Trauma Therapy in Brentwood, TN
Maybe you're not sure trauma is the right word. Something happened, or a stretch of your life was hard, and you can see it still affects you. You just haven't found a way to explain it without minimizing it or feeling like you're making too much of it.
We can start right there. You don't need the right label to ask for help.
I'm Dave Saunders, LPC-MHSP, NCC. I offer trauma therapy for adults at my office in Maryland Farms, right here in Brentwood.
Free 10 minute consultation. Call or text 615-905-6132.
Dave Saunders, LPC-MHSP, NCC. Level II trained in EMDR and Brainspotting. Ten years in practice.
What brings people to trauma therapy
Trauma can follow a frightening event or experiences that happened again and again over time. You might connect what you're feeling to an accident, violence, abuse, or something from childhood. Sometimes the connection becomes clearer as we talk.
You may notice tension that's hard to release, a strong reaction during conflict, or the urge to pull back when someone gets close. Perhaps you feel disconnected from your body, or you second-guess your own response to a situation. Understanding where these reactions come from is part of the work we do together.
The National Center for PTSD describes common reactions after trauma, including changes in emotions, physical responses and relationships. Therapy can help whether or not you've ever had a PTSD diagnosis.
Looking at what happens now
We can start with a recent moment that felt hard. What happened just before you became overwhelmed? What did you notice in your body? What did you need right then?
Those questions help us understand your experience without deciding in advance what it means. The ways you learned to cope made sense for a reason, even if they're starting to feel tiring or limiting now.
I also want to hear about what already helps: the people you trust, the things that settle you, and what you've learned in past therapy. All of it belongs in the picture.
How I work with trauma
I see therapy as a partnership. We talk about what's bothering you, what you want from therapy, and a pace that feels right for you. You can ask questions at any point.
I'm Level II trained in EMDR and Brainspotting, and I also use trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. My work includes attention to how stress shows up in your body. We'll choose the approach together based on what you need, so there's no need to pick a technique before we meet.
EMDR helps you work through difficult memories and the thoughts and feelings connected to them. It's a long-standing, evidence-based treatment for PTSD, and we'll decide together whether it fits what you want to work on. You can read more about EMDR therapy in Brentwood. If worry and tension fill a lot of your days, you can also read about anxiety therapy in Brentwood.
You have a say in the pace
You might worry that starting therapy means opening everything at once. We can begin with what you're ready to talk about and take time to prepare before working more directly with painful experiences.
Whenever you'd like to slow down, just tell me, and we'll adjust together. Going at your pace keeps the work steady.
Questions worth asking before you start
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No. Trauma therapy can help with the effects of difficult experiences whether or not you've been diagnosed with PTSD. If a diagnosis becomes relevant, we can talk about it together. When PTSD is part of the picture, you can read about PTSD therapy in Brentwood.
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Yes. We can look at earlier experiences and how they connect to what feels hard now. You can share your history at your own pace, so there's no need to cover it all in the first session.
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That's okay. We work with what you know and what you experience in the present. Therapy doesn't ask you to fill in missing details or be certain about what you can't recall.
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We'll name the changes you'd notice in daily life, like bouncing back more easily after stress, feeling more present, or finding it easier to say what you need. We'll check in on your progress together along the way.
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I work with adults 18 and over.
More answers are on my FAQ page.
Trauma therapy at the Brentwood office
My office is at 103 Continental Place, Suite 204, Brentwood, TN 37027, in Maryland Farms, close to I-65 and Old Hickory Boulevard. Weekly sessions are best, and every other week works well too.
Sessions are $195. I'm private pay and can provide a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement.
If you'd like to talk about working together, request a free consultation or call or text 615-905-6132. A short note about what you're looking for is plenty.