Trauma Counseling

We Seek Trauma Counseling for:

• Acute trauma: sudden and clear experiences of trauma

• Chronic trauma that occurs slowly and over time

• Natural disasters

• Cultural trauma

• Generational trauma

• Complex trauma

• Physical harm and abuse

• Sexual abuse

• Childhood trauma

Play Therapy, Sand Tray, and Trauma

Emotional pain often exists in the realm “beyond words.” Additionally, children have a smaller vocabulary for expressing themselves. Play therapy helps children express themselves in child therapy.

Registered play therapists use toys and play to facilitate children’s expression of and meaning-making related to traumatic events. Dr. Keller is a registered play therapist trained to harness the therapeutic powers of play to facilitate growth and healing in children. She has specific training in using sand tray in play therapy.

Sand Tray and Trauma

Sand tray is also useful with teens and adults who have experienced trauma. Sand tray draws on the power of metaphor to communicate powerful stories to both the conscious and the subconscious mind. Sand tray offers a “safe container” for the expression of what can often feel beyond the expression of words. Through the use of sand tray, many clients feel they can finally share their traumatic stories. And, just as importantly, have the felt sense that their stories are beheld and witnessed for the first time. This can be a powerful step in the trauma healing journey as clients work to make new and sense and meaning of traumatic events. 

Trauma: Mind, Body, and Soul

Trauma can effect all aspects of our lives. In addition to our emotional experience, we often have physical experiences in response to trauma and traumatic events. Some trauma is described by clients as a “soul-wound.” This is especially true, for example, when clients feel strongly about something that is dismissed and minimized by others and society at large. One example, is what some healthcare professionals described during the more difficult times related to the recent pandemic. Trauma may invite us to question the meaning of our life’s work and our lives. Therefore, trauma my bring into therapy questions about God, religion, and spirituality.

Religion, Spirituality, and Trauma

Trauma can invite explorations related to God, religion, and spirituality. Dr. Keller conducted her dissertation research on religion and spirituality in counseling. She is dedicated to cultural humility and learning about the world’s religious and spiritual paths so she can better honor and understand her clients’ worlds. Specifically, She is aware that religion and spirituality offer support to clients who are suffering from trauma. She also understands that some clients will question their faith when faced with trauma and abuse. She makes space for holding all of her clients’ emotions and experiences during trauma counseling.