Understanding trauma and its psychological impacts is a complex and often complicated process. A traumatic event is commonly defined as a sudden, unexpected event that happens that poses a threat to you or someone you care about. The goal of trauma-based therapy is to help individuals process and integrate traumatic experiences, reduce distressing symptoms, and get back to doing the things in life that are meaningful.

I often have clients who come to their first counseling appointment trying to understand what specific help I provide and have questions related to the terms and titles that make up our mental health lingo. Does a counselor prescribe medications? Why do I need a diagnosis? How do you know what kind of therapy is best for your situation?