Have you experienced something you can’t get out of your head?

Have you witnessed something you wish you could forget, but keeps coming back?

Since I specialize in treatment for PTSD counseling here in the Tri-Cities, I’m highly qualified to treat you, and help you put the past behind you. Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event develops Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but for those who do it can be like you are living in a nightmare: intrusive recurring thoughts and dreams, avoiding anything that reminds you of what happened, living like you’re in “survival mode,” your emotions seem like they’re either in overdrive or completely numb, it can be difficult to feel love even for those close to you and your quality of life diminishes until you feel like a different person. Some people feel as if they are broken, and the way they look at the world itself changes. You don’t need to quality for a PTSD diagnosis in order to have the quality of your life affected, and to get help.

PTSD is one of the chief reasons people seek counseling, in fact it’s more prevalent than you might think. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, about 13 million Americans had PTSD in 2020! My hat is off to anyone who seeks professional mental health services, because it takes courage!

Does PTSD treatment really work?

Yes it does. Many people seek medications to treat PTSD, and are prescribed drugs such as Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine) or Effexor-ER (venlafaxine). These can be helpful but primarily treat the symptoms, not the cause of trauma. Therapy is what can reduce and eliminate trauma permanently. The most recent research shows that trauma-focused therapies have a success rate of about 64% for the civilian population, which is higher than for medications. By “success” I mean clients no longer have PTSD. The therapy I use has a higher success rate, approximately 74%. My personal success rate is over 90%.

I have an advanced certification in one of the most powerful, scientifically-proven and evidence-based therapies in the world for PTSD: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing). Research done over three decades has proven that counseling does work to help someone resolve and heal from their PTSD. The Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense strongly recommend EMDR as a treatment for trauma. Here is a link to a simplified list of recommended treatments based on their 2023 Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Here is an introductory video explaining about EMDR, courtesy of the EMDR International Association:

What does all this mean? It means that I can help you with your PTSD. It means I use the most powerful treatments available for helping you live a healthier, happier life.

Will I have to relive my trauma in order to recover?

This is a very common question, and the short answer is “no, but you will need to think about it.” I can successfully work with you even if you don’t want to talk about it at all, though many folks feel like they want to. Remember, our bodies and our minds want to heal, they simply need a way to do so. This is why thoughts keep coming up:  the brain keeps bringing them up to heal, and the individual keeps suppressing them. My highest priority is to keep you feeling safe and comfortable during our sessions, and we won’t do anything that you aren’t ready to do.

How long will it take?

Treatment length varies from individual to individual, but a good minimum time would be a couple of months. Within a short amount of time you will notice your symptoms decrease, those intense memories start to fade, and you will have a renewed interest in your life again. It really does work, and has helped millions of people like you worldwide. I can start helping you from the very first session.

How do I get started?

I specialize in counseling those with PTSD here in the Tri-Cities. All you need to do is contact me! Head over to my Contact Me page and send me a message. If you prefer you can call my office directly at 509-531-6698. I can answer your questions and set up an initial appointment at your convenience. A good book I recommend to help you understand trauma and what has happened better is Getting Past your Past, by Francine Shapiro, the developer of EMDR.