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)
I am also a Certified Yoga Teacher 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.
Symptoms of Trauma can appear as:
- Feelings of overwhelm
- Nervous or scared for no apparent reason
- Feeling tired or fatigued most of the time
- Often feeling lonely and misunderstood
- Fear of leaving the house or being in public
- Disappointed in your life
- Preoccupied with safety or doing things right
- Feeling like you’re ‘losing it’
Psychotherapy Fees:
Rates are $200 per 55 minute session.
Out-of-pocket expenses are determined by insurance or if you are self-pay.
Insurance Accepted:
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.
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.
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.
As an experienced trauma therapist, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Integrating EMDR into Trauma Therapy
In trauma therapy, utilizing specialized techniques such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can significantly enhance the healing process. As a trauma therapist, I incorporate EMDR into treatment plans to address the intricate layers of trauma and facilitate profound healing. Here’s how EMDR can help:
Reprocessing Traumatic Memories: EMDR enables individuals to process traumatic memories by accessing them in a safe and controlled environment. Through bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, individuals can desensitize themselves to distressing memories, allowing them to revisit the traumatic event without being overwhelmed by emotions.
Unlocking Adaptive Information Processing: Traumatic experiences often become “stuck” in the brain, leading to ongoing distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms. EMDR helps unlock this stuck information by facilitating the brain’s natural ability to process and integrate traumatic memories into the individual’s broader life narrative. This process enables individuals to gain new insights, perspectives, and adaptive coping strategies.
Addressing Negative Beliefs and Emotions: Trauma can distort individuals’ beliefs about themselves, others, and the world. EMDR helps identify and reprocess these negative beliefs and emotions associated with trauma, replacing them with more adaptive and empowering perspectives. By targeting the cognitive and emotional components of trauma, individuals can experience significant relief from symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and shame.
Enhancing Resilience and Self-Efficacy: Through EMDR sessions, individuals often experience a sense of empowerment and mastery over their traumatic experiences. As a trauma therapist, I guide clients through the EMDR process, empowering them to navigate their trauma with courage and resilience. By facilitating the resolution of past traumas, EMDR can enhance individuals’ self-efficacy and confidence in their ability to cope with future challenges.
Promoting Integration and Healing: Ultimately, EMDR promotes the integration of traumatic experiences into the individual’s broader life narrative, fostering a sense of wholeness and healing. By processing and resolving unresolved trauma, individuals can experience profound emotional, psychological, and even physiological changes, leading to greater overall well-being and quality of life.
As a trauma therapist specializing in EMDR, I am dedicated to providing compassionate and effective treatment that addresses the complex dynamics of trauma. Through the integration of EMDR into trauma therapy, individuals can embark on a journey of healing, empowerment, and transformation, reclaiming their lives and rediscovering a sense of hope 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.
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.
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.