Christian Therapist for women with anxiety and trauma throughout CA & TX
Why You Should Choose a Trauma Therapist in Houston for Your Healing Journey
You’ve been through so much trauma and pain. All you want is to feel like yourself again, but you have no idea where to start or what to do about it. The good thing is that with the right trauma therapist in Houston, you can indeed experience transformation like you’ve never seen before.
You’ve been through so much trauma and pain. All you want is to feel like yourself again, but you have no idea where to start or what to do about it. The good thing is that with the right trauma therapist in Houston, you can indeed experience transformation like you’ve never seen before.
Before you say “Therapy takes too much time and probably doesn’t work,” I’d like to introduce you to a cutting edge method of trauma healing called brainspotting. It can typically cut down the amount of time you spend in therapy, it goes straight to the deepest layers of your brain where trauma and difficult emotions are stored, and you don’t have to give your therapist a play by play of what happened to you if you don’t want to.
What Does a Trauma Therapist in Houston Do?
The role of a trauma therapist is to guide you in a (hopefully) gentle way so that you are able to work through the traumatic memories and digest them. The outcome should be that those memories no longer haunt you, and you begin to feel as close to normal as possible. We do not promise you that your memory would be wiped clean. Nope. But the desired outcome is that you will be able to live a full life, the constant anxiety will quiet down, healthy relationships will be restored and trauma no longer consumes you.
There are many methods of healing trauma. There is talk therapy, in which you discuss the details of the issue over and over again until it no longer bothers you so much. There is talk therapy in which you don’t necessarily have to go into detail, but you work on the after effects of the trauma- not being able to stand up for yourself, avoiding certain things or people, fear, anxiety, irritability, etc.
There is also non traditional therapy (ike brainspotting and EMDR) in which you’re targeting your brain- which is where traumatic memories and feelings are stored.
It is important that therapy be personalized for you. In my practice, I do not use brainspotting for all people. I’m a therapist, NOT a dictator. Some people prefer talk therapy, some prefer a more hybrid model, and some want strict brainspotting. We do what works for you.
Why Brainspotting is a Game-Changer for Trauma Therapy
I love that brainspotting is not only gentle, but it is also effective. You don’t have to jump through a lot of hoops to get started. After the first assessment session, I jump right into it from session 2. I prep you verbally for a few minutes and then I step back to let your brain do its thing.
Brainspotting essentially utilizes your eye gaze to help you target the specific areas of the brain where trauma is stored. Once you gain access, you can now process then digest the trauma.
You see when trauma is stuck in your brain, you feel the effects- jumpiness, tearfulness, anxiety, anger, dissociation, body aches and pains etc. Wouldn’t it be nice to finally clear out those places where trauma has been locked?
It helps you get to the root of the trauma faster. That means less time in therapy and you can go ahead with your happy life sooner.
Why Choose a Trauma Therapist in Houston: The Local Advantage
When you work with a therapist who is local, they get the culture you are a part of. The Houston area is such a unique place that people from other places might just not understand things like how it takes 20 minutes to drive just 5 miles! (Make it make sense).
It is also important to choose a trauma therapist who gets all the other parts of you- ethnicity, religion, gender, marital status, parenting status, etc. Because you have to feel like your therapist is a great match for you- or else, you won’t be able to open up.
I absolutely love working with highly sensitive Christian women who feel like they have to hold their entire family up. I get their unique needs.
What to Expect from Your Healing Journey with a Trauma Therapist in Houston
The therapy processs starts before the first session. You are on Google, trying to find the right fit. With me, I offer a free 15-minute consultation call.
I learn how you want to be supported, what has worked so far, what hasn't worked, and we discuss the way I work. If we decide we are a great match, then during our first virtual session, I get to know you more.
We’ll go through your spiritual, educational, career, relational and emotional background. All these areas help me better understand how to personalize therapy for you.
