Trauma Treatment Center in West Jefferson, North Carolina
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Unprocessed trauma is often the root of physical and emotional symptoms.
Trauma refers to any experience you have that is unwanted and hurtful. These experiences are often unexpected and cause a loss of your sense of control and safety. This may include a variety of situations (divorce, discrimination, abuse, neglect, death, serious injury to yourself or loved ones, loss, and many more). What is traumatic to one person may not be traumatic to another and some people are not even aware that their body has processed an experience as trauma.
When we experience trauma, our brain (along with the rest of our body), tries to protect us. Unfortunately, this is not always a helpful long-term strategy and unprocessed trauma can lead to re-experiencing the event in unexpected and unwanted ways when seemingly minor trauma triggers occur. In addition, trauma can lead to changes in your baseline thought processes and behaviors, including how you behave in relationships.
Adulthood is often the first time someone realizes that they have experienced trauma. It may also be the first time they experience trauma or have the opportunity to get support for trauma.
When trauma is not recognized and treated appropriately, clients often find themselves overdiagnosed and overmedicated. However, when you work with a provider trained and willing to take the time to hear and understand your experiences, you can find a path forward so that your brain can heal and you can regain power and live the wonderful life you deserve. (Yes, you deserve a wonderful life)!
Brainspotting
Where you look affects how you feel!
Have you ever noticed that when you are deep in thought, especially with an uncomfortable memory, you may “get stuck staring”? By accessing the position of gaze, we can facilitate brain healing. This gentle, patient-led process allows the brain to process trauma so that healing occurs and trauma loses its power.
Brainspotting is a focused mindfulness practice that we will do together that helps your brain and body to process the trauma you have experienced.
Clients report decreased physical and emotional responses to trauma triggers when their brain is given this opportunity.
Transformational healing!
How do I know if it is "Trauma"?
When we experience potential or actual emotional or physical harm to ourselves or our loved ones (as often occurs when something unwanted, painful, harmful, or distressing occurs too much, too fast, or too often), our brains will attempt to protect us and cope.
While this may be helpful in the moment, sometimes our brains get stuck, and when this happen the emotions, and physical sensations from the trauma can be re-experienced in both subtle and obvious ways that negatively impact mood, contribute to anxiety, and impair relationships.
Trauma is often part of living. It can be dramatic and life-threatening. And it can be subtle but frequent. What is traumatic to one person may not be traumatic to another. It is not a competition.
Common traumas that occur and can be damaging to mental health are physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect, unexpected or life-threatening illnesses or injuries, motor vehicle accidents, divorce, repeated rejection, racism, and pregnancy and birth trauma or complications, pregnancy loss, and infertility, and many more…
I'd rather avoid thinking or talking about it...
When trauma is not processed in the brain, it causes significant symptoms that impair physical as well as mental health. Avoidance is a natural human response…but not one that works long-term.
In fact, clients who have experienced trauma or more likely to be diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions and misdiagnosed with mental health conditions that can be better explained by their trauma.
Common symptoms that occur due to trauma are difficulties remembering key details of things that were occurring during the time of the trauma, feeling detached or less interested in meaningful interactions with others, irritability and outbursts, being easily startled or hyper-vigilant, unwanted memories and flashbacks, avoiding situations or people who trigger unwanted memories, unnecessary guilt or blame of self or others, and unmanageable fears of harm coming to self or others.
In addition, clients who have experienced traumas often report increased difficulty with sleep, pain, muscle tension, headaches, abdominal symptoms, palpitations, and fatigue.
Because this can be so common for parents who have experienced pregnancy and birth complications, pregnancy loss, infertility, and NICU experiences, it is essential that these clients have regular contact with a perinatal mental health specialist to ensure that they are appropriately screened and given guidance about how to treat and manage the effects of their trauma so their brains can heal and their relationships, functioning, and quality of life do not continue to impacted for years after the actual trauma. We are so pleased to be able to offer treatment for trauma, including postpartum PTSD and birth trauma, to clients in North Carolina and Virginia through a telehealth platform.
What can be done to treat the mental health effects of trauma?
Trauma is best treated by therapy and Brainspotting is a therapy approach that has been shown to be helpful in reducing symptoms and healing for the brain. In can also be used for other concerns, that maybe don’t feel “traumatic” but are causing emotional distress and overwhelm. In addition, many clients find having a safe space to talk through and explore their own story without judgement can be very helpful.
For many clients who experience trauma, they will have associated mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. These conditions can safely be treated with medication and therapy. This includes before, during, and after pregnancy and breastfeeding (if applicable).
What doesn’t work for trauma? AVOIDANCE-the natural human response everyone goes to. With the help of a trained professional, you can learn skills and techniques that will help you on your path to recovery! Because Joy Spring Mental Health is an integrated practice, We can offer a full spectrum of treatment options tailored to each individual including therapy and medication management to moms in NC and VA through a telehealth platform.
Treatments
Therapy
Answers to Your Questions about Mental Healthcare
General Mental Health Basics
We offer both as my schedule allows. In general, we have more availability for medication appointments. If you are interested in both and our therapy slots are full, we will help you connect with another therapist while we manage your medication.
