Trauma Therapy in Bend, Oregon
Are you looking for a skilled trauma therapist in Bend, Oregon? I’m Sean Downes, and I specialize in providing compassionate and effective treatment for individuals struggling with the effects of trauma. I offer a unique approach that integrates specialized techniques, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to address depression, particularly when it is associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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I am also a Certified Yoga Teacher and personal development coach which enables me to offer a unique and integrative approach that combines talk therapy and mind-body awareness, helping each individual balance their own core energy with their unique brain chemistry.
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Symptoms of Trauma can appear as:
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Feelings of overwhelm
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Nervous or scared for no apparent reason
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Feeling tired or fatigued most of the time
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Often feeling lonely and misunderstood
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Fear of leaving the house or being in public
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Disappointed in your life
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Preoccupied with safety or doing things right
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Feeling like you’re ‘losing it’
What does it mean to be triggered?
Trauma triggers occur when you feel in your body and your brain that you are in mortal danger. Although, triggers often refer to being really upset by something. Truly being triggered means that you are in fight or flight mode. This occurs because something about what you’re experiencing (conscious or unconsciously) has made your body react as if you’re being traumatized again. Furthermore, when you are really triggered you will have trouble being rational and seeing what’s real. So, you will feel numb, terrified, or in a state of frantic confusion. You will feel the urge to fight, run or you will freeze. Being truly triggered is deeply upsetting and exhausting.
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Trauma Therapy Can Change Your Life
Because of the way trauma hijacks your brain, it is very hard to get rid of the effects of trauma on your own. When you are dealing with the effects of trauma and the memories you have, your brain doesn’t work as well. In fact, we can see from FMRIs (imaging of the brain) that the evolved and thoughtful parts of your brain don’t light up. Basically, when you get into your trauma brain, no matter how smart or competent you are normally, you become irrational and unhelpful.
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As a therapist, I have helped people with wide varieties of trauma histories to recognize when they are triggered, and eventually, avoid being triggered. Also, part of the trauma healing process is successfully repairing relationships with yourself and others when you were triggered and this caused you to behave badly. These are essential steps to integrating trauma into your life. And ultimately, loosening the grasp it has on your well being.
Psychotherapy Fees:
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Rates are $200 per 55-minute session.
Out-of-pocket expenses are determined by insurance or if you are self-pay.
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All appointments are ONLINE only.
Insurance Accepted:
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I accept PacificSource Commercial, First Choice, MODA, PacificSource Community Solutions, OHP and BlueCross / BlueShield. I also do provide Out of Network Billing for other insurance companies. If you are using your insurance benefits, please take the time to understand the nuances of your insurance plan (copays, deductibles, HSA, etc.) on the front end of your psychotherapy treatment.
I have had the pleasure of knowing Sean Dowes for more than ten years. He is a dedicated and compassionate professional whose innovative approach to counseling and therapy—blending talk with movement—has positively impacted the lives of many of my patients. He is an excellent resource and a trusted colleague.
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Dr. Mark Unverzagt
What is Trauma?
Trauma is a buzzword. For better or worse. Trauma is a part of life. Although it is scary, painful, and difficult, it is also good to see people recognizing trauma and being sensitive towards people who have survived it. By doing so, we normalize trauma and can integrate it into our lives instead of it being taboo.
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Trauma occurs when you have an experience that is so big, confusing, painful, or threatening, that you can not make sense of it all at once. When this happens, your brain does a really good job of keeping you safe from the danger it feels. It does this by compartmentalizing what you’ve experienced. This means your brain puts the memories of the event(s) into ‘storage’ in your brain and body because it’s too hard to deal with. Trauma is not simply a bad experience, it goes deeper than that. Trauma transcends time. No matter how long ago a trauma happened, you may become triggered by memories of what happened. Then, you will find that you go back to feeling just like you did in that awful time right now in your current day, even if what is happening now doesn’t totally match what happened then.
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As an experienced trauma therapist in Bend, Oregon, I bring a compassionate and empathetic approach to every session. I understand the profound impact that trauma can have on individuals’ lives, and I am committed to providing a safe and supportive environment where healing can take place.
Integrating EMDR into Trauma Therapy
In trauma therapy, techniques like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) greatly enhance healing. As a trauma therapist, I use EMDR to:
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Reprocess Traumatic Memories: Individuals safely access and desensitize distressing memories through bilateral stimulation, allowing them to revisit trauma without overwhelming emotions.
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Unlock Adaptive Information Processing: EMDR helps process stuck traumatic experiences, integrating them into a broader life narrative, which promotes new insights and coping strategies.
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Address Negative Beliefs and Emotions: It identifies and reprocesses distorted beliefs associated with trauma, replacing them with empowering perspectives, relieving symptoms like anxiety and depression.
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Enhance Resilience and Self-Efficacy: EMDR empowers clients to navigate trauma, enhancing their confidence and ability to face future challenges.
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Promote Integration and Healing: It fosters emotional, psychological, and physiological changes by integrating traumatic experiences, leading to improved well-being.
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As a dedicated EMDR trauma therapist, I aim to provide compassionate treatment, guiding individuals on their healing journey toward empowerment and resilience.
How Trauma Therapy Can Help
Trauma can manifest in various ways and affect every aspect of life. As your dedicated trauma therapist, my aim is to:
Provide Validation: I offer a space where you can feel heard, understood, and validated in your experiences without judgment.
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Facilitate Healing: Together, we’ll work to process and integrate the memories and emotions associated with your trauma, allowing you to reclaim your sense of safety and empowerment.
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Empower Resilience: Through therapy, you’ll develop coping skills and resilience to navigate the challenges associated with trauma and move forward with strength and confidence.
If you’re ready to take the first step towards healing from trauma and reclaiming your life, I invite you to reach out to me. Schedule a confidential consultation to learn more about how trauma therapy can help you find relief and regain control. Your journey to healing with your trusted trauma therapist, Sean Downes, begins here.