Dr. Carolyn Litteral, LPC-S, LCDC, MAC
I am actively deepening my theological education.
I do not claim to be a pastor or spiritual authority —
I am a fellow follower of Christ, learning, studying, and growing alongside you.
I bring my clinical training, my lived experience, my faith, and my humility.
I am here to stand with you, not above you.
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My Services
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
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EMDR Therapy
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) helps the brain reprocess painful experiences so they stop feeling like they are happening right now.
With EMDR, we don’t force you to “relive” trauma or explain every detail.
Instead, we help your brain release what was overwhelming, and reorganize it so you can live with:
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Calm in your body
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Clarity in your mind
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Confidence in your relationships
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A sense of safety and grounded identity
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Emotional freedom
Trauma does not have the final say.
Healing is possible — and measurable.
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Trauma Healing With Me Means
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Safety first — always
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Slow, gentle, nervous-system-supportive pacing
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No shaming, pushing, or rushing
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Understanding your triggers and physical reactions
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Growing emotional tolerance and regulation
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Rebuilding trust in yourself and in others
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Grounding identity in truth, dignity, and wholeness
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Integration of Scripture and prayer if desired
We do not just “talk about” trauma.
We help your brain and body release it.
feel worse? Your past belongs in your past, and we can try and get you out of the past and moving toward the future! EMDR is an evidenced based treatment that can desensitize past memories, events, triggers, and reduce phobias and addiction triggers. A full assessment is necessary to determine if EMDR is a good fit for you. Please read more about how EMDR works and EMDR effectiveness.
Couples Therapy and Premarital Counseling
Strengthening Covenant, Communication, and Christ-Centered Connection
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Sometimes, it feels like no matter how deeply you love someone or how hard you try, things still fall apart. You may even wonder if you're just not “made for” a healthy relationship.
I want you to know — that is not the truth of who God created you to be.
Struggle does not mean failure.
Disconnection does not mean you can’t love well.
It simply means something needs healing — not that you are broken.
I work with couples who desire emotional closeness, safety, and partnership rooted in faith, humility, and evidence-based relationship science.
Whether you are preparing for marriage, rebuilding trust, or strengthening emotional and spiritual intimacy, our work is structured, compassionate, and deeply intentional.
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My Training & Approach for Couples
I am trained at the highest levels in evidence-based relationship therapy, including:
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
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Levels 1, 2, & 3
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Gottman Addiction & Couples Recovery
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Gottman Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work Educator
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Gottman Working With Complex Couples
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
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Certified in Advanced EFT for Couples
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Trained in EFT for relational trauma and attachment injuries
EFT is widely recognized as one of the most effective approaches for couples because it:
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Stops repeating conflict cycles
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Repairs deep emotional injuries
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Strengthens emotional safety and connection
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Builds secure attachment rooted in vulnerability and trust
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Why this matters:
Most couples don’t need “communication tricks” —
they need attachment healing + emotional safety + spiritual alignment.
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Trauma-Informed Christian Relationship Care
Many couples aren’t struggling because of lack of love —
but because old wounds are living in present patterns.
I specialize in couples navigating:
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Trauma inside or outside the relationship
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Betrayal wounds and trust repair
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Addiction and recovery
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Emotional shutdown, resentment, or conflict cycles
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Attachment insecurity
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Christian couples healing through grace and truth
Because trauma impacts bonding and emotional safety, I integrate EMDR for couples to heal personal wounds that interfere with relational intimacy and trust.
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A Christ-Centered, Research-Based Approach
I blend:
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Biblical truth & covenant-focused discipleship
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Attachment science and nervous-system-based healing
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Gottman relationship research
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Advanced EFT for emotional and attachment repair
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EMDR for trauma impacting connection
God created the brain.
God designed attachment.
God heals the heart — and He uses both Scripture and science to do it.
“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14
Individual Therapy: Becoming Who God Designed You to Be
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Individual therapy in my practice is rooted in a simple but sacred truth:
We were created for relationship — with God, with others, and within ourselves.
When relationships are wounded, our sense of security, identity, and emotional grounding can become wounded too.
I work with individuals whose greatest desire is not just relief — but growth, maturity, emotional holiness, and healthy connection.
Many of the people I serve come because they are:
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Healing from relational trauma, betrayal, or abandonment
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Learning to build secure attachment after years of self-protection
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Breaking patterns of codependency, people-pleasing, or self-abandonment
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Rebuilding emotional and spiritual identity after painful relationships
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Seeking emotional stability, boundaries, and Christ-centered connection
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Preparing for godly partnership or strengthening an existing one
You may be in a relationship, between relationships, or prayerfully preparing for one — but the focus is the same:
Healing your relationship with yourself and God so you can love wisely, generously, and securely.
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A Faith-Rooted, Evidence-Based Approach
Scripture tells us:
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“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2
Neuroscience tells us renewal is not just spiritual —
it involves rewiring the nervous system, reshaping emotional patterns, and restoring secure attachment.
