Approach | Mysite

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, with training in trauma resolution, I assist individuals with the mind-body connection for nervous system regulation, while incorporating behavioral, cognitive and mindfulness based tools for self-healing and growth to occur.

Image that our nervous systems are computers, and our survival/coping strategies are our antivirus protection software. In a healthy nervous system, pop-ups would alert us to potenital threats, programs would run easily and smoothly and we would be able to perform our tasks with confidence.

When a nervous system is stuck in survival mode, it's like the antivirus is running non-stop, sending overwhlemingly random pop-ups that freeze the computer, making it barely possible to use or navigate.

Some individuals ignore the pop-ups, hoping they will just go away, others will try to work amongst the consant messages and errors on the screen, and a few will throw the computer out the window.

Alas, none of this fixes the malware! In order for the computer to run smoothly, the antivirus needs to understand the threat is resloved.

The parasympathetic branch of the nervous system performs like the brake pedal on a car. It guides us in relaxing, calming down and regulating ourselves. It assists in the discharge of the arousal of sympathetic activation.

The sympathetic branch of the nervous system is like the accelerator pedal. It gives the body energy for movement, action, and helps to protect us from threat.

Traumatic symptoms,

what they can look like:

Fight - Temper, anger outbursts, dominates and controls, demands perfection, pursues power and control, assertive "bully", constant criticizing and raging

Flight - Feelings of panic and anxiety, workaholic, obessive and/or compulsive, always on the go--staying busy, over worrying, over achiever, over analytical

Freeze - Depression, dissocation, brain fog, avoids human contact, detached, struggles making decisions, hibernating, isolation