Find a trauma psychotherapist you value and who is safe. Attend weekly. Bi-weekly sessions are not enough to do intense healing work in the beginning. If you find the therapist is not the right fit, find someone else. Some therapists…
Trauma victims always have some level of PTSD, from mild to severe. Sadly, we see PTSD as long-lasting, hopeless, and even permanent. It is not! It is healable, and there is always hope. As victims, we must ask ourselves, “Are…
PTSD is the diagnosis for people who have suffered from trauma. Its symptoms include but are not limited to depression, anxiety/fear, anxiety attacks, flashbacks (repeating uncontrollable memories), hypervigilance, triggers, nightmares, overwhelming or unmanageable thoughts, repeating memories and emotions, isolation, anger/rage,…
When we heal, we also grow. Growing is the development and maturing of us as unique spiritual beings physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We develop and accomplish our unique, special divine purpose as we do. To grow, we often have…
Each of us can make our corner of this world different and better. Can you imagine what it would be like if everyone, or even most, did? We can smile, help, open a door, encourage, pick up trash, give food…
Who am I, and why am I writing all these blogs about healing? I am a doctor of psychology, a psychologist. I am a trauma specialist with a personal trauma history that I sometimes share if it helps people heal….
We worked hard to survive, learn to love, and be loved despite what we endured being traumatized. We had to go beyond the pain and choose to heal and love instead of hate. If we do not choose healing and…
What is a protection system? We create behaviors, thoughts, and feelings to protect ourselves from the pain of trauma and, if possible, from more trauma. When trauma first happened to us, we were defenseless and blindsided. We learn that to…
This question has haunted philosophers through the ages. Kierkegaard said love should focus on the person being loved first and foremost. Martin Buber said love was something more significant than affect – not a static feeling, but a dynamic state…
The Serenity Prayer reminds us to know the difference between what we can and cannot. The healing journey forces us to examine our choices for change in our lives. Here are areas to remember. Life is hard and, at times,…
We have talked about healing, feelings, and choosing to heal. The healing journey is not easy. Let’s look at what healing can mean to us: When traumatized, we often learn we are not okay and do not like ourselves. We…
Descriptions of healing: My healing has been Heaven and Hell. Sometimes when feeling my feelings fully, I want to run away. I know I will die in them or want to, and I know I can’t. Other times there is…