Deborah Ashway, LCMHC

I am trained and certified in trauma focused approaches including EMDR, Expressive Arts, and SITCAP. I am also trained and skilled in several aspects of design, innovation and analysis. That means that I look for the underlying elements and patterns beneath the framework of our thoughts, feelings and behaviors because these are at the root of almost all issues. This is the structure of our life experience. Structure is what provides support, order and stability to everything including thoughts. Structure gives form and defines boundaries. While structure and boundaries are vital to life and form, the concepts of harmony and balance is where we find inspiration and the force behind healing.

Each individual is unique and not all approaches work the same for everyone. Your treatment will be specifically tailored to your needs and personality. I am a certified EMDR specialist and have consistently found that the most effective approach with the longest lasting results involves targeting the root source. Usually a combination of evidenced based modalities are used together to address different issues.

Emotional and psychological trauma is the result of experiencing stressful events that often involve a threat to life or safety. Any situation that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and alone can be traumatic, even if it doesn't involve physical harm. Your subjective emotional experience of an event determines a traumatic experience. Trauma can be caused by a single one-time event or by ongoing stress such as living in a violent environment, or struggling with disease. The effects of trauma can have severe and long-lasting results causing anxiety, depression, numbness, trust issues, and dissociative symptoms. When trauma is not resolved, fear and helplessness carries over into all aspects of life. With the right treatment, you can recover and regain balance and control.