We specialize in:

• Trauma Focused CBT

  Trauma Focused CBT

  Have You Had An Overwhelming Experience That Still Effects You Today?
  Life is overwhelming sometimes. When we experience a trauma, like sexual abuse or assault, abuse as a child, physical or emotional abuse, our brains get stuck.  Our mind is like a record player skipping – we experience the trauma over and over again. Small things can trigger a bad memory or make us afraid. Trauma also effects how we relate to others, making us less trusting, often isolating ourselves. All our therapist are trauma-informed, meaning that we understand that trauma in this day and age means a lot more than just physical, emotional or sexual abuse. We understand that trauma is not always about the event that happened to you, but how it impacts your body and your life. Regardless of what you have or have not been through, we are here to help you work through your past experiences that are keeping you stuck.

  You Are Not Alone!
  If you’ve experienced a trauma, you are not alone. Trauma makes us feel isolated from others, so the first step is to be courageous and ask for help. We have partnered with many people over the years and walked the healing journey with them.  Often people who have been abused have awful memories playing on repeat in their heads.  This is a normal reaction to trauma.  We will help you get those memories off of replay. We will work on learning skills to feel safe again and how to move forward with trusting people.

• Depression

  Depression

  Whether you are struggling to get out of bed in the morning or simply not enjoying your life the way you used to, depression can seriously impact your quality of life and the life of those you are in relationship with. Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand and we are committed to supporting you with treating both. Depression often feels like you are stuck in a black whole with no light insight. We know what it’s like to be where you are and we have the skills to help you navigate out of it and guide you into the light.

• Anxiety

  Anxiety

  WHAT DOES GENERALIZED ANXIETY MEAN?
  Generalized anxiety is also known as free-floating anxiety. It is identified by chronic feelings of doom and worry that have no direct cause. Many people feel anxious about certain things, like money, job interviews, or dating. But people with free-floating anxiety can feel anxious for no clear reason. Generalized anxiety can also mean feeling too much worry about a particular event.

  The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) identifies generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as excessive worry that impacts a person on an almost daily basis. It must last 6 months or more and be difficult to control. It must also not be able to be better explained by any other health condition. A person diagnosed with GAD must also show at least three of the following symptoms:

  Frequent fatigue
  Restlessness
  Irritability
  Difficulty focusing
  Sleep problems
  Muscle tension

  Many factors can contribute to free-floating anxiety. Living in stressful or abusive environments may be a cause. Sometimes, anxiety becomes a habit. A person used to feeling anxious about an event might keep feeling anxious once it is over. Some psychologists contend that modern life causes free-floating anxiety. According to them, deadlines, fast-paced lifestyles, and keeping up with social media could cause chronic anxiety.

• Grief & Loss

  Grief & Loss

  Grief is a natural human response to the loss of a loved one. It can show itself in many ways. Grief moves in and out of stages from disbelief and denial, to anger and guilt, to finding a source of comfort, to eventually adjusting to the loss.

  It is normal for both the dying person and the survivors to experience grief. For survivors, the grieving process can take many years. The challenge of accepting death and dying as the end stage of life is what the grieving process is all about. It is natural for people who are facing death, as well as those they leave behind, to move through many stages of grief. For survivors, the grieving process can last for several months or for 2 to 3 years or more. The stages of grief do not necessarily fall into a set order, and vary greatly from one person to another. People may move in and out of these stages at different times throughout the grieving process. These stages include:

  • Shock
  • Depression, loneliness, and a sense of isolation
  • Physical symptoms, such as headaches, body aches, or stomach distress
  • Feelings of panic
  • Guilt
  • Anger
  • Inability to return to daily routine
  • Return of feelings of hopefulness
  • Acceptance

  It is important to note that the grief process is not linear, but is more often experienced in cycles. Grief is sometimes compared to climbing a spiral staircase where things can look and feel like you are just going in circles, yet you are actually making progress. Being patient with the process and allowing yourself to have any feelings about the loss can help. If you feel stuck in your grief,  Purposefully Soaring Counseling Services is here to support you with move forward in the healing process.