Healing Trauma & PTSD/CPTSD

Trauma leaves people in a state of heightened alarm. It’s as if your body thinks the traumatic event is still happening all the time. It’s important then, to focus on ways to release the trauma that may be stored not just in your mind, but in your physical body. Your trauma deserves expert care. I provide psychotherapy for adults with PTSD, CPTSD (developmental trauma and attachment trauma), and survivors of childhood neglect and narcissistic abuse. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you heal from painful trauma, reach out.

How many of these describe you?

  • Stuck in survival mode, being driven by fear and unable to fully relax

  • Secretly dreading each day but having to put on a happy face and pretend like you don’t feel awful inside

  • Easily upset and wishing you weren’t so sensitive

  • Confused or unsure about who you really are and what makes you truly happy

  • Stuck in unhealthy patterns but unable to break them and judging yourself harshly for that

  • Feeling insecure or unsatisfied in your relationships

All of these are symptoms of unresolved trauma - signs that you’re stuck in survival patterns from the past rather than being your fullest, present-moment self.

I’m Hayley and I’ve been there

Hayley Schmidt, LMFT

I know first-hand the effects of trauma and have focused my career on helping traumatized people finally feel good being themselves. Through extensive training and experience, I’ve developed an approach that

  • Clarifies and respects the adaptations that helped you make the most out of harmful situations and environments - clearing up confusion, blame and shame

  • Builds strengths and coping skills as a first priority - putting you confidently back in the driver's seat with concrete tools to manage stress and triggers

  • Trusts the innate ability of the mind/body to process pain and heal given a safe, supportive environment - finally ending the struggle to fix yourself and bringing in healing that feels natural and lasts

  • Safely heals deep wounds, even if you don't know what caused them or can't remember ever feeling differently - it's possible to move forward without having to solve the mysteries of your past

Frequently Asked Questions

  • EMDR is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences and/or trauma. It is an evidence-based method of psychotherapy that helps heal trauma.

    EMDR identifies and addresses experiences that have overwhelmed the brain’s natural resilience, which due to trauma has created harmful coping strategies. 

    EMDR therapy can create a space where clients are able to reprocess traumatic information until it no longer impacts their everyday life. Through treatment clients are able to process memories in ways that leads to more peaceful resolution and feel less triggering.

  • Individual counseling - My standard session fee is $190 per 50-minute individual therapy session.

  • I don’t take any insurance but your insurance company may reimburse you if you submit a request.

  • No. While I’d like to offer in-person sessions, it’s currently not an option for me. However, we can still do great work meeting online.

  • In a nutshell, somatic therapy is a talk therapy approach that incorporates body-based awareness and body-based skills into therapy. This gives you more powerful tools for understanding yourself, regaining control and healing.

  • It's true that things will feel different if we're just seeing each other through a screen and I understand if this is a dealbreaker for you. However, the main way we'll help you heal is through working mindfully with emotions and sensations in your body, which can be done effectively anywhere.

    I've gone thru this kind of therapy myself - my online sessions were really helpful! Plus, I was glad to save all that driving time and to have my own space for processing afterwards

What’s possible for you?

I’d love a chance to hear your story and discuss how we can help you be free to live your fullest. Please reach out for a free, no-pressure video consultation.