Life Transitions

What are some life transitions that therapy can be helpful for?

Ending a relationship, starting a new job, graduating college, getting divorced, losing someone you love, having a baby — I have been there myself and know the challenges these times of transition present. Neuroscience shows us that these stressful life experiences activate our nervous system in ways that protect us, and our system’s response can leave us feeling anxious, depressed, or stuck, so therapy can be especially beneficial during these times.

What can I expect from therapy for life transitions?

Therapy can be helpful during these times to help process through the change and address any anxiety or fears that accompany these changes. Women can face immense pressure to be “perfect” — especially in the role of new motherhood. I believe in letting go of that toxic messaging and accepting all women, exactly where they are.

What will we do in therapy for life transitions?

Together, we can create a plan to help you manage the stress of the change, build stronger relationships for support, and use evidence- based techniques to help calm your body and mind. We can also help you develop self- confidence, self- trust and self- compassion during the transition to be as gentle with yourself as you are with those you love.

Trauma

How do I know if what I experienced “counts” as trauma?

At its core, trauma occurs when an experience overwhelms your ability to cope, leaving a lasting impact on how you see yourself, others, and the world around you. It’s not just about what happened to you, but about how those experiences affected your sense of safety, your nervous system, and your ability to trust and connect.

Trauma isn’t defined by how dramatic an event was—it’s defined by how your nervous system experienced it.

If an experience left you feeling:

• Unsafe, helpless, or overwhelmed
• Stuck in fight-or-flight or shutdown
• Emotionally altered long after the event ended

…then trauma focused modalities like EMDR might be a good fit!  Many helping professionals experience cumulative or relational trauma, which can be just as impactful as a single event.

What is relational trauma?

When most people think of trauma, they picture dramatic events: natural disasters, physical assault, or military combat. While these are certainly traumatic, there is also a form of trauma that often goes unrecognized but is incredibly common in my practice: relational trauma.

Relational trauma develops within our connections with others—particularly in relationships where we should have felt safe, seen, and valued. This can include:

• Emotional neglect or invalidation in childhood or adult relationships

• Betrayal or abandonment by someone you depended on

• Going through a divorce, break-up, or rupture with a friend or family member

• Ongoing criticism or contempt from family members, partners, or caregivers

• Being repeatedly dismissed, gaslit, or made to feel “too sensitive”

• Bullying or social rejection during formative years

If you’re struggling with the aftermath of difficult relationships, persistent feelings of anxiety, or finding yourself repeating painful patterns in your connections with others, I encourage you to reach out.  Understanding trauma—including its relational dimensions—is empowering and the first step towards healing.

Can therapy help if the trauma happened a long time ago?

Yes. Trauma is not stored as a memory alone—it’s stored in the body and nervous system.

Even if the event occurred years ago, therapy can help you:

• Understand why certain triggers still affect you
• Reduce emotional and physical stress responses
• Release patterns that no longer serve you

Healing does not require reliving or rehashing every detail. It focuses on integration, safety, and restoration.

What does trauma therapy look like for helping professionals?

Trauma therapy with me is:

• Gentle and paced with care
• Collaborative, not prescriptive
• Focused on safety and stabilization first

Your sessions may include:

• Nervous system regulation and grounding tools
• Somatic awareness to reconnect with your body
• Insight-oriented exploration of patterns and beliefs
• Inner child and parts-based work when appropriate
• Building boundaries, resilience, and self-trust

What are the most effective approaches for treating trauma?

In my years of clinical experience, I’ve found that specialized, evidence-based therapies tend to be most effective. Two approaches I frequently use are Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). Both of these methods work by helping your brain reprocess traumatic memories in a way that reduces their emotional intensity.

What makes these therapies particularly powerful is that they don’t require you to talk extensively about the details of your trauma if you’re not comfortable doing so. Instead, they use bilateral stimulation—such as guided eye movements or tappers—while you briefly focus on the traumatic memory. This process helps your brain reprocess and file the memory away properly, so it behaves like any other memory and no longer triggers the same distressing reactions.

You remain in control of the process at all times.

Trauma Therapy in Lincoln, Nebraska

If you’re a helping professional in Lincoln, Nebraska, who feels anxious, disconnected, emotionally exhausted, or stuck in survival mode, trauma-informed therapy can help you feel more grounded, present, and whole.

Healing is possible. And you don’t have to do it alone.

Contact Evolve Counseling today to schedule a consultation and begin your trauma recovery journey today.