Fort Wellness Counseling

TRAUMA THERAPY IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Trauma is not that uncommon. According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, 70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives.

What is Trauma?

Trauma can happen to anyone. It doesn’t mean that you’re weak. Trauma is any event or experience that impacts a person’s ability to function and ultimately results in mental, emotional, physical, and psychological harm. It is a horrific event that either happens to you or you witness. While many people will experience trauma, not all develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the traumatic event. 

Traumatic Scenarios

  • Abandonment
  • Early childhood trauma
  • Attack
  • Intimate partner violence
  • Domestic violence
  • Witnessing a crime 
  • Witnessing a death
  • Unexpected death of a loved one
  • Imprisonment
  • Natural disasters
  • Man-made disasters
  • Combat trauma
  • Automobile accidents
  • Community violence
  • Medical trauma
  • Personal injuries
  • Physical abuse
  • Emotional abuse
  • Psychological abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Sexual assault
  • Traumatic grief
  • Bullying in schools 
  • Bullying in workplaces
Rane Wallace sitting on a chair and taking notes.

What are the symptoms of trauma?

The symptoms of trauma can arise as early as right after the event or even years later. No one’s experience is the same, and no one’s reaction is the same. Some common symptoms that happen after a traumatic event include:

  • Being easily frightened or startled
  • Being more on-guard for danger than usual
  • Self-medicating or self-destructive behavior
  • Difficulty with concentration and focus
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Frightening dreams or nightmares
  • Sudden unwanted memories of the event
  • Flashbacks of reliving the event all over again
  • Uncontrollable emotional distress
  • Avoiding people, places, or things that remind you of the event
  • Avoiding thinking or talking about the event
  • Avoiding feelings and becoming emotionally numb
  • Feelings of hopelessness
  • Memory loss about the traumatic event
  • Detachment from loved ones, passions, and hobbies
  • Isolation from others
  • Lack of interest in normal things or enjoyable activities

Trauma can affect your life in many ways, and help is available. In-person therapy, online therapy, and support groups are available to help you find healthy coping skills to manage your emotions and thoughts associated with the trauma. Trauma therapy can help you cope with the emotional and physical responses caused by the traumatic event with the guidance of a qualified and trained licensed therapist. Many types of therapy are effective in treating trauma, including the following:

Trauma Informed Approach

The CDC’s Center for Preparedness and Response (CPR) and SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC), developed the training for the role of trauma-informed care. The goal of the training was to increase awareness of the impact that trauma can have and the six principles are that a trauma-informed approach.

  1. Safety
  2. Trustworthiness and Transparency
  3. Peer Support
  4. Collaboration and Mutuality
  5. Empowerment Voice and Choice
  6. Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues

Adopting a trauma-informed approach requires a high level of attention, awareness, empathy, and sensitivity.

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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR combines exposure therapy with guided eye movements to work through traumatic memories and alter the reaction to them. It focuses directly on the traumatic memory and changes how it is stored in the brain. This is done by the therapist encouraging the client to focus briefly on a traumatic memory while experiencing bilateral stimulation through eye movements at the same time. This eye movement allows for the emotion associated with the trauma to be reduced.

There are eight phases in EMDR therapy.

  • Phase 1: History-taking
  • Phase 2: Preparing the client
  • Phase 3: Assessing the target memory
  • Phases 4-7: Processing the memory to an adaptive resolution
  • Phase 8: Evaluating treatment results

EMDR Trained vs. EMDR Certified

The difference between being EMDR trained versus EMDR certified is the amount of experience and training. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) developed standards for adequate experience to be considered EMDR trained.

EMDR Trained Standards:

  • Become familiar with the 8 phases of EMDR Therapy beyond the general understanding
  • Understand the proper safety measures
    Learn how to utilize
  • Bilateral Stimulation during treatment properly
  • Learn how EMDR can be applied to specialized treatment
  • Discover how EMDR works and why it’s a useful treatment consideration
  • Learn how to develop a treatment plan for trauma therapy that incorporates EMDR
  • Learn how to guide proper trauma processing for clients


The training process is done over multiple parts for around six months. Once all areas are completed, the therapist will receive their EMDR Training Certificate of Completion and be able to provide EMDR therapy.

EMDR Certified Standards:

  • Initial training program prerequisite
  • Be a licensed mental health professional able to practice independently
  • Become a registered member of the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
  • Work with an approved consultant in EMDR for an additional 20 hours
  • Minimum of 10 hours in individual setting
  • Up to 10 hours may be obtained in a small group setting
  • Complete at least 50 EMDR treatment sessions with a minimum of 25 clients
  • Complete 12 hours of CEUs in EMDR after basic training is complete


Once all the criteria are complete, the therapist can be a Certified EMDR Therapist. Additionally, 12 hours of EMDRIA-approved continued education credits must be conducted biannually to maintain their certification.