During the second session, we jump into brainspotting. While using my pointer, we decide what traumatic experience to focus on. You’ll start to process through the event as if it was happening again. You might cry or feel tense while it’s happening, but if you give it some time, you’ll start to feel a sense of relief and peace. Your own body will guide you.
Essentially we open the door in your mind that has been holding back traumatic memories, As you walk through the door, the memories will have less and less of a hold on you.
It sounds more complicated than it really is.
How to Find the Right Trauma Therapist in Houston for You
It is important to pick the therapist you feel most comfortable with. You can do a Google search, use a therapy directory or ask around. Chances are you know a few friends who have seen an amazing therapist lately.
My best advice is to check out the therapist’s website first. This gives you an idea of their personality, their background, training, fees etc. I am biased but I recommend brainspotting if you are specifically trying to work through trauma.
Next, schedule a free consultation call if the therapist offers it. This gives you a chance to hear their voice and ask whatever questions are on your mind. I tend to be a very transparent therapist who sees myself as your guide- NOT your boss. I believe you have the answers if I ask you the right questions.
Don’t forget to ask them how they work. Will you meet weekly? Biweekly? Monthly? Etc. My preference is to see my clients weekly to start with. This helps create some rapid progress.
If the therapist doesn’t work out for you, don’t suffer through it. Simply go through the process again and find someone new. Sometimes it takes a few tries, but the right therapist is out there waiting for you.
Ready to take control of your healing journey with a brainspotting trauma therapist in Houston? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call so you can experience the transformative power of brainspotting trauma therapy firsthand!
About Me
My name is Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist in California and Texas. I help women who are struggling with trauma, anxiety and insomnia.
I also help couples learn how to speak each other’s language, date each other again and manage conflict in a non-painful way.
Trauma Therapy in Houston: How to Choose the Right Trauma Therapist for You
Finding a therapist is rough work. It’s already hard enough to be going through a tough time, but knowing where to start in picking a new therapist can be just as hard as the actual therapy process.
When you finally summon up the courage to reach out to a few therapists, you are shocked at how many therapists there are in the Houston area alone and how many of them do not respond to your requests. I pride myself in responding to every message I receive within 2 business days.
Now you feel like you are at a loss and no one will help you.
The up side of healing from trauma is that therapy does not have to take years and years. With innovative models of therapy like brainspotting, it is effective and it gets the job done in less time than with traditional talk therapy.
Sounds like music to your efficient, busy and high performing ears!
Now let’s move on to how to find a therapist without too much stress.
What to Look for in a Trauma Therapist in Houston
Before searching online or asking your friends for referrals, take some time to ask yourself what qualities you want in a trauma therapist.
Think about:
Therapist’s Personality (that definitely matters). Do you want someone who can flow between office speak and slang? Or would you rather have a straight laced therapist? I for one like to raise an eyebrow every once in a while, and even though we’re working on trauma, I will have you laughing harder than you’ve done in ages.
Therapist’s Religious Background. I incorporate biblical knowledge into my therapy sessions for my Christian clients who request it. And yes, discussions about the Holy Spirit are abundant. Now, I don’t indoctrinate or interpret scripture, but we do use the Bible as a guide.
Ask yourself if you want therapy to be secular or if incorporating your faith is important.
Therapist’s Gender. You want to go with whomever you are most comfortable with. Don’t force it.
Therapist’s Age. Do you want someone who is close to your age? Older? Younger than you?
Therapist’s Specialty. Please note that not all therapists work with trauma. And brainspotting is a very specialized type of therapy, so if you want brainspotting to be used, ask about this specifically.
Therapist’s Experience. You may ask about how long they’ve been practicing, what they are trained in, as well as their specific experience with the issue that has brought you into therapy.
The ultimate thing is that your therapist must align with your personal healing goals.
How Brainspotting Sets Trauma Therapists in Houston Apart
Brainspotting is my choice when working with trauma because it is fast, gentle, efficient and gets the job done. I’m not here to bash CBT or talk therapy, but I just find that brainspotting helps heal trauma without re-traumatizing you.
