Trauma Counseling
for when your past is trying to take over your present and future
I specialize in helping people untangle the messy parts of their story, so they can have the emotional, physical, and relational peace that they haven’t had before.
And to be abundantly clear, I do this work because I’ve gone through it too. And I can promise that there is hope on the other side of the hard work.
Trauma touches everything.
(And no, it’s not fair.)
Trauma Wears Different Masks
Maybe you fall in one or more of these categories:
Are you juggling complicated family relationships?
Do you often worry about what other people think of you?
Do you say that you had a good childhood or that you love your parents, and you shove down the “but”s that come up when you think about your childhood?
Does your family yell, name call, or punish one another with the silent treatment?
Do you try shoving down the feelings and reactions you don’t want to have, and then they blow up in your face?
Do you grieve the childhood you had, and wish you had more security or stability growing up?
Do you hide certain parts of your past from others because of shame?
Feeling Stuck?
If you’re not sure how to move forward and are worried life will never feel “normal” again, therapy can help when you:
Are tired of lashing out at your partner and want to learn healthier conflict resolution skills
Feel like you will never be good enough for others
Want to set boundaries, but are afraid of being the bad guy
Are tired of tip toeing around the triggers that ruin your day
Keep feeling like bad things are going to happen, even when nothing “seems” wrong
Don’t know how to end bad relationships.
what therapy could look like
The good news: there’s a ton of different ways we can address your story together. The better news: you absolutely get a say in what your therapy experience looks like. Let’s chat about it!
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You may recognize that there are different “versions” or “parts” of you that argue inside of your head. For example, part of you could want to be close to your family, but another part of you wants to run far, far away from them. These two parts are arguing, and it’s exhausting. I’ll help you befriend these parts, and teach them how to get along, by using the therapy approach called Internal Family Systems.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a gold standard treatment for trauma. It helps your brain un-learn negative beliefs, replace them with healthier ones, and become less sensitive to painful memories. I’m getting trained in EMDR this fall and am thrilled to offer my clients the same treatment that helped me so much.
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Facing your trauma takes serious courage, and there’s no getting around it. ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) focuses on helping you accept the things that are hard in life, while also giving you tools to make decisions and choices based on your present values rather than your past.
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if you’re a creative who loves writing, or an avid journal-er who puts your inner world on paper, Narrative Therapy helps you unpack your past through the lens of your story. It’s how I combine my English Major background with therapy, and empower my clients to have main character energy.
Trauma Therapy With Me Isn’t
“Just Practice Positivity,
You’ll Get There”
After therapy with me, clients:
Have learned how to stay calm even when the people around them are throwing temper tantrums
Know strategies for turning off their spiraling, panicking brain
Can separate their emotions from the emotions of the people around them
Feel greater mutuality in their relationships
Can calm themselves down when a blow up is coming
Stop scanning rooms looking for trouble, and actually be present when they’re with others
Can recognize when they have capacity and when they don’t, and they can honor their own needs
Recognize unhealthy dynamics in their relationships, and can decide what to do about it
Your past does not need to dictate your future. Let’s get you back in the driver’s seat of your life.
About Me
Hi, I’m Rachel.
I help people face their messy stories because I did it, and it was totally worth it. I was the kind of “numb myself with food” avoider, and let’s just say it wasn’t working out for me.
My therapy is designed for people who are motivated and ready to make changes in their life, but aren’t sure what those next steps really are.
We’ll go beyond the surface level (“that’s just the way my family is”) to the deeper roots underneath, exploring why your nervous system does what it does and how you can interrupt the patterns that aren’t working anymore.
I believe healing happens when you have relationships where you can feel safe enough to explore alternative reactions and behaviors, without a fear of being judged or criticized.
Education & Credentials
Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Summa Cum Laude - Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
Bachelors of Arts in English, Minors in History and International Studies - Truman State University
Post-Graduate Training:
In Progress - EMDR Certification (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Ongoing training and CEUs in ACT, ERP, Play Therapy, and IFS
Get Started in 3 Steps
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Reach out using the button to the left.
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This 15-20 minute free call gives us both a “vibe check”, making sure we’d be a good fit for your needs and my expertise.
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When you’re ready to dive in, we’ll h ave our first session. I’ll help you both slow things down, name what’s not working, and begin mapping a path forward.