Grief & Trauma

Transforming Trials

When we experience a difficult life event, that memory can get stuck in our brain and our bodies. It might feel like a record needle is skipping and keeps playing the same song over and over again. It keeps showing up - out of the blue a coworker’s comment triggers feelings of anxiety or dread. You hear a song playing in a retail store that makes you think of a loved one you have lost, and you can’t get out of there fast enough before you collapse in tears. A certain date on the calendar rolls around and your body remembers it before you do. These are natural responses to grief and loss, but we do not have to live in reactivity. Therapy can be a space to tell your story in a safe, supportive environment. At The Counseling Studio, we most often use EMDR to treat trauma, but other forms of therapy can be helpful as well. You and your therapist can work together to decide how you want to grieve. It’s only when we choose to face our pain that it lessens.

FAQs

  • You can simply tell your child that you have made an appointment for her to meet with a counselor, and that this person can play with her and help her work through her feelings.

  • Research shows that play therapy can be efficacious for treating a wide variety of behavioral, social, and emotional problems in children. It enables them to process their experiences and understand their inner world in a way that transcends language.

  • Absolutely not! There is evidence that play and expressive arts activities offer unique access to our inner life and emotions in a way that talk therapy alone may not. The key is that the more we engage our imagination, the more connected we are to our bodies, and able to experience fuller healing.

  • While several interventions may be offered, clients are free to choose what they feel is right for them. Kids and teens naturally gravitate toward play and expressive arts activities, while adults might choose more talk therapy. Adults who do take the risk to engage in activities such as art or sand tray are often surprised at the deep insights they gain!

  • There is no “one size fits all” formula to how long therapy will last. It depends on the presenting issues, frequency of sessions, and investment of the client and family members. As a rough estimate most clients come to therapy for around 6 - 12 months, and children often get better more rapidly than adults.

  • The process starts with a free initial consult by phone with Gretchen Raley. If you mutually agree that she is a good fit for you or your child, you will schedule an intake appointment and receive a link to sign intake forms in the client portal.