Family Therapy
Healing Relationships, Building Unity, and Strengthening Homes
No matter how big or small your family is, it can be challenging to keep everyone happy and connected. Personalities differ. Communication styles clash. Emotions run high. And often, it feels like the same conversations happen over and over — with no real change.
You are not alone in that experience.
Families are beautifully complex, and God designed them as the first place where love, identity, and belonging are formed.
I support families as they learn to:
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Understand each other better
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Strengthen emotional connection
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Improve communication and listening
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Reduce conflict and tension
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Build healthy, God-honoring family rhythms
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Heal wounds and restore trust
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Create a home environment rooted in love, safety, and grace
Whether your family is traditional, blended, single-parent, co-parenting, or multi-generational — you are welcome here, and your story matters.
A Christian + Clinical Approach to Family Healing
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Family therapy with me is grounded in:
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Biblical principles of love, patience, humility, and unity
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Attachment science & nervous-system-based regulation
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Emotion-Focused strategies for connection
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Gottman relational tools adapted for families
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Trauma-informed practices
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Practical parenting guidance
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Child-friendly, play-based, and creative approaches
I believe family healing requires both grace and skill-building:
learning to speak in love, regulate emotions, practice forgiveness, and build healthy patterns together.
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
— Ephesians 4:2
This scripture guides the heart of family work in my office.
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What Sessions Look Like
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I work with children, teens, parents, adult siblings, and multi-generation families.
And yes — I make family therapy fun and engaging, especially for younger family members.
Children should enjoy coming.
Parents shouldn’t feel like the “bad guys.”
Everyone should feel safe, important, and heard.
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Together, we will:
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Strengthen emotional bonds
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Rebuild trust and family culture
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Practice tools to resolve conflict
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Foster mutual respect and empathy
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Support parents in healthy, confident leadership
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Create a shared language for emotions and needs
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Establish household peace and unity
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This is not about blame — it is about becoming a team again.
Sex Therapy
Healing Intimacy, Restoring Safety, and Reclaiming God-Honoring Connection
Sexuality is sacred.
God created intimacy to be a source of connection, joy, closeness, and covenant unity — not shame, fear, disconnection, or pain.
But life, trauma, and relationship wounds can affect our ability to experience intimacy in a healthy way — emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
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Sex therapy in my practice is grounded in:
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Faith and Scripture
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Attachment science and nervous-system healing
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Trauma-informed care
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EMDR and somatic work when appropriate
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Emotion-focused and relational skill building
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Restoration, not performance
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Connection, not pressure
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Holiness, not shame
Healthy sexual connection flows from safety, trust, vulnerability, emotional intimacy, and mutual respect.
Those are the foundations we build together.
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“They shall become one flesh.” — Genesis 2:24
God designed intimacy not just as physical union, but emotional covenant and spiritual unity.​
Who I Serve
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I specialize in sexual healing and intimacy work for:
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Married or committed monogamous
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Individuals seeking to prepare for healthy intimacy
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Those healing from sexual shame or purity-culture wounds
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Trauma survivors seeking safe and embodied reconnection with self and spouse
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Clients navigating desire differences, intimacy challenges, or emotional barriers in marriage
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Individuals rediscovering sexual wholeness after betrayal, addiction recovery, or heartbreak
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I work best with people in monogamous relationships or actively preparing for one.
This is not out of judgment toward others — but because the therapeutic container I offer is built around faith, covenant, emotional securely, and sacred union.
If you hold different relationship values, you will always be treated with dignity and respect — and I will gladly help connect you with another provider who aligns with your needs.
Common Areas We Address
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Low desire or mismatched desire
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Shame around sexuality or the body
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Difficulty with vulnerability or emotional closeness
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Trauma affecting intimacy and touch
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Anxiety or pain related to sex
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Rebuilding intimacy after betrayal or addiction
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Religious shame or spiritual confusion around sexuality
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Reclaiming embodied joy and marital intimacy
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Learning emotionally-connected lovemaking, not duty-based sex
Sex therapy here is never graphic, intrusive, or inappropriate.
We focus on emotional, spiritual, and nervous-system healing, supported by education, reflection, relational repair, and safe embodiment practices — never sexual acts in session.
This is a therapeutic space, not performance coaching.
It is holy work, grounded in dignity and safety.
A Christ-Centered View of Sexual Healing
I believe:
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God designed pleasure with purpose
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Emotional safety precedes sexual freedom
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Intimacy is an expression of covenant love, not obligation
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Healing sexual wounds is sacred and God-honoring
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Shame is not a teacher — love is
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Trauma does not get to define your sexuality
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Redemption includes the body and nervous system, not just the mind
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God can restore what pain has stolen
Sexual healing is not about being “good enough.”
It is about becoming free, safe, whole, connected, and emotionally present.
