THERAPY WITH LEAH SERVICES

Understanding Trauma & PTSD

It’s easy to assume that trauma only affects people in the armed forces or first responders, but traumatic stress or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) can happen to any of us. The human nervous system is designed to elicit a self-protecting “fight, flight, or freeze” response to any threatening event. Sometimes, after the event is over, we can end up feeling stuck in a repeated trauma response that gets in the way of our daily lives. Trauma treatment from a trained therapist can help you to get unstuck by fully resolving and integrating the traumatic event so that it no longer holds the same power, leaving you feeling in control and able to relax again.

Many people are not aware that long-term experiences such as childhood trauma and emotional neglect can cause a type of traumatic stress response called complex PTSD (or C-PTSD for short). Research on adverse childhood experiences has shown that if you were exposed to certain kinds of trauma or ongoing stress when you were young, it may have a lasting impact on your adult behavior or relationships. However, just as it’s possible to heal from the impact of a one-time traumatic event, C-PTSD is also treatable. In a safe and supportive therapy environment, a trauma-informed counselor can guide you through symptom reduction and tools to carry you forward into a life beyond trauma.

Managing Stress & Anxiety

Stress is a natural body response that can be beneficial in the short term by making us alert and focused. Both positive and negative events in our lives can trigger feelings of stress, but high stress levels over time can be detrimental to our physical well-being as well as mental health.

Counseling for stress management may include learning concrete ways to reduce the emotional and physical intensity of reactions to stressful situations, including relaxation and mindfulness techniques.

Anxiety can take many forms—a pervasive low-level sense of worry or fear; panic attacks and other types of intensive anxiety symptoms; or social anxiety that leads you to avoid interacting with others. Therapy for anxiety often involves practicing new strategies for emotional regulation and identifying unhelpful thought patterns.

Support For Toxic Relationships

I work with many people who have been the victims of abusive or personality disordered partners and are seeking to learn about healthy boundaries in relationships. Therapy can be a safe haven for processing feelings of shame or confusion after a partner’s betrayal, following the end of a toxic relationship, or when going through a high-conflict divorce.

Coping With Depression

Feelings of sadness and grief are normal responses to loss, hardship, or difficult changes in life. However, it is important to seek professional support if you are experiencing symptoms of depression. These may include significant changes in sleep habits, loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities, extreme sadness or irritability, and fatigue or a general sense of heaviness, among other symptoms. Depression is treatable through evidence-based modalities such as CBT.

Mind-Body Connection: Scientific research has shown that mindfulness and meditation can be helpful for many mental health issues.

Mindfulness, simply put, is the practice of paying attention to the present moment. It is especially useful within our Western culture that focuses on rehashing the past and planning for the future. 

This practice can be incredibly useful for addressing various concerns including anxiety, fear of uncertainty, dissociation, and emotional distress. In addition, it can foster better ways of relating to one’s thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. 

Within my work with clients I incorporate various mindfulness-based interventions ranging from breathing exercises, to more extended meditations intended to increase relaxation, self-compassion and acceptance, self awareness and reflection.

You do not need any previous experience with meditation—our initial work together will include teaching you a simple method that you will be able to practice on your own outside of session and will only be implemented in accordance with client comfort.

Learning How To Build Self-Esteem

If you struggle with low self-esteem or feel that you don’t know how to be assertive, therapy can be a safe space to learn skills and increase your sense of self-worth. I strongly believe that self-love and self-respect are the building blocks of confidence and motivation. Counseling for self-esteem may focus on inner child work, reframing negative thoughts, or other approaches with the intent of creating a strong foundation for your authentic self to blossom.

Telehealth & Virtual Therapy 

You may be searching for a virtual counselor because of distance from a major city like Miami, or limited access to transportation for in-office visits. I am able to provide online counseling within the state of Florida using HIPAA compliant video software.