Trauma and EMDR therapists in Michigan
Helping teens & adults heal trauma & find freedom.
Does it feel like you’re stuck in past hurts, lonely but wanting to move forward?
Trauma by definition is something that is so overwhelming, and terrifying, it interrupts our ability to cope. Know this - experiencing trauma and struggling with post-traumatic stress is a normal response to distressing, disturbing event(s) or situation(s).
It makes sense that it may leave you feeling alone with your terror, unsure if anyone can hear about it, or can help you. You may worry you did something to deserve what happened to you, & that it’s somehow your fault. At times you feel filled with shame, and again the loneliness sets in because it feels so impossible to talk about, or maybe even remember. It’s okay if you don’t even have the words for it yet.
The impacts of trauma have a way of infiltrating and touching almost all the areas of our lives. Sometimes we don’t even notice how current frustrating patterns or problems we are having may be related to traumatic events from the past. Therapists at Huffmaster Therapy Collective (HTC) can help you identify and process these dynamics if and when it feels okay for you, whether you’ve experienced a single event, chronic trauma, or more subtle problematic dynamics that were out of your control.
faqs
Ways our lives can be impacted by trauma:
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You might have experienced a traumatic or painful event that directly impacts your physical health, for example living through a car accident, or surviving serious medical trauma. Other types of experiences can also manifest in our physical bodies. It varies and is unique to each individual, but for example, people report GI distress, chronic pain, muscle tension, and/or migraines & headaches. Some report physical sensations related to memories/flashbacks. Somatization is when psychological distress is expressed through physical symptoms.
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Experiencing physical or emotional pain may mean that ordinary feelings become magnified, feel overwhelming, and at times all-encompassing. Feelings of fear, terror, constant worry, hopelessness, powerlessness, a sense of worthlessness, anger, rage, are all examples of normal feelings in response to trauma that likely reappear over and over again to various life events that consciously or unconsciously trigger a trauma response. Your feelings aren’t the problem, but sometimes it can feel like you’re re-experiencing the pain over and over again.
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It is a normal coping response to trauma if your mind has developed certain behaviors in order to cope with painful feelings and/or traumatic events. Our minds can be very creative at finding ways to protect ourselves. Unfortunately, many of these behaviors can contribute to even greater distress for both children and adults. We offer a compassionate, understanding approach to help you address these issues. Disordered eating, picking habits, substance use, self-harm, general impulsivity, gambling, mismanagement of money, recklessness or self-endangerment are a few examples.
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Trauma of all kinds can impact our relationships with others. Without realizing it, we often repeat or recreate problematic patterns with others from childhood in our adult life. These patterns show up mosh often in our closest relationships.
Relationship trauma can stem from dysfunctional relationships as well, like:
Narcissistic abuse
Family dynamics
Relationship abuse
Generational trauma
racial and cultural trauma
Emotional abuse and neglect
Regardless of how you feel uniquely impacted by trauma, we are here to help you process, heal and grow so that it doesn’t have to keep feeling this way.
Right now doesn’t have to be your forever.
how psychotherapy can help you find relief:
We are committed to providing trauma informed, evidence based care
One of the most important elements in a psychotherapeutic treatment for trauma is the creation of a relationship that is built on trust and feels safe. Depending on the type of therapy you are looking for, treatment can be brief or longer-lasting. We will help you figure out what works for you. If it takes a long time to feel comfortable or ready to do trauma work, we are okay with that.
Our practice is uniquely dedicated and prepared to work with clients looking for lasting, healing change in long-term intensive treatments because of our training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
At Huffmaster Therapy Collective, most of our therapists are trained in a specific type of trauma processing technique called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).*
*EMDR training provided by EMDRIA certified program
Treatment modalities for Trauma
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy for trauma involves talking with a therapist to explore past experiences and emotions that may be causing distress. The therapist helps the person understand how past events are affecting their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in the present. Through this process, the person gains insight into their trauma and learns healthier ways to cope with it. It often involves exploring unconscious thoughts and feelings both within and outside the theraputic relationship to address underlying issues contributing to the trauma. This relationship based approach to trauma and painful experiences can be very effective and provide lasting permanent change.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, works by helping individuals process traumatic memories in a new and less distressing way. During therapy, the client recalls the traumatic event while focusing on external stimuli, such as eye movements or taps. This process aids the brain in reprocessing the memory, reducing its emotional intensity and allowing the individual to integrate it more adaptively into their life. Over time, EMDR can lead to significant symptom relief and emotional healing from trauma.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) helps individuals overcome trauma by addressing negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors associated with the traumatic event. Through structured sessions, individuals learn coping skills to manage distressing symptoms and challenge unhelpful beliefs about themselves and the world. Techniques such as relaxation exercises, exposure therapy, and cognitive restructuring are used to gradually process the trauma and reduce its impact on daily life, ultimately promoting healing and resilience.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is utilized to treat trauma by combining techniques to manage intense emotions with strategies for building interpersonal skills and increasing mindfulness. Through individual and group therapy sessions, individuals learn to identify and regulate overwhelming emotions, tolerate distressing situations, and improve their relationships. DBT also emphasizes acceptance of past traumatic experiences while focusing on developing healthier coping mechanisms and enhancing overall well-being.
we want you to know:
Change is possible.
Explore what each of our therapists have to offer using the dropdown above, and see if one sounds like the right fit for you. OR reach out to us now, and let us help match you to a therapist that we think will suit you best.
Ready to get started?