As a busy woman in Houston, you don’t have time to waste. You feel like you have lost some time suffering in silence. And once you’re ready to heal, you deserve to be able to jump in and reclaim your life.
Brainspotting essentially uses eye movements to help you connect to the deeper layers of the brain where emotions and deeper trauma tend to be locked up. It’ll help you find the trauma, process it, digest it, then you’re good to go.
Whereas with traditional talk therapy, it might take quite a few sessions for you to get to the roots of your trauma, talking back and forth with your therapist. Brainspotting doesn’t need any detailed explanations or setups- you can dive right in. I tend to start actual brainspotting in session 2.
Why Local Matters: The Importance of Finding a Trauma Therapist in Houston
With virtual therapy, you can work with any therapist who is licensed in Texas, however the beauty of working with a local Houston therapist is they tend to understand Houston culture. You don’t have to spend half the time trying to describe your expriences to them.
They get it.
A local therapist knows the lay of the land, has a good understanding of your frustrations and they just know how to help you all the more.
It is pretty important to ensure that the therapist you pick is a great cultural fit.
What does that mean?
Do they understand the issues you face? Issues of race, gender, immigration status, family of origin issues, high sensitivity issues, work related issues, your entrepreneurship issues, etc. All the little layers that create stress in your life or make you who you are.
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Trauma Therapist in Houston
After you have decided on what you would like in a therapist, it’s time to do an actual search.
Here are 3 general ways to find a therapist:
1) Do a search on Google or social media (Yup, some of us are on IG, Youtube, Facebook, etc)
2) Ask your friends or loved ones for referrals. This doesn’t necessarily guarantee that the therapist they send you will be a cultural fit. But it’s a start.
3) Utilize a therapist directory. Some popular ones are Psychology Today, Therapy for Black Girls, Therapy Den, Melanin and Mental Health.
When you use the above 3 ways, browse the therapist’s profile and website to get a general feel for their personality and if they meet any of the criteria you outlined above (gender, race, experience, speciality, etc).
Next, here are some possible questions to ask the therapist when you have a consultation with them (Not all therapists offer a free consultation like I do).
Questions to ask a prospective trauma therapist:
How long have you been practicing?
What is your educational background?
What are your areas of expertise? Do you specialize in trauma therapy?
Do you use brainspotting?
How would you describe your therapy style?
What can I expect during our therapy sessions?
Feel free to add any other questions that come up for you.
How to Take the First Step with a Trauma Therapist in Houston
Once you’ve gone through the therapists’ websites or profiles, pick about 3-5 that stand out the most to you.
No overthinking.
Just go with your gut. Look on their websites to see if there is a calendar or link for you to book a consultation call.
Once you’ve done a few consults and you’re ready to start therapy, all you really need during your first session is an open mind, some trust in your new therapist and things to keep you comfy.
Some of my clients will have a blanket, comfy footwear (or no footwear at all), water, a pen, a notebook, and of course a tissue box.
Yes, therapy will most likely involve some tears. It’s a part of the process.
Starting therapy is such a brave, empowering step- especially when you decide to pick a cutting edge therapy like brainspotting. But it is your commitment to healing that will eventually have you feeling whole again.
Ready to start your healing journey with a trauma therapist in Houston? Click here to schedule your free 15-minute consultation call for brainspotting therapy and experience trauma therapy designed for you. Let's reclaim your life together!
About Me
My name is Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist in California and Texas. I help women who are struggling with trauma, anxiety and insomnia.
I also help couples learn how to speak each other’s language, date each other again and manage conflict in a non-painful way.
Many of my clients are:
How Brainspotting with a Trauma Therapist in Houston Can Change Your Life
I’ve been a therapist for about a decade now. I’ve worked with people going through severe mental health struggles, complex levels of dysfunction within their family units, and of course, multiple layers of trauma.
One of the complaints I often hear from clients is that they have been to trauma therapy and they just aren’t getting results. They do not want to have to rehash the horrors they have been through.