First Responders, Military, and Law Enforcement (local and federal)
I earned a master's degree and a minor BA in criminal justice in order to have expertise for working with military personnel, first responders, and law enforcement personnel. I have experience working within prison systems and have extensive training in working with all law enforcement, branches of the military, and first responders. I am also conduct debriefings, crisis intervention and crisis response, and trainings on working with individuals with mental illness. I was also the area clinician for the DEA and have familial police and military ties.
Therapy for Addiction
Addiction & Recovery Support
Healing the Heart, Brain, and Relationships — Without Shame
If you are struggling with addiction, you probably feel like every day is a battle.
You may feel exhausted, frustrated, ashamed, or discouraged — especially if others don’t understand how hard it is to stop.
And if you love someone battling addiction, you may find yourself asking:
“Why can’t they stop? Don’t they love us enough?”
You may feel helpless, angry, scared, or overwhelmed — and those feelings are normal when addiction impacts a family.
Addiction is not a character flaw.
It is not a lack of faith or willpower.
And it is not solved by “just stopping.”
Addiction is a brain- and nervous-system-based condition that affects emotions, attachment, decision-making, and relationships — and healing requires compassion, skill-building, and support, not shame.
A Judgment-Free, Shame-Free Approach
I provide addiction support that is:
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Trauma-informed
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Evidence-based
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Dignity-centered
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Rooted in neuroscience and compassion
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Informed by faith and identity in Christ
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Safe for individuals and families affected by addiction
12-step programs can be powerful — but they are not the only path to recovery.
In my practice, we explore multiple approaches to healing, all designed to help you or your loved one:
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Understand the brain and addiction cycle
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Strengthen emotional regulation skills
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Build secure relational support systems
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Break shame, secrecy, and isolation
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Replace coping patterns with healthy tools
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Reconnect with identity, purpose, and God’s grace
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Heal family relationships with boundaries & truth
Recovery is not about judgment —
it is about healing, restoration, and hope.
My Training
I hold two clinical licenses, including:
Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC)
A credential dedicated specifically to addiction treatment, relapse-prevention, and family recovery work.
My integrated approach combines:
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Trauma-informed addiction treatment
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EMDR when trauma contributes to addiction
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Emotion-focused and attachment-based strategies
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Relapse-prevention training
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Neurobiology of addiction education
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Couples and family support
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Spirit-led emotional and identity restoration
Addiction affects both the brain and the heart —
so our plan heals both.
📎 For a video explaining how addiction affects the brain, click here.
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Support for Loved Ones
If you love someone with addiction, you may feel invisible, confused, or exhausted.
I help family members and partners:
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Stop feeling responsible for someone else’s recovery
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Understand addiction without excusing harm
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Set healthy, loving boundaries
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Heal emotional wounds in the relationship
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Build resilience and restore hope
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Reconnect with their own identity, faith, and well-being
You don’t have to lose yourself trying to save someone else.
Your heart matters too.
Rooted in Grace, Truth, and Professional Excellence
Addiction thrives in secrecy, shame, and isolation.
Healing grows in honesty, support, faith, and science-based tools.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
There is no condemnation here — only courage, compassion, and a path forward.
Whether you’re seeking recovery for yourself or support as a loved one, you don’t have to walk this alone.
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Trauma Therapy
Healing the Mind, Body, Nervous System, and Spirit
Trauma isn’t just something that happened to you —
it is something your nervous system remembers.
EMDR is unique in that trauma cannot be treated the same way as everyday stress or life challenges. Trauma lives in the body, not just the mind. You don’t think trauma — you feel it.
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Sometimes you may not even realize your body is reacting to pain from the past. You might tell yourself:
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“It wasn’t that bad.”
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“I should be over this by now.”
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“Other people have been through worse.”
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“I don’t understand why I still feel this way.”
That’s because your body decides what is trauma and what is not.
Your nervous system determines what overwhelmed you — not your logical mind.
Trauma symptoms often show up as:
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Feeling “stuck” or emotionally flooded
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Anxiety or fear that feels out of proportion to the situation
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Trouble trusting or connecting in relationships
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Emotional numbness or shutdown
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Fear of abandonment or conflict
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Shame, self-blame, or feeling “not enough”
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Sudden anger or tears you can’t explain
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Physical tension, exhaustion, digestive issues, headaches
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Feeling triggered without understanding why
You are not “dramatic,” “weak,” or “broken.”
Your system simply held too much for too long — and now it needs support to release it safely.
A Trauma-Informed Approach Rooted in Neuroscience & Faith
I offer trauma-informed care grounded in neuroscience, attachment science, and Christian compassion.
Together, we gently explore how your body and mind metabolized — or “took on” — trauma, and we work to reduce and resolve the distress stored in your nervous system.
This work honors both:
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The God who heals hearts, restores identity, and renews the mind
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The science of how the brain processes safety, connection, and threat
God designed your brain and nervous system with the ability to heal —
and trauma work helps unlock that healing.