Transform Trauma…into Tranquility
Are You Struggling to Feel Safe and Whole Following a Traumatic Experience?
Have you experienced a trauma recently or suffered abuse or neglect in the past? Are you worried that you will never fully recover from the mental, emotional, and physical pain of a car accident, illness, surgery, or another dangerous or even life-threatening event? Maybe you have been experiencing physical discomfort or distress that you sense is related to your current feelings of anger, resentment, grief, shame, and hopelessness, but wonder how or why. You may find yourself avoiding activities or gatherings in an attempt to avoid difficult feelings or people, places, and things that might trigger a distressing memory. Do you feel increasingly isolated and alone and wonder if things will be this way forever? Do you wish could find a way to heal, resolve the pain of the past, and discover peace in your body and mind?
Coping with trauma can be a difficult, exhausting, and frightening experience. Jeri Innis specializes in psychotherapy services in Boulder, CO to overcome these challenges. You might feel a pervasive sense of dread or anxiety as you move through your day, which can make it difficult to feel present and secure in the moment. Maybe you often sense a fog over your thoughts, or find yourself drawn into memories or sensations of the traumatic experience, even when you least expect them. It may be that you feel disconnected from yourself and worry that you don’t know who you are, fear your loved ones can’t understand you, and even wonder if the world would be just fine without you. You might struggle with falling asleep at night or frequent nightmares that leave you tired, irritable, and on-edge. Perhaps you don’t know where to turn to find healing and feel in touch with your whole self.
An Experience of Trauma Does Not Mean You Are Broken
Trauma comes in many forms and impacts everyone differently. Some people face prolonged exposure to abuse, neglect, bullying, or discrimination throughout their development, while others struggle with the after-effects of a single-incident trauma, such as a natural disaster, accident, or other dangerous or scary event. And, it is important to note that it is possible to struggle with symptoms of trauma even if the accident, assault, or frightening experience didn’t happen directly to you, but you were present as a witness. An intense, life-threatening experience can result in more difficult, long-term changes to your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
Each person responds to trauma in his or her own way. Some experiences will traumatize one person, but not the other, and vice versa. And, if you feel stuck in the experience of trauma, that does not mean you are defective or that you’ve done something wrong. Certain events are simply more than the mind can bear. Thankfully, through trauma counseling, you can develop new ways to reconnect your body and mind and feel more empowered and at ease.
Trauma Therapy Can Help You Release the Pain of the Past
You can learn ways to reduce your symptoms, become more comfortable in your own skin, and begin to enjoy life more fully with the help of an understanding and compassionate trauma therapist. I offer an integrative, individualized approach to trauma therapy, which can help you recognize, address, and resolve distressing symptoms of mind-body dysregulation. You can clear away the fog, discover your goals, and move forward in life with self-assurance and self-love rather than blame or fear.
My passion is helping victims transform trauma, pain, and loss of function into personal gain using a body-mind approach that combines my experience as a trauma therapist and a chronic pain specialist. I believe that each body has an innate wisdom and strength of its own, and I will work with you to tap into that awareness and develop greater trust of your body. You can also learn new ways to trust your body’s quiet signals and your thoughts, feelings, and experiences as well as develop greater trust in other people and life in general. There is hope for security, stability, and healthy relationships in your life.
In trauma therapy sessions, I will provide education about how the typical nervous system works best, how trauma alters that relationship, and how we can begin to restore the desired balance in your nervous system. You will learn ways to recognize when your nervous system is in fight/flight/freeze mode, what that means for you, and how to bring yourself back into alignment. Together, we will develop an individualized program to include the scientifically proven ways to restore balance and stability back into your life. We will engage in a very solution-focused, psychoeducational approach, decreasing the terror and immobility that trauma has brought to your life and replacing it with more conscious options to address your specific triggers, foster emotion regulation, and allow better management of your symptoms. We will work on ways to improve your relationships, reignite your passion for life, and restore confidence in your innate ability to live as you want.
You do not need to continue living with chronic discomfort, pain, or unease. You can make dramatic changes in your trauma symptoms. With my guidance and support, you can develop ways to control the fear and anxiety related to your suffering and slowly build self-confidence, self-compassion, and the self-assurance you crave.
You may believe that trauma counseling can help you find relief, but still have questions or concerns...
What I experienced was so horrific that I don’t want to think or talk about it again.
One of the incredible values of body-centered therapy is we do not have to spend too much time rehashing “what happened.” The unconscious is so clever in its way to protect us. If dealing with the trauma is too emotionally threatening, we will often develop physical symptoms instead. Unfortunately, there is often more support offered for those of us who are suffering with physical pain than emotional pain. My experience shows that by resolving the unresolved trauma, or dealing directly with the emotional pain, you can ease the physical pain as well.
By giving the nervous system a chance to revisit the event, complete the incomplete protective responses, and integrate the experience, you can alter your experience of the traumatic memory and allow it to be remembered without triggering the intrusive and uncontrollable thoughts, body sensations, and fears.
My memory is so fuzzy, I’m not even sure what happened to me actually happened.
Memory is more like a collection of snap-shots than an accurate running commentary. Many things influence how memory is recorded and stored in the brain. When a traumatic event occurs before we have developed language, we often cannot recall and express the event at all. You do not need to remember or make sense of your memories in order to make needed, healing changes. By using proven body-centered approaches to trauma treatment, you can allow your body to reprocess the experience and begin to get the relief you deserve.
What happened to me was not really that bad. Many people have experienced much worse...
Just because you are suffering with the after-effects of something that happened to you in the past does not mean you are weak or broken. It just means that your nervous system was overwhelmed and went into a survival response to ensure your safety. You can restore balance into your system, alter your relationship and experience of the traumatic event, and bring more balance and wellbeing into your life.
With Trauma Therapy, You Can Find Healing
You don’t have to live with fear, pain, or shame. I invite you to contact me here with any questions you may have. Sometimes it is challenging to find the words to describe what you are feeling. It’s helpful to talk with someone who understands the language of the body. I’m available to answer any questions you may have about trauma counseling and my practice.