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Brainspotting

A brain spot is a point in the visual space that a client has a strong reaction to. By going across the field of vision you can identify how you feel. The premise is that where you look affects how you feel and evoke emotions and sensations. It locates points in the client’s visual field that help to access unprocessed trauma in the subcortical brain which is the area of the brain responsible for motion, consciousness, emotions, and learning. Brainspotting is an innovative therapy approach that combines brain and body based modalities, EMDR aspects, and mindfulness techniques

How long does brainspotting therapy take?

Brainspotting therapy generally takes one to three sessions utilizing eye positioning, mindfulness exercises, and learning mind-body awareness techniques. 

How does brainspotting differ from EMDR?

Brainspotting is a newer type of trauma therapy so there are fewer practitioners than EMDR trained or certified practitioners.  

Two main differences between brainspotting and EMDR are:

  • Brainspotting keeps the eye in a fixed position to focus on one spot of the brain while EMDR uses a side-to-side eye movement to stimulate both sides of the brain
  • EMDR involves a structured phased approach while brainspotting does not.

Common Issues Treated Through Brainspotting Therapy:

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Physical, Emotional, and Sexual Trauma Panic Disorders
  • Chronic Pain
  • Grief and Loss
  • Sports Performance
  • Creativity
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Attachment Issues
  • Childhood Trauma
  • Disassociation
  • Addiction and Substance Use

Schedule Your Brainspotting Session

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

ART therapy is based on the foundation that we can rewire our memories so that they don’t cause us distress. Eye movement and visualization focus on eliminating negative images and sensations and rewiring the mind with positive images. It’s helping people overcome trauma in as little as one session. It is a therapeutic approach that replaces negative thoughts with positive thoughts and removes triggers. ART has been recognized as an evidence-based treatment for psychological trauma. The therapist does not have to hear any details for ART therapy to work. ​

Some benefits of ART for trauma are:

  • You don’t have to go into detail of the trauma or visualize any distressing images.
  • The treatment is generally very brief.
  • Most people find relief quickly, often within the first session.
 

Common Issues Treated Through Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART):

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Grief
  • Substance Use Disorders
  • Chronic Pain
  • Sleep Issues

Schedule Your Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) Session

How Trauma Therapy in Fort Worth can help?

Finding a therapist that specializes in trauma means you should be getting more skill and expertise and improved outcomes. You will have a safe and non-judgemental space to face the fears you have from your traumatic event and learn coping skills to help you recover and function on a daily basis. Trauma therapy can help you develop a new perspective and work through the intensity of the trauma-related emotions.

Karen Blandino

Karen Blandino MEd, LPC

Karen Blandino, MEd, LPC has over a decade of experience in helping individuals, couples, and families as a therapist. She works with teenagers, and adults and specializes in anxiety, depression, grief, post-traumatic stress disorder, religious/spiritual trauma, narcissistic abuse, and trauma. Karen Blandino, MEd, LPC is trained in EMDR therapy.
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Kim Garrett Fort Wellness Counseling

Kim Garrett, LCSW-S, LCDC, CCISM, MBA

Kim has extensive experience and has worked for over 30 years in a variety of clinical settings. She's experienced in an array of topics and is very well respected by her colleagues. She is known for her specialties and expertise in trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief. Kim is a certified counselor in EMDR and a consultant in training for EMDR as well.
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Hannah Causey

Hannah Causey, MA, LPC

As a therapist, she strongly believes in learning from integrative and holistic approaches to benefit and strengthen the mind-body connection. Hannah works with all ages – which includes children, preteen, teenagers, and adults. For trauma work, Hannah provides both Brainspotting Therapy and Accelerated Resolution Therapy.
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Rane Wallace

Rane Wallace, MS, LPC, LCDC, SAP

Growing up, Rane always loved taking things apart and putting them back together. This affinity for figuring out how things work now translates into his innate ability of helping clients understand why they see things the way they do. Rane is trained in EMDR therapy and the founder and owner of Fort Wellness Counseling.
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A therapist at Fort Wellness Counseling taking notes during a counseling session.

Feel Safe Again and Take Back Control of Your Life Through Trauma Therapy at Fort Wellness Counseling in Fort Worth, Texas

We understand that choosing a therapist is challenging and that you have many choices when selecting a counselor or therapist. Our Fort Worth therapists are trained and certified in trauma therapy modalities and are here to help. Experiencing the effects of trauma does not make you weak and you don’t have to go through it alone.