Trauma Therapist in Asheville, NC
Break free from the past
Hi, my name is Selina, and I’m a trauma therapist in Asheville, NC.
When you’ve gone through a trauma—whether it’s a one-time event or a chronic series of traumatic experiences—you may feel like you’re living life on hard mode. You’re worn down by the weight of what happened to you, fearful of when the other shoe might drop, and finding it difficult to feel comfortable in your own skin because of it.
Because of your trauma, you might find yourself fighting with or withdrawing from family, friends, or significant others. You want closeness so badly, but the fear of letting others in after what happened can feel overwhelming and even insurmountable. You might also feel out of control and so confused about how to just make it stop. The guilt keeps stacking up, your days might all feel the same, and at some point, you might just feel like you need to escape it all.
Despite knowing logically that the past is past, it seems like you can’t get your body to understand that you’re safe now—that the worst is behind you. You might even be feeling like you’re fractured—like there are so many parts of you that it’s hard to keep track of who you are and how you feel on a day-to-day basis.
As a trauma therapist, I help people learn how to safely integrate their past experiences into their current understanding of themselves and their lives.
I love helping my clients find ways of breaking free from the negative beliefs their trauma instilled within them, allowing them to feel more comfortable in their homes, communities, relationships, and in their own brains and bodies.
If you’re ready to start feeling better, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with me today.
My approach to trauma therapy
Trauma can have far-reaching and deep effects on our lives, making it hard to feel safe and whole. My approach to treating trauma is a blend of evidence-based therapies to help you heal, integrate your experiences, understand yourself on a deeper level, and regain a sense of control over your life. I use methods like Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), somatic regulation strategies, and executive functioning coaching.
Integrating the Past through IFS & EMDR
Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are two types of trauma therapy that I use to help my clients process and integrate past traumatic experiences.
IFS helps folks understand and connect with different parts of themselves. To make sense of this therapy, it helps to think of each of us as having many different “parts”, like a family. For example, one part of you might feel hopeful about therapy, while another part may feel apprehensive. Some parts might feel especially scared, distrustful, or angry because of past trauma. In IFS, we help you identify and connect with the different parts of yourself, and help those parts feel safe and understood. This way, you can begin to heal from within.
Often used side-by-side with IFS is a type of trauma therapy called EMDR. EMDR uses eye movement or other rhythmic movements to help your brain process traumatic memories. It might sound a bit unusual, but research shows that EMDR can be a very effective way of helping our brains keep “one foot in the past and one foot in the present,” which is essential when processing traumatic memories that tend to “pull” you back into the past. During a session, you focus on a troubling memory while moving your eyes back and forth, tapping back and forth on your knees, or listening to audio that plays a noise in one ear at a time. This helps your brain work through the trauma, making it feel less painful over time.
Helping the Body Feel Safe with Somatic Regulation Strategies
Trauma affects not only your mind but also your body. Somatic regulation strategies are body-based techniques that help you manage the physical symptoms of trauma, such as tension, anxiety, and feeling constantly on edge or like you’re always looking over your shoulder (known as hypervigilance).
We use techniques like guided mindfulness and breathwork to help you calm your body and mind. Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. It can help you feel more grounded and less overwhelmed by your thoughts and emotions.
Breathwork is a practice where we use specific breathing techniques to help regulate your nervous system. By learning how to control your breath, you can reduce stress and feel more relaxed. These techniques can be very helpful when you feel triggered or anxious.
At the end of the day, the type of therapy we use to help you process and integrate your traumatic experiences should be based on what you want and need. For some, a blend of several types of therapies helps most, and for others, sticking to one specific type of trauma therapy is a more effective way of relieving trauma symptoms and unburdening the body and mind.
To learn more about trauma therapy and to get started with your healing process, schedule your free consultation with me today.
Trauma Therapy FAQs
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Trauma is a strong emotional and sometimes even physical response to a distressing or disturbing event. It can be caused by things like accidents, natural disasters, abuse or neglect, or witnessing violence. Trauma can be a one-time event, or something that you experience multiple times over a long period of time. Trauma can affect how you feel, think, and act, sometimes making it hard to live a normal life.
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You might have trauma if you often feel anxious, sad, or angry, especially after a difficult event. Other signs include having bad memories or nightmares about what happened to you, avoiding things that remind you of the event, or feeling jumpy or on edge. You may end up having more difficulty in your relationships—perhaps isolating yourself and keeping others at a distance, assuming the worst of their intentions, or even sabotaging a good relationship. If these feelings or behaviors last for a long time and make it hard to do everyday activities, you might have trauma. Talking with a trauma therapist is a good way to help determine whether you’ve experienced trauma, and they can also help you figure out what some good next steps are for treating the effects of trauma in your life.
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Trauma treatment usually involves talking with a therapist to help you process and understand your feelings. Different methods can be used, such as EMDR, IFS, somatic therapies, and trauma-informed cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The goal is to help you feel safer in your body and mind, help you manage your symptoms, and start to heal from your past experiences.
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EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It's a type of therapy that helps you process traumatic memories by moving your eyes back and forth while thinking about the trauma. Some EMDR therapists use back and forth “tapping” or back and forth audio rather than eye movements. This therapy can often help reduce the emotional impact of painful memories over time, as well as help people develop different beliefs about themselves that are less negative and less influenced by the trauma they experienced.
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EMDR therapy is often covered by insurance, but it depends on your specific plan. It's important to check with your insurance provider to see if they cover EMDR therapy and if there are any requirements, like needing a referral from your doctor. If your EMDR therapist offers EMDR intensives or “extended” sessions, such as a 90-minute+ EMDR session, this may not be covered by insurance.
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The benefits of EMDR therapy include reducing the emotional distress caused by traumatic memories and helping you feel more in control of your life. Risks can include feeling temporarily uncomfortable or upset as you work through painful memories. Some people also report more memories or nightmares, uncomfortable sensations, and even physical symptoms like headaches or sleepiness, as temporary side effects of EMDR. It's important to work with a trained therapist who can support you through the process.
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IFS stands for Internal Family Systems. It's a type of therapy that helps you understand and heal different parts of yourself, especially the parts that feel hurt or scared because of trauma. In IFS, you learn to connect with and care for these parts, which can help you feel more balanced and whole.
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IFS therapy might be covered by insurance, but it varies by plan and provider. It's a good idea to check with your insurance company to see if they cover IFS therapy and what the requirements are, like needing a referral from your doctor.
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The benefits of IFS therapy include gaining a deeper understanding of yourself, healing from past traumas, and improving your sense of self and identity. Risks can include feeling uncomfortable as you explore difficult emotions and memories. Working with a skilled therapist who has been trained specifically in IFS techniques can help you manage these feelings safely and effectively.
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Trauma can't always be completely cured, but it can be effectively managed and healed over time. With the right treatment and support, many people can reduce their symptoms, improve their quality of life, and feel more in control of their emotions and experiences. To learn whether trauma therapy might be a fit for you, reach out to schedule a free consultation with me.
