My Approach
Trauma Recovery
Trauma is in the eye of the beholder, and is defined by how we experience an event as much as what actually occurred. A traumatic event is an experience that compromises one's core sense of safety. People may develop any number or persistent difficulties following a traumatic experience, including but not limited to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
I know that people can heal from trauma because I've seen it. I can't guarantee what the outcome of your personal journey will be, but I'll take the journey with you. I lean heavily on my extensive training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help people achieve post-traumatic growth, but recovery is not a one size fits all. My approach to trauma recovery is intuitive and flexible based on your individual strengths and needs. My work is informed by my training in modalities including Ego State Therapy (EST) and Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Clinical Hypnosis, Psychodrama, and other expressive and somatic therapies.
Emotional and Relationship Skill Building
I believe it is human nature to do the best we can with the knowledge, resources, and insights we have at any given time. Most of us have made choices in the past that would be different if we found ourselves in the same situation today. I will listen and learn from you, and offer respectful challenges and alternative approaches to support you in becoming more effective in handling both what arises from within you, and what arises in your environment. My coping skills work is informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Polyvagal Theory, Attachment Theory, and Somatic Experiencing, among others.
Military, Immigrant, and Other Subcultures
I don't consider myself an expert on anybody but myself, and even that's questionable some of the time. I've lived in several different parts of the U.S. and Brazil, in urban, suburban, and rural settings, in upper middle class and impoverished neighborhoods. I was once fluent in Portuguese and Spanish - not so fluent anymore. I've worked extensively with active duty military personnel, veterans and their families, and with immigrants from Latin America, both documented and undocumented. I try to keep myself educated about cultural norms, shifts, strengths, and needs. Mostly, I'm interested in learning about you from you.
Addiction Recovery (Chemical and Behavioral Addictions)
I started my counseling career working in the addiction field, and quickly realized I needed to learn more about trauma. Where there is addiction, there is likely some degree of trauma. While I do have specialized training and experience in assessing and treating chemical and behavioral addictions, the bulk of my approach is summed up by the three categories above.
