What is trauma?

Trauma is any event or circumstance that causes a profound physical or emotional harm, or a threat to life and safety. Trauma can be personally experienced, or witnessed occurring to someone else.

Types of trauma:

• Physical Trauma: physical or sexual assault/abuse; car accidents; combat; natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, wildfires)

• Emotional Trauma: bullying; gaslighting; name calling; put-downs; neglect; manipulation; betrayal

• Loss of a Loved One: death of an important person, whether expected or unexpected

• Complex Trauma: the experience of multiple types of trauma, or prolonged/chronic trauma

It is important to note that what is perceived as traumatic is subjective: an experience that one person may be able to easily move on from may be profoundly disturbing to someone else. My goal as a trauma therapist is to work from your personal worldview, to get to know the experiences you have had and how they have affected you.

Do you experience any of the following?

• Intrusive and unwanted thoughts or memories associated with the event(s)

• Distressing dreams of the event(s)

• Emotional or physical reactions to reminders of the event(s)

• Avoidance of external reminders or internal thoughts and feelings

• Negative beliefs about yourself, other people, or the world

• Negative emotions such as fear, depression, or anxiety; difficulty regulating emotional responses

• Difficulty engaging in activities you used to enjoy

• Difficulty relaxing or feeling on edge

• Problems with concentration or sleep

• Problems in relationships

Trauma can have a profound impact on your ability to engage in relationships, live a life worth living, and your view of yourself, other people, and the world. You may have tried for years to put traumatic events behind you, only to realize that they have impacted you more than you suspected. It is often in this realization that people may seek treatment.

Trauma-focused treatment can help you overcome trauma and live a valued life. Through the process of therapy, we will approach, rather than avoid your trauma. We will do this at a pace that feels comfortable and safe for you. Being able to approach one’s trauma can help in many ways: it often helps to process difficulty emotions, digest and understand the sequence of events that occurred and how it affected you, and even to discover the strengths you have developed as a result of your efforts to recover from these events. Following trauma-focused treatment, people often find that the memories feel less disturbing, are appropriately placed in the past, and that they feel better able to handle memories and triggers. As a result of these improvements, people often find themselves much more engaged in life.

Dr. Brynne Johannsen

Clinical Psychologist

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with 18 years of experience. I specialize in the treatment of trauma-related disorders (PTSD, Complex PTSD, attachment disorders, narcissistic abuse) as well as grief/bereavement. I have extensive experience working with Veterans and First Responders, as well as survivors of physical/sexual abuse, emotional/narcissistic abuse, and other types of trauma. I am certified in a number of evidence-based treatments for trauma, including EMDR, Prolonged Exposure, and Cognitive Processing Therapy.

Trauma is a very personal experience. My approach is to get to know you as a person, understand how trauma or loss has impacted your life, and customize treatment to your needs through a collaborative approach. I am very passionate about helping people reclaim their lives after trauma and loss. Whether your trauma or loss is recent or decades in the past, I would be honored to walk alongside you on your journey.