Trauma Focused Therapists in Dyer, AR

Hurts and pain leave us feeling shattered, injured, and disconnected from our true selves. You may be fed up with the constant pain from your past, feeling that you will never be happy or normal. You might not even remember a time when life didn’t feel this way. But one thing is for sure: you’re ready for some relief. You’re ready to be happy and move forward without the past haunting or hurting you. You’re ready to have and feel peace in your heart, brain, and body. Most of all, you’re ready to know you are enough and that your future can be full of happiness and joy

Do you feel as if your life has a “before” and “after?” Do you feel stuck, like you can’t shake what has happened to you or your relationships? I would love the opportunity to help you make sense of your story and build your path forward. - ¿Sientes como si tu vida tuviera un “antes” y un “después”? ¿Te sientes atascado, como si no pudieras deshacerte de lo que te ha pasado a ti o a tus relaciones? Me encantaría tener la oportunidad de ayudarte a dar sentido a tu historia y construir tu camino hacia adelante.

At Wholistic Health, we have multiple clinicians available to accommodate your needs. Specifically, we provide EMDR therapy which is helpful when a person is feeling “stuck” on a particular emotion or traumatic memory, as well as play therapy for kids and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) or CBT for adults. DBT is focused on helping those who struggle with suicidal thoughts or feel like their emotions are in control of them.

There can be healing and growth after going through really hard things in life. Trauma doesn’t have to be the end of your story. You can write a new chapter. I am passionate about coming alongside those who are adjusting to life changes and seeking personal growth, as well as helping those who are working through the effects of abuse, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and grief.

A significant number of my clients have struggled with a mental health and/or substance abuse disorder. They have presented for treatment in inpatient psychiatric, residential, and outpatient modalities. The overarching goal has been to stabilize and learn to function in a healthy manner. Clients have expressed they have made multiple attempts without success and are looking for long term solutions to reduce their negative life consequences. Other clients have reached out for assistance with traumatic events which have occurred in their lives. They express and desire to work on these events to obtain a productive lifestyle.

I believe you already possess within you, everything you need to work through whatever issue you bring to my office. You simply need some help pulling it out. Maybe you know exactly what the issue is or maybe you are having a hard time pinpointing what is going on, but you know something "feels off". Two of the biggest questions we tackle in your first session are, "What final made you decide to come to therapy?" and "What do you hope to gain by coming to therapy?" These two questions help lay the foundation we will build on.

I work with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, OCD and ADHD; however, my primary areas of focus are working within the LGBTQIA+ community and with trauma. I have completed training in several modalities to increase my ability to help people navigate through their struggles. I know the value of therapy for trauma due to my own experiences and try to bring compassion and empathy into every session. I use a variety of techniques and tools, such as EMDR, ego state therapy, and CBT to help tailor therapy to each individual client.

Note: E-mail contact preferred due to the volume of calls I receive. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Arkansas. I enjoy working with adults and older teenagers. I believe the therapeutic relationship is central and that many of our struggles come from wounded relationships and difficulty with connection. I work to build a relationship of deep empathy and connection with my clients in addition to providing tools for working with issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, disordered eating, body image, self esteem, relationship struggles, career transitions, grief, and interpersonal struggles.

Let's face it, the past few years have changed us all. With increased rates of exhaustion, dissociation, and burnout on the rise, everyday tasks can feel nearly impossible. Maybe you’ve experienced feeling easily irritated, constant muscle tension, trouble sleeping, impatience, or just plain emptiness. These experiences affect all areas of our lives, even our ability to care or believe it can get better. One of the best things you can do for yourself, and sometimes the hardest, is get support! Taking that first step is so hard but it can be the turning point. You are worth it!

Do you ever experience having thoughts, images, or memories stuck in your head? Sometimes you may even experience reactions in your body, such as: heart beating fast, pressure in your chest, or a rock in your stomach. Sometimes people even feel like they are going numb. You do not have to live this way, there is a solution. Often, we manage things effectively, but occasionally we experience life events that can be disturbing to our system. Most of the time, our brain can digest the situations we encounter. However, sometimes those skills that have worked in the past are no longer helping.