This really sucks. Imagine being trapped in a hurricane of trauma with no relief in sight?
My goal as a therapist is to make therapy worthwhile and effective for my clients. Why? Because clients usually only come to me after they have been struggling for years, so by the time they get to me, they are completely spent.
Back in the day, I utilized regular talk therapy to help my clients work through trauma, however it just wasn’t cutting it.
I’ve been a therapist for about a decade now. I’ve worked with people going through severe mental health struggles, complex levels of dysfunction within their family units, and of course, multiple layers of trauma.
One of the complaints I often hear from clients is that they have been to trauma therapy and they just aren’t getting results. They do not want to have to rehash the horrors they have been through.
This really sucks. Imagine being trapped in a hurricane of trauma with no relief in sight?
My goal as a therapist is to make therapy worthwhile and effective for my clients. Why? Because clients usually only come to me after they have been struggling for years, so by the time they get to me, they are completely spent.
Back in the day, I utilized regular talk therapy to help my clients work through trauma, however it just wasn’t cutting it.
What is Brainspotting, and How Does It Help?
Brainspotting essentially is a breakthrough method of helping you process trauma without having you go over the gory details of what happened to you over and over again.
The idea behind brainspotting is “Where you look affects how you feel.” By utilizing your eye gaze, I help you connect to the deeper layers of the brain where the trauma lives. You will connect to emotions and memories you have buried deeply- but at your own pace. Once you do this, you can now explore, then digest the trauma.
The outcome?
Freedom from the chokehold that trauma has you locked in.
And what I love even more is that brainspotting is multifaceted. It is useful for anxiety and getting unstuck. Some athletes even use it to improve their performance. I’ve heard actors and performers find it useful too.
If you can find a trauma therapist who is adequately trained in brainspotting, I tell you that it will change your life forever. Powerful healing is right in front of you.
Brainspotting verse traditional therapy
I often define brainspotting as “Therapy on steroids.” Because I find that the progress you make from just 1 brainspotting session can only be compared to the progress you can make from multiple traditional talk therapy sessions.
With talk therapy, you have to rely on the intuition, training and competence of your therapist to ask the right questions and to guide you to the place they think you should go in your mind.
With brainspotting, you are in charge. Your therapist isn’t telling you what to work on. You will innately bring up what needs to come up. This is amazing because trauma already makes you feel as if you have lost all control of your mind and body. Brainspotting can empower you to reconnect with your mind and body.
With traditional therapy, your therapist helps you calm down, regulate your emotions and pokes and prods until they have hit the right target. But with brainspotting, your body innately tells you what to talk about- without unnecessary interference from the therapist.
The right trauma therapist in Houston who specializes in brainspotting can masterfully help you learn to trust your body, find calm amidst the storm in your mind and show you how to ask for what you want. A brainspotting therapist functions as a guide- NOT as the expert who is telling you what to do. It is faster and more effective for trauma processing than traditional methods of trauma processing.
If you are ready to clear trauma, find a trauma therapist in Houston who is trained in brainspotting.
What to Expect in Your First Brainspotting Session with a Trauma Therapist in Houston
A typical brainspotting session begins with the therapist asking you what you would like to work on. It could include a memory, or just a general statement like “I feel my heart beating fast everytime I cross the street.”
I will then ask you what emotion comes up when you think about the above statement. Then you locate where the emotion sits in your body and rate it from 1-10.
After that I give you the space to see what comes up for you. Some people are quiet the entire time, while they feel their thoughts swirling around. And others verbally talk through what is coming up for them. It feels like being caught in a whirlwind of emotions, followed by a strong resolution and then, peace.
It is safe, non evasive and helps you move according to your own pace.
My job as a trauma therapist in Houston is to provide a supportive and personalized approach for women.
