Trauma and PTSD Therapists in Middleton, WI

It takes courage to act in one's best interest. Shadow has had the honor of teaching assertiveness free of trauma response, emotionally-regulated resilience and intuitive self-efficacy. She has worked in a variety of settings including residential treatment, disordered eating, crisis intervention, addiction, criminal justice, schools, and private practice. Shadow wants all of her clients to feel empowered to live with accountability and freedom. She does this by guiding others to build muscles of self-acceptance, self-awareness and integrity. She proposes that life is a journey toward connection with others and loving oneself.

Pornography, affairs or internet sex controlling your life? Afraid you or your loved one is a sex addict? As a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, sex therapist and psychotherapist providing counseling and sex therapy to the Madison Wisconsin area for over twenty years, people often tell me that before therapy with me they had never told anyone the extent of their pain from sexual addiction, abuse, assault or other sexual problems. Shame, hopelessness and embarrassment fed isolation and depression. Clients tell me my respect, compassion and sound clinical strategies build safety and hope as we work together as a recovery team.

I specialize in working with young adults that want to triumph over obstacles in their lives. I will work alongside you to help you overcome anxiety, panic attacks, depression, trauma , stress, grief, relationship concerns, and many other issues that may come along with progressing through the stages of life. I hold licenses in both Illinois and Wisconsin. I am currently offering telehealth sessions only.

There are many reasons for seeking guidance and today, you have taken the first courageous step by looking for help. I invite you to take the next step and call 608-577-4222 for a NO COST “get acquainted” phone consult. Maybe your current coping strategies are not working, or you haven't healed from emotionally painful life experiences/ trauma that are negatively impacting you today. Perhaps you want to improve your relationship and learn effective communication skills. Together we can work to find effective solutions and coping strategies that work for you. I am honored to partner with you on your journey to your best self.

Here is how I help: I offer grounded and compassionate therapy that is open, present, and realistic. You will be understood and accepted as you are so we can work toward resolving the problems that stand in your way, whether they are challenges you want to face on your own, or relationship issues you want to resolve with your partner or family. With couples, Meshel Langford is my co-therapist. Having both of us provides balance, perspective, and support (please see our website, linked on this page).

I have 40 years of experience doing psychotherapy. I have become particularly skilled at seeing what is happening with individuals, and between couples, and I share that so that you can understand what you are dealing with. We work collaboratively and creatively; I check to be sure my directions and suggestions are meaningful to you. I make sure that you are learning something significant about yourself in every session. You deserve the respect and support you need to go into uncharted territory. I care about my clients and my clients know it; that is the inspiration that keeps my work exciting to me.

Chocolate, snowboarding, and shopping can be therapeutic, but sometimes they're not enough. I see teenagers, adults, and families when struggles get in the way of fun and suffering becomes too familiar. Friends and family hopefully are there when we need them, yet therapists can provide additional essentials: nonjudgmental, individual attention in a safe setting. Relationships are central to our well-being, and the therapy process involves building a relationship. Clients lead, and I listen to your goals and help you to identify unhealthy patterns, reduce negative self-talk, and learn more about how you view yourself and the world.

We love to collaborate with clients to help them draw from their own expertise, build on their own positive values, discover their own skills, and use these new tools to work through conflicts and hardships. We are systems therapist. What that means is: we like to approach problems that people have within the context of social, political and cultural storylines that influence the way we view ourselves and our own personal stories. We use this same approach in family therapy to seek ways to change the way the family system works rather than trying to "fix" a specific family member.

Whether you or a loved one are experiencing a life transition, healing from a trauma , having relationship difficulties, finding the stress of everyday life to be overwhelming, grieving the loss of a loved one, or simply looking to feel better, I am here to listen. Therapy can provide you a place to talk about what you are experiencing and help you work through the difficulty and hurt. As a therapist, my primary goal is to provide a safe, confidential, and nonjudgmental environment for my clients to explore their thoughts and feelings.

Are you ready to make significant changes in your life? Individual therapy can help you resolve problematic beliefs, feelings, behaviors, negative physical responses, and relationship issues. Through therapy, you can learn to reduce painful emotions, recognize and change unhealthy behaviors, and improve your relationships. I believe people are incredibly resilient in the face of adversity. My goal is to help you grow and thrive as you create a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

It is not uncommon for people to talk and think their way 'better'. They have made sense of their problems and wish to 'just move on'. However, they can't seem to rid themselves of the emotional turmoil and physical pain that remains. My clients say to me, 'I just want to move on but my anxiety, depression, trauma , bad habits, pain, guilt, shame, family members...just won't let me'.

“You are not a machine with broken parts,” writes author Yohann Hari. We are humans on this challenging journey of life. We navigate love and loneliness, trauma and triumph, and endless messages from our culture which say we are not successful enough, attractive enough, rich enough…good enough. I have a different idea—you are enough! In therapy, I provide safe, non-judgmental space to meet you in the full context of your life, family, culture, and dreams for the future. Let me help you find and heal your true self and build authentic relationships that make your life less stressful and more meaningful.

Are you going through a variety of life stressors anywhere from sexual abuse to religious trauma ? Are overwhelming feelings like anxiety and sadness getting in the way of enjoying life? Do you find yourself or your child constantly struggling to keep it together? Maybe school, work, and life in general feel like they are a little too much to handle? I encourage my clients to go at the pace they are comfortable with and will provide assistance every step of the way. I enjoy collaborating with teens, young adults, and the LGBTQ+ community.

It is common to develop unhealthy patterns in thoughts and behaviors, especially after difficult experiences. Without conscious change, these patterns can increase in intensity, as a reminder of unresolved emotions and experiences. I believe we all hold unique qualities, characteristics and beliefs, that make us unlike anyone else. I work with clients to identify and cultivate their innate strengths and resources and to inspire positive changes towards a more balanced and meaningful life. I utilize psycho-education, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy to teach and implement positive coping strategies for improved wellness.