help people who are dealing with mild to moderate depression and have experienced grief and loss, low self-esteem, or lack of motivation.

In therapy, I help you understand and deal with the effects of trauma. It’s normal to want to avoid painful memories, but hiding them only makes things harder. We’ll work together to face these feelings, heal from the past, improve your relationships, and help you get back to enjoying life.

I am on a continual search for understanding what it truly means to be human.​ I believe that each of us carries an inner wisdom that guides us toward growth and authenticity. In a world full of distractions and external pressures, it’s easy to lose touch with that voice. In our work together, I’ll help you reconnect with yourself, uncover what really matters to you, and make choices that reflect your values and needs.

When working with individuals who have experienced trauma, I prioritize creating a safe, compassionate space where healing can unfold at your pace. I use a trauma-informed approach that focuses on helping you process past experiences without becoming overwhelmed, incorporating body-centered and mindfulness-based practices. We’ll also work together to build skills that empower you to navigate the present with more resilience and calm. Please visit joshflowerscounseling.com/trauma-recovery for more specifics on how I use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) specifically in working with PTSD.

We all have the potential to create meaningful lives amidst joy and pain. I aim to help you embrace life's possibilities and discover new paths toward wholeness. I offer a safe, compassionate space to help you gain new insights and reconnect with forgotten or blocked parts of yourself. With 18 years of experience in mindfulness, existential, transpersonal, and somatic approaches, I've provided counseling in diverse settings, including wilderness therapy, drug and alcohol programs, homeless veterans programs, and community mental health. Since 2015, I've specialized in trauma-focused therapy in my private practice.