The Life-Changing Benefits of Brainspotting Therapy
Brainspotting is life changing. After the brainspotting session, you might even continue processing the trauma in your sleep (don’t worry, no nightmares). It’s like your brain helps you iron out the kinks so that you can remove the trauma that was trapped in your brain.
My clients have experienced emotional clarity, decreased anxiety, a deeper connection with their body, and of course, healing from past trauma.
Imagine having spent years of your life being trapped with the effects of trauma. In just a few brainspotting therapy sessions, you can now sleep again, you don’t overthink things, your confidence soars, you feel connected to your body again and you can speak up for yourself.
Amazing!
How to Find the Best Trauma Therapist in Houston for Brainspotting
The single most effective factor in the success of therapy is the connection you share with your therapist. Make sure you not only find out if the therapist is an actual therapist (check their license status online), but read their website or profile to see if they resonate with you.
You can start with a Google search, or use a therapy directory such as Psychology Today, Therapy Den, Melanin and Mental health or Therapy Den. There are many others out there.
My clients typically come to me because they like my background. They like that they can dress however they want. No persona needed. I’m also an immigrant, so I get what it is like to feel different.
I laugh A LOT, I show up most times with my Afro hair. I will guide you, support you and check you. Yup, sometimes shade is thrown. But I will also teach you how to be more of your authentic self. Period.
Ready to see how Brainspotting with a trauma therapist in Houston can transform your life? Click here to book your free consultation call with me for brainspotting trauma therapy and take the first step toward a brighter, healthier future.
About Me
My name is Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist in California and Texas. I help women who are struggling with trauma, anxiety and insomnia.
I also help couples learn how to speak each other’s language, date each other again and manage conflict in a non-painful way.
Many of my clients are:
Couples who want to regain their friendship and trust
If you’re ready to take the next steps, click here.
Finding the Best Trauma Therapist in Houston and Katy: Empowering Women to Heal
You’ve had it rough. Lots of cruel, sad things have happened to you, and you’re not sure how you’ve survived or made it this far. You’ve noticed that you’re snappy, you struggle to engage with friends, and your walls are up. Maybe it’s time to find a great trauma therapist in Houston to help you finally heal from the trauma.
You’ve had it rough. Lots of cruel, sad things have happened to you, and you’re not sure how you’ve survived or made it this far. You’ve noticed that you’re snappy, you struggle to engage with friends, and your walls are up. Maybe it’s time to find a great trauma therapist in Houston to help you finally heal from the trauma.
You’re tired of being a hard shell. You want to enter your soft girl era.
Trauma therapy is so important because it helps you process through all the yucky memories that are sitting in your body and mind. They say the body doesn't forget.
And that is why I love brainspotting trauma therapy. It’s a non traditional way of approaching trauma in a gentler, but still effective way. With traditional talk therapy it might take a really long time to even feel comfortable broaching the topic of trauma.
But with brainspotting, you can jump right in. Your body does the work for you. And it takes you where you need to go without all the overthinking and cerebral-ness you’ve grown accustomed to.
We know that trauma can have you feeling disconnected from your own body. Brainspotting therapy helps you feel at home again.
So if you’re a woman in Houston or Katy who knows that the time is right for trauma therapy, please know that the first step is to find the right trauma therapist for you. Because the single most important factor in the success of therapy is the fit between the therapist and the client.
What Does a Trauma Therapist in Houston Do?
My job as a trauma therapist is simply to create a safe container so that we can begin to give you access to some of the memories that are locked safely inside your brain.
You see, when you go through trauma, your body does a protective thing by helping you forget some of the information. The problem is from time to time, when you least expect it, some of these memories seep back in at the most inconvenient of times.
And so you sometimes find yourself crying, feeling angry, muscle tightening up, not trusting loved ones, feeling unsafe, and just wanting to crawl up into a ball.
My job is to give you a safe way to begin to unlock and kinda digest those memories so they stop controlling you. In addition to opening you up during brainspotting, I bring in additional skills to help you calm and soothe your body. Because I don’t want you feeling like you have lost all control when you're at the office, when you’re trying to raise your kids or when you’re simply driving down the street.
