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Healing from Abuse/Trauma Counseling Services in Denver/Metro

Unfortunately, physical and verbal abuse happens all too often in stressed relationships. The long term negative impact of this abuse can manifest in low self esteem, anxiety, depression and in many cases, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Witnessing or experiencing an event in which a person responded with fear, helplessness, or horror such as a bad car accident, a murder, violence that resulted in serious injury or the threat of violence can lead to symptoms of PTSD. A person dealing with PTSD reexperiences the trauma in at least one of the following ways: recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the event; recurrent distressing dreams of the event; acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring; intense psychological distress at exposure to cues that symbolize or resemble aspects of the event; or physiological reactivity on exposure to cues that symbolize or resemble aspects of the event. Avoidance and numbing also occurs in at least three of the following: efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the trauma; efforts to avoid activities, places or people that arouse recollections of the trauma; inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma; diminished interest or participation in significant activities; feeling of detachment or estrangement from others; restricted range of emotional expression; a sense of a foreshortened future. Persistent symptoms of arousal as indicated by at least two of the following: difficulty falling or staying asleep; irritability or outbursts of anger; difficulty concentrating; hypervigilance; exaggerated startle response.

To help her clients heal from abuse and/or trauma, Stephanie first earns her client's trust by being genuine, accepting, kind and patient. Once a client feels safe, he or she shares his or her experiences with Stephanie so that together the client and Stephanie can journey towards healing and wholeness. Stephanie employs empirically-supported treatment methods such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) to help her clients evaluate their assumptions and beliefs so that maladaptive thoughts and behaviors get replaced by new perspectives and healthier actions. Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) is indicated when the depression has connections with a person's history of surviving traumatic or intensely disturbing events. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidenced-based psychotherapeutic intervention initially developed in 1987 to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Shapiro, 1989). EMDR is now recommended as one of the first choice treatments for PTSD (U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs & Department of Defense 2003, American Psychiatric Association 2004, and National institute for clinical excellence 2005). The structured protocol is designed to assist individuals with the processing of emotionally charged memories by integrating cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic approaches with bilateral stimulation (BLS). BLS involves sensory stimuli that alternately activate left-right hemisphere through visual, tactile or auditory modalities (Shapiro & Maxfield, 2002).

Stephanie helps her clients feel less distressed by painful memories as she guides them to new understandings and healthier perspectives. After several EMDR treatments clients report no longer feeling triggered by people and/or places that once caused significant emotional distress. One client put this concept this way: "Steph, EMDR has neutralized the pain!"

Contact info:
Phone: 303-500-3266  
Located in Faith Lutheran Church
17701 W. 16th Avenue
Golden, CO 80401

email: Steph@IntegrativeCounselingLLC.com

Website:
 www.IntegrativeCounselingLLC.com