Trauma & PTSD Therapy in Downers Grove, IL

Understanding post-traumatic stress

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, an act of violence, a medical crisis, or an assault. It is believed that PTSD affects nearly four percent of U.S. adults. While it is often linked to veterans who have experienced combat, PTSD occurs in all people regardless of age, race, nationality, or culture. Women are twice as likely as men to experience PTSD.

How trauma treatment helps

There are a variety of effective treatments for PTSD. Several specific approaches have consistently gained research-based evidence for their effectiveness, and I draw on them in a way that is paced to your nervous system and your readiness.

• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) principles to work through “stuck points,” the beliefs about the trauma that keep recovery blocked
• Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to restore a sense of control over thoughts, feelings, and behavior
• DBT skills for grounding, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance before deeper processing begins
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to rebuild a meaningful life alongside the memory, not in spite of it
• Referral and collaboration when a specialized protocol such as EMDR is the right fit for a specific client

Medical trauma, first responders, and veterans

Not all trauma comes from a single catastrophic event. A frightening diagnosis, an ICU stay, a difficult birth, or years of caregiving can leave the same imprint. My medical background and oncology social work training mean I understand how hospitals, treatment, and chronic illness can become sources of trauma in their own right.

I also work with first responders, veterans, and healthcare workers whose exposure to trauma is cumulative rather than singular. Sessions are confidential, practical, and respectful of the culture you work in.

Trauma and substance use

Many people use alcohol or drugs to quiet trauma symptoms. As a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor, I can treat both at once so that getting sober doesn’t mean losing your only coping tool before you have better ones.