Why Houston and Katy are Great for Finding Specialized Trauma Therapy
The great thing about the Houston area and Katy being so large is that there is a wide array of competent trauma therapists to choose from. There also is a positive culture of seeking physical and emotional wellness here. You can narrow down by gender, ethnicity, years of experience, style, location, personality, religion etc. You basically have your pick- and that’s a great spot for you to be in.
Brainspotting: A Unique Approach to Healing Trauma
So let’s go back to brainspotting. If you've been doing your research on trauma therapy, you’ve probably heard about EMDR therapy. Well, brainspotting, in my opinion, is the gentler cousin of EMDR.
Brainspotting utilizes your eye movements to help you locate the trauma in the brain so that you can digest it and eliminate it.
There isn’t a whole lot of talking from your therapist. It feels like you get locked in the zone and your brain will naturally bring up whatever needs to come up. I call it ‘Supercharged therapy.’ It’s great for the busy woman who is definitely ready to heal, but does not want to spend a ton of time going back and forth with her therapist.
How Brainspotting Differs from Traditional Talk Therapy
With traditional talk therapy, you might have to give your therapist a play by play of exactly what happened to you. Your therapist asks you questions, you answer them, and then you ping back and forth.
But sometimes giving a play by play of exactly what happened feels like you are getting traumatized all over again.
Let’s be honest, as a busy woman, who has time for all that? You want to get straight to the root of the trauma and yank it out (gently of course) from your brain so it stops controlling you.
Finding a Trauma Therapist in Houston Who Specializes in Brainspotting
If you have decided that you are indeed ready for trauma therapy, then it’s time to start your search.
You can just start with a simple google search. Type in “Trauma therapist Houston” or “Brainspotting therapist Houston.” This is where you need to trust your gut. Pull up the first 5-7 websites and read through them.
Does the therapist appear approachable?
Do they mention trauma or brainspotting?
What are your first impressions of the therapist? Go with that. If you feel meh, then skip on by and move on to the next person.
Once you have narrowed it down to about 3-4 therapists you like, you can schedule a consultation call to see if you feel comfortable with them. Now is the time to be clear on what you want to accomplish, find out about the therapist’s background and style.
If Google searches aren’t your thing, you can use a therapist directory, so you can narrow down by gender, specialty, religion, etc. Some helpful therapist directories are:
What to Expect During Your First Session with a Trauma Therapist
The first step in trauma therapy is typically the assessment session. If I were your therapist, I would want to know all the things about you because it helps me know what interventions to bring in for you. I do not offer cookie cutter service. Period.
You’ll learn about your rights as a client, your responsibilities a client, my responsibilities to you as a therapist, we’ll also talk about your upbringing, social environment, emotional status, romantic relationships, how your career is going, spiritual life, prior diagnoses and experiences with physical and mental health.
All. The. Things.
Why do I need to know this? Because I am looking at you as a unique human. I am assessing to see if trauma therapy is right for you. We are also building a rapport. You’re getting used to me and vice versa.
I will also walk you through what to expect from brainspotting, so that there will be no ugly surprises.
How Trauma Therapy Helps Women in Houston and Katy Reclaim Their Lives
Why do I love brainspotting trauma therapy so much? Because it frees women. They come in feeling small, stifled, overwhelmed, stuck, burdened. And they leave feeling like they can speak up, lift their heads up and go through life without the ugly fog that has been hanging over their heads for years
Taking the First Step: How to Connect with a Trauma Therapist in Houston
Although I’ve already said this, I need to drive it home. Once you select 3-4 therapists, reach out to them through their website or the therapist directory.
Ugly secret. Some therapists will not give you a call back (Not me. I respond to every single email, text and voicemail within 2 business days). It’s because we typically are solo business owners who are doing all the things alone. Don’t fret. If you don’t get a timely response, just move on over to the next person on your list.