This will be determined during your intake appointment. Brief appointments are ideal for time-limited specific concerns or for clients who are stable and transitioning out of recurring therapy or have already been in recurring therapy in the past. It is also helpful for clients who have challenging schedules or financial concerns that do not accommodate recurring therapy.
No! we see young adults and young-at-heart adults from diverse backgrounds. We have additional training and experience working with the college health and perinatal mental health populations but you do not have to identify with those groups to receive care.
We do not at this time.
Depression, anxiety, social anxiety, OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD (with non-stimulants only)
No. Our services are offered predominantly through telehealth and I do not prescribe any controlled substances.
Yes. Clients who live locally, may request an in-person appointment.
Yes. We know how challenging juggling all these responsibilities can be and we will make a plan that will help you succeed all aspects of your life-including academic life.
What to expect for Virtual Appointments
Yes, in order to provide effective care, we must be able to see you. You are not required to use your camera for asynchronous classes.
No, you will need to reschedule. Please be aware there is a cancellation fee for appointments not cancelled within 24 hours.
The best feature of having a virtual appointment option is the convenience! Come as you are, baby drool, messy house, and all. You must be clothed (shirts required, and you may not be using mind altering substances during your appointment.
You will be able to access your appointment from any device with internet and a camera. Due to state licensing regulations, you must be in NC or VA at the time of your appointment. Please try to give yourself a quiet and private place. (Some patients find their vehicles (parked-not driving!) or bathroom to be great escape locations for their appointment.
Practice Policies for clients seeking 1-on-1mental healthcare
Yes, we will collaborate with your individual therapist.
No. Due to the boundaries established by the DEA system, providers cannot prescribe controlled substances to patients they have not initially seen in person. It is anticipated that the COVID pandemic exception will expire. That said, we have many modalities that are safe and effective and provide a long-term solutions so that controlled substances may not be necessary. We are committed to helping patients connect with their best-selves (which involves the courageous exploration of a values-driven life, rather than avoidance and symptom management).
Yes. Please plan to sign a release of information so we can communicate with your medication provider as needed.
Brainspotting for clients in NC seeking 1-on-1 mental healthcare
Brainspotting is an exciting and rapidly expanding modality used for trauma-processing. It is based on the science of brain development which involves the subcortex (“primitive brain” responsible for bodily regulation and instinct that becomes over-activated when trauma occurs) neocortex (“thinking brain” responsible for things like time, hope, values and language) and the limbic system (“emotional brain”). When a patient experiences trauma, the communication between these parts of the brain may be disrupted, resulting in symptoms of anxiety, rumination, flashbacks, and more. Since the brain is internal, and cannot be visualized or touched externally, we need different assessment tools to identify the areas where injury is located. When it comes to trauma, assessing for subtle changes in the visual field of gaze can help us pinpoint where we need to target our efforts of healing. It may help to think of this in terms of physical therapy for the brain.
For many patients it is VERY effective, even when other modalities have not been. For many patients, they are able to have much more rapid trauma resolution than seen in other modalities. Because patients take the lead, it is an empowering approach that can feel more gentle and tolerable. Because it doesn’t require talking, it can feel more safe and private.
You will be asked to bring to mind a concern or experience that you feel is causing you distress or disrupting your functioning. When patients bring to mind uncomfortable concerns or experiences, we call this “activation”. Holding this activation, your provider will work with you to locate the area of your gaze that correlates with this trauma-based tender-point in your brain. Once this area is located, the provider will use a pointer to “mark the spot” so that you can return your gaze to it as needed. By using this “spot” as a focus point for mindfulness, the brain is able to heal the area of injury.
An eye position that correlates with a brain-based location of traumatic memory
Attunement is the intentional sharing of presence between the provider and the patient that allows the limbic system (“emotional brain”) to fulfill its role in trauma processing. With attunement, the patient is gently reminded that they
Emotional pain is real and the thought of doing something that might require leaning into this discomfort, even for a short period, can be very scary! That said, when we do trauma work it is because there is already pain. This is a modality that works to resolve the pain. Just like physical therapy, it does require “stretching” tender areas. However, your provider will work with you to make sure it is tolerable and you will be in control at all times.
No, but there may be side effects such as temporary changes in energy, emotion, focus, or sleep while your brain is healing itself. These are typically mild and resolve within a few days. Keep in mind, living with unresolved trauma has MANY risks.
It depends on the individual. Some patients need a few minutes 1 session, others may work full-sessions for weeks.
Only if it is helpful to you.
Bilateral music has been shown to facilitate processing. Some patients find it comforting and have more rapid resolution of their activation when bilateral music is incorporated in their processing. It is optional
No. Once the Brainspot is found, you will use this as a starting point for your focused mindfulness but then may find you want or need to move your gaze. Your provider will hold the position of your Brainspot so you can return your gaze to it whenever you need.
No. Once the Brainspot is found, you will use this as a starting point for your focused mindfulness but then may find you want or need to move your gaze. Your provider will hold the position of your Brainspot so you can return your gaze to it whenever you need.
We will continually be monitoring to make sure you are not overwhelmed and do not exceed your level of activation tolerance. We will be with you the entire time and available to help if needed. Tears are fine and common for some. Because of how my brain will also be using its limbic system, We may get tearful with you and that is fine too.