Trauma Therapy in Franklin, TN

How earlier experiences can show up now

Traumatic experiences can shape how safe you feel with other people and how you respond to conflict or uncertainty. You may know the person in front of you is different from someone who hurt you, and still feel the urge to pull back or protect yourself.

You might notice effects outside relationships too: restless sleep, reminders you steer around, or tension that never quite settles. Each of these makes more sense in context, and we'll look at the whole picture together.

The National Center for PTSD describes common responses after trauma, including changes in trust, mood and physical alertness. You're welcome to reach out for help with or without a PTSD diagnosis. When PTSD is part of the picture, see PTSD therapy in Franklin.

Looking at a pattern without blaming you for it

A response that causes problems now may once have helped you through a hard situation. Staying quiet, keeping your distance or tracking someone else's mood closely may have made real sense at the time.

You can learn new ways to respond. We'll look at when the pattern shows up, what you feel in that moment, and what would help you respond with more choice. We start by understanding what happens for you.

My approach to trauma counseling

I work collaboratively. We talk about what you want help with and how you'd recognize progress. If you've been in therapy before, I'd like to hear what helped and what you'd want to do differently.

I'm Level II trained in EMDR and Brainspotting, and I also use trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. My approach pays attention to how stress feels in your body. Together we'll choose what fits your history and what you need now.

EMDR helps you work through distressing memories after a period of preparation, and it's a long-standing, evidence-based treatment for PTSD. It's one option we can talk about, and you don't need to decide on it before we meet. You can read more about EMDR therapy in Franklin. If you feel on edge or short-tempered much of the time, you can also read about anxiety therapy in Franklin.

Taking care with difficult material

You might wonder whether talking about the past will feel overwhelming. We can begin with what's hard right now and spend time on preparation before working more directly with memories.

Tell me whenever you'd like to slow down, when something feels unclear, or when you see things differently than I do. That's part of working together, and there's room in therapy for all of your responses.