Trauma & PTSD Therapy
You do not have to stay stuck in what happened. Healing is possible, and it can begin here.
Are past experiences still controlling your present?
Maybe you find yourself on edge all the time, even when there is no obvious threat. Maybe certain sounds, places, or situations send you spiralling into a response that feels impossible to control. Perhaps you avoid certain topics, people, or places because the memories are too painful. Or maybe you just feel numb, disconnected from the people and things you used to care about.
Trauma does not always look the way people expect it to. It is not always about a single dramatic event. It can come from childhood experiences, difficult relationships, the accumulation of stress from major life changes, or events that others might not recognise as traumatic but that deeply affected you.
Whatever your experience, you are not broken. What you are feeling is your mind and body’s response to something that overwhelmed your ability to cope at the time. And with the right support, those responses can change.
Evidence-based treatment that works
I am certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), one of the most researched and effective treatments for PTSD. CPT is a structured, 12-session therapy that helps you examine and challenge the thoughts and beliefs that have kept you stuck since your trauma. It does not require you to relive your experience in graphic detail. Instead, it focuses on the meaning you have made of what happened and helps you develop more balanced, accurate ways of understanding your experience.
CPT is recommended by the American Psychological Association, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense as a frontline treatment for PTSD. Research consistently shows that it reduces PTSD symptoms significantly, often within 12 sessions, and the benefits tend to last long after treatment ends.
Alongside CPT, I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based techniques. Mindfulness helps you stay grounded in the present moment during the work, while CBT provides practical tools for managing the thoughts and behaviours that trauma can disrupt.
Why I specialise in trauma
My professional training in trauma therapy began during my graduate internship at a residential recovery centre for mothers and children, where I worked extensively with individuals who had experienced substance abuse, domestic violence, and childhood trauma. That experience, combined with my CPT certification in 2019, gave me a strong clinical foundation.
But my understanding of trauma goes beyond training. Having lived through significant life transitions myself, including 20 years abroad, multiple international relocations with five children, and career changes that required rebuilding from the ground up, I understand how destabilising life can feel when the ground keeps shifting beneath you. I bring that empathy into every session.
I work with adults and adolescents who have experienced single-incident trauma, complex trauma, childhood abuse, military-related trauma, sexual assault, accidents, natural disasters, and the cumulative impact of ongoing stressful life circumstances.
What to expect from trauma therapy
We start with a thorough assessment to understand your history, your symptoms, and your goals. The first few sessions focus on building trust and teaching you the foundational skills you will need for the deeper work ahead.
If CPT is the right fit, we will follow the structured 12-session protocol. You will learn to identify “stuck points,” which are the thoughts and beliefs about yourself, others, and the world that have been keeping you trapped in your PTSD. Through guided exercises and worksheets, you will learn to challenge those thoughts and develop healthier, more accurate perspectives.
Many clients begin to notice a shift within the first few sessions. By the end of the 12 sessions, most people report significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, including flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness.
Sessions take place at my office in King City, OR, and are also available via telehealth throughout Oregon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are evidence-based treatments for PTSD with strong research support. CPT focuses on changing the thoughts and beliefs connected to your trauma through structured cognitive work. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories. Both are effective. CPT tends to appeal to people who like structured, practical approaches with clear homework and exercises.
CPT can be delivered with or without a detailed written trauma account. We will discuss which approach is right for you. Either way, the focus is on the meaning you have made of the experience, not on reliving it in graphic detail.
The CPT protocol is typically 12 sessions. Some people benefit from additional sessions before or after the structured protocol to address related concerns. We will work together to determine what you need.
Yes. Trauma often coexists with anxiety and depression. As the trauma symptoms improve, many people find that their anxiety and depression also decrease significantly.