I am passionate about supporting people in their mental health journeys. I have a special interest in working alongside women, and also have experience and a passion for working with military personnel and veterans. My practice is inclusive of the LGBTQA+ community. I respect your experience & identity. Trauma is life changing, but healing is possible. I want to help you develop and maintain peace in your life through the use of trauma focused therapy interventions including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Trauma Focused-Cognititve Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR).

Life can be challenging. These challenging moments may bring feelings of confusion, hurt, depression, anxiety, and shame. One of the most difficult steps to take is reaching out and seeking help. I feel privileged each time an individual is willing to share their story with me and genuinely believe that everyone has the ability to achieve healing despite their life experiences. My clinical focus is on children, adolescents, and young adults and I am passionate about assisting these individuals in navigating through the difficult elements of their journey.

Helping others achieve their best self is my motivation. I have 20 years of clinical experience in facilitating people to be proactive in their ability to grow, adapt, find balance, set goals, explore ways to cope and to find meaning in life's sometimes complicated journey. My specialties include helping those with anxiety, depression, co-dependence issues and traumatic life events. I am trained in Pia Mellody's work with emotional dysfunction and the correlation to childhood origins. I served as a Supervisor for the ARBOEC for 12 years. I have 4 years experience in teaching Counseling Practicum classes at HSU.

Leslie provides person-centered, affirmative, yet directive psychotherapy for individuals and couples. She helps clients recognize and work through the “unfinished business” that sustains ineffective coping patterns. Clients learn to identify and respect negative coping strategies, as they were at one time necessary for life’s navigation. Through mindfulness and self-care, clients are empowered to practice new habits, improve interpersonal skills, and attain and sustain mutually nurturing relationships. Leslie specializes in trauma focused therapy where she guides adults through the process of healing from childhood abuse.

I am dedicated to bridging the gap between individuals of all ages and diverse disorders. Through compassionate listening and empathy, I hope to establish a safe and nurturing environment where individuals feel heard, valued, and understood. Whether you are a child struggling with anxiety, an adolescent facing life transitions, an adult battling depression, or a family overcoming trauma. I firmly believe that everyone deserves access to quality mental health care. By fostering a strong bond based on trust and respect, I encourage open communication, allowing clients to explore their thoughts and emotions without judgment.

The world we inhabit is one of incredible beauty and goodness, yet also deep hurt, pain, suffering and loss. None are immune to struggle along the way. I believe this collision of experience can, at times, become wrapped, hidden, in emotional, mental, physical and relational distress. I am privileged to work with clients that come carrying a great deal of experience and challenge in navigating their lives. It is my honor to join with you as we seek to unwrap your story together, look toward safer, more secure and deeper connection with self and others, and aim to reduce the impact of the pain and brokenness you encounter.

Are you struggling to self-regulate and better understand your thoughts and emotions? Are you feeling anxious or depressed? Are you self-harming or having suicidal thinking? Or is there a traumatic event you're feeling ready to process, or a relationship pattern you'd like to address? Do you need a safe, private place to explore trauma, or other big changes in your life? If so, I may be able to help.

I believe that the bravest choice you can make for yourself is to start the journey towards healing! I see it as a privilege to be one of the people to walk through this journey with you. Throughout my career, I have worked with children (age 6) through adults of all ages. My primary focus has been anxiety, depression, trauma, sexual abuse survivors, behavioral issues and sexually maladaptive behaviors.

I currently have a select few spots and no after-school spots open. I am pleased to join forces with three other quirky neurodivergent women in our small practice! Working with children is where I truly make an impact and enjoy my career most. My interests and experiences are in: trauma processing, neurodiversity, autism, anxiety, depression, adoption and foster care, attachment, behavior and mood dysregulation, stress and panic, and self-esteem. I have lived experience with chronic illness as well.