PTSD Therapy in Belle Meade, TN

When you know what happened but still react

Knowing an event is over and feeling settled when something reminds you of it don't always go together. With PTSD, memories can intrude into the day, sleep can become harder, and situations that used to feel ordinary may now take a great deal of effort.

Some people describe being constantly watchful. Others feel emotionally far away, even around people they trust. You may feel embarrassed by the reaction itself. These reactions are understandable, and therapy can help with them.

We'll look carefully at your symptoms together. The National Institute of Mental Health explains the criteria for PTSD, and we can talk about how they relate to your experience. My page on trauma therapy in Belle Meade covers the many ways hard experiences can stay with you.

Choosing what to do next

If you've been in therapy before, I'd like to hear what helped and where you still felt stuck. Your earlier work counts, and what you learned can help us decide how to move forward.

I'm Level II trained in EMDR and Brainspotting, and my training also includes trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. I pay attention to how your body responds as well as what you can put into words. We'll talk through the options and why I might suggest a particular approach.

EMDR is an established treatment for PTSD. It involves focusing on parts of a difficult memory while following guided eye movements or another form of alternating stimulation. The work includes preparation, memory processing, and checking in on how you're doing afterward.

You can read more on my EMDR therapy in Belle Meade page. If anxiety runs underneath a busy, capable life, you can also read about anxiety therapy in Belle Meade.

What I need to hear from you

I want your honest response to the work, including when you're unsure about it. If something feels rushed, say so. Tell me how you're doing between sessions too. That's how we make decisions together.

Before any memory work, we'll go over preparation and ways to stay steady, and we'll set the pace together. You can ask any questions before agreeing to an approach.

How we would recognize progress

Your goals might include fewer interruptions from memories, more reliable sleep, or staying present in a conversation that would usually put you on edge. We can be specific about what you want to change.

We'll review those goals as we go. Everyone moves at their own pace, and we'll shape the work around yours.