What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing something deeply overwhelming, frightening, or life-threatening. Trauma is not defined only by the event itself, but by how your nervous system experienced it—especially when something felt too intense, too sudden, or too unsafe to fully process at the time.
PTSD is not a sign of weakness. It is a natural response of a nervous system that has been pushed beyond its capacity to feel safe.
PTSD can show up in many different ways. Some people experience intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares that feel like the event is happening again. Others notice a strong urge to avoid anything connected to the trauma, including places, conversations, emotions, or even internal sensations. Some people feel constantly on edge, easily startled, or as though their body is always scanning for danger. Others feel numb, disconnected, or emotionally shut down—like they are far away from their own life or unable to feel fully present.
Many people with PTSD notice changes in how they see themselves, others, or the world. It can become difficult to feel safe, to trust, or to believe that things will get better. Even when the traumatic event is long over, the nervous system may continue responding as if the danger is still present.
These responses are the brain and body’s way of trying to protect you. After trauma, the nervous system can become stuck between states of high alert and shutdown, making it hard to feel grounded, calm, or connected.
PTSD can affect relationships, sleep, concentration, and daily functioning, and it often leads people to feel isolated or misunderstood. Many people also feel frustration or confusion about why their reactions are so strong when they “know” they are safe now.
The good news is that PTSD is highly treatable. Trauma-informed therapy can help your nervous system begin to feel safer again, gently process what happened at a pace that feels manageable, and reduce the intensity of intrusive memories, avoidance, and hyperarousal. Over time, it becomes possible to feel more present in your life, more connected to yourself and others, and less controlled by the past.
Looking for a trauma/PTSD therapist in Spokane, WA or online in Washington state? I’m happy to help! Click the link below to start the process and book a free 15 minute consult to answer any questions you may have.
Treatment Approach
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy that helps people process and heal from distressing or traumatic experiences. When difficult memories feel “stuck,” they can continue to trigger strong emotional or physical reactions. EMDR helps the brain reprocess these memories so they feel less overwhelming.
In sessions, you’ll briefly focus on a memory while engaging in guided bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping. This supports your brain’s natural healing process, reducing the intensity of the memory.
IFS
*Note: I am IFS Informed, not certified
Internal Family Systems (IFS), or parts work, is a way of understanding the mind as made up of different “parts” that develop to help us cope and protect us. You might notice different inner experiences that show up in different situations—such as a part that worries, a part that criticizes, or a part that tries to stay in control. In IFS, these parts are not seen as problems, but as protective strategies that developed for a reason.
IFS also works with the idea of a core “Self”—a grounded, compassionate internal presence that can help you relate to your parts with curiosity instead of judgment. The goal is not to get rid of parts, but to understand them and help them feel safer, so they don’t have to work so hard.