Deep Creative Living
Trauma therapy & anxiety treatment in Cottage Grove, Oregon
You Don’t Have to Stay on High Alert
In person in Cottage Grove and online across Oregon.
Does any of this sound familiar?
- You’re exhausted from being “on,” even when nothing is wrong.
- Your mind runs worst-case scenarios, or won’t shut off at night.
- Your body carries it: a tight chest, a clenched jaw, a knot in your stomach.
- You overthink, overwork, or over-give to keep everyone else okay.
- You know your reaction is bigger than the moment, and you can’t talk yourself out of it.
- Coping tools help for a while, and then the anxiety finds its way back.
If you recognize yourself here, this isn’t a character flaw, and you aren’t failing at being calm. Anxiety is often a sign of a mind and body working very hard to protect you.
Why anxiety so often has roots
Sometimes anxiety is about what’s happening right now. But in my experience, it frequently has roots further back. When an experience overwhelms us, whether it’s a loss, a frightening event, years of walking on eggshells, or growing up without feeling seen or safe, a part of us learns to stay alert so it never happens again. That part keeps working long after the danger has passed.
You don’t need a dramatic story to benefit from trauma therapy. Many people say, “Nothing terrible happened to me, so why do I feel like this?” Trauma isn’t only about what happened. It’s about what your system had to do to get through it, and how those survival patterns still shape your days. Patterns that were learned can be gently unlearned.
How we’ll work together
Trauma therapy doesn’t have to mean reliving everything. We begin by building steadiness, and we move only as fast as your system can handle. You stay in control of the pace. Depending on what fits you, our work may draw on:
- EMDR, a widely researched approach that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they lose their charge.
- Brainspotting, which uses where you’re looking to help you reach and process what’s held in the body and deeper brain.
- The Flash Technique, designed to lower the intensity of distressing memories without requiring you to relive them.
- Internal Family Systems (IFS), which helps you meet your anxious, protective parts with curiosity instead of criticism.
- Mindfulness, tapping (EFT), and DBT skills, practical tools to calm your body and steady your mind between sessions.
- Depth psychology and dreamwork, for people who want to understand the deeper story behind their patterns.
No two people need the same combination, so your plan is built around you.
What it can feel like when the anxiety loosens
Everyone’s path is different, and I can’t promise a specific result. But as old survival patterns soften, people often hope to notice:
- A calmer baseline, so small stresses stop feeling like emergencies
- Easier sleep and a body that can actually rest
- Fewer spirals, and the ability to pause before reacting
- Less need to please, prove, or perform
- Being present with the people you love instead of braced for what’s next
The goal isn’t to turn you into someone else. It’s to let the person you’ve always been come back into view, with more ease, confidence, and freedom.
Your first sessions
We start with a free 15-minute conversation, so you can ask questions and see if we’re a good fit. In our first session, we’ll talk about what’s been happening, what you’ve tried, and what you want your life to feel like. You won’t be asked to dig into your hardest memories right away. Early on, the focus is on understanding your patterns and building resources, so that when we do the deeper work, you’re steady enough to do it well.
A place for both science and spirit
If you want a purely clinical approach, that’s exactly what you’ll get. If meaning, mindfulness, or spirituality matter to you, we can bring those in too. Your beliefs and values guide the work.
Practical details
Sessions are in person in Cottage Grove, Oregon, or online for anyone located in Oregon. Insurance is accepted for therapy. Private-pay sessions are $195 for 60 minutes or $295 for 90 minutes; longer sessions can be especially helpful for trauma processing.
You don’t have to stay stuck
You’ve been strong for a long time. You can let something else carry some of that weight.