Please know that it might take you a few tries to find the therapist for you. But please keep trying until you find the right match.
Ready to start your healing journey with a trauma therapist in Houston? Click here today to book your free consultation call for Brainspotting trauma therapy in Houston and take the first step toward reclaiming your life.
About Me
My name is Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist in California and Texas. I help women who are struggling with trauma, anxiety and insomnia.
I also help couples learn how to speak each other’s language, date each other again and manage conflict in a non-painful way.
Many of my clients are:
What Happens in Trauma Therapy? A Guide from a Trauma Therapist in Houston
Trauma is everywhere. That’s a scary thought. But because most people know what trauma is, it is important to understand the process of healing one’s trauma through therapy.
There is a growing need for specialized trauma therapists in Houston, because the world is getting harsher and harsher. People are no longer willing to suffer in silence- which is AMAZING!
But sometimes, seeking help for the trauma that has you in a chokehold feels scary. You might have heard horror stories about people who have gone to therapy. Or maybe your mama has warned you to never tell strangers your business.
And as an adult woman, you might also feel like you are way too busy to spend about 1 hour each week talking through trauma.
Today I’m about to help silence your fears and give you some insight into what trauma therapy actually is.
Trauma is everywhere. That’s a scary thought. But because most people know what trauma is, it is important to understand the process of healing one’s trauma through therapy.
There is a growing need for specialized trauma therapists in Houston, because the world is getting harsher and harsher. People are no longer willing to suffer in silence- which is AMAZING!
But sometimes, seeking help for the trauma that has you in a chokehold feels scary. You might have heard horror stories about people who have gone to therapy. Or maybe your mama has warned you to never tell strangers your business.
And as an adult woman, you might also feel like you are way too busy to spend about 1 hour each week talking through trauma.
Today I’m about to help silence your fears and give you some insight into what trauma therapy actually is.
The good news is that trauma therapy doesn’t have to involve a whole lot of time and a whole lot of talking. With unique and cutting edge therapies like brainspotting, you can finally work through your trauma in less time than traditional trauma therapies.
Regardless of what type of therapy you embark on, there will be an element of apprehension. It comes with the territory. But luckily, a very skilled trauma therapist can have you feeling safe and comfortable in very little time.
What Does Trauma Therapy Involve?
Trauma therapy might sound big and scary, but it might not be as bad as you imagine. The first step in trauma therapy is finding a therapist you are comfortable with.
How will you know when you find them? You’ll know. It’s the feeling of “She gets me and I feel safe with her.” Trust your gut always.
Your first session would probably be an assessment session. Your therapist would ask about previous experiences in therapy, what your social life looks like, your upbringing, maybe some childhood experiences, your family life, what brings you into therapy, what you’re looking to get out of therapy, your educational background and work life, your emotional health, physical health and a whole lot more.
Why do we do this?
Because trauma therapy is not cookie cutter. When I know you better, it gives me insight into how to better help you.
During the second session this is when I first introduce brainspotting- which in my opinion, is a much more powerful and effective way to process trauma than traditional talk therapy. The main difference is that with brainspotting, we literally jump straight into the trauma during the second session. Why waste time?
With the power of eye movements and some strategic guidance on my part, I am able to help you access exactly where those emotions and experiences have been trapped in your brain- all in under an hour.
But with talk therapy, it might take multiple sessions before you are able to access the things that have been locked in the recesses of your brain. At first glance, brainspotting might seem a bit harsher than talk therapy, but it gets the work done faster.
There is also no guessing. In traditional talk therapy, your therapist has to gently coax memories out of you. None of that exists during brainspotting. Your brain will naturally guide you to where you need to go- thereby boosting your confidence too.
The Role of a Trauma Therapist in Houston: Guiding You Through Your Healing Journey
My job as a trauma therapist is to be your guide. Although you and I might have different educational backgrounds, I believe that you know yourself better than anyone else. Yes, I am a mental health expert, but you are the expert of your own brain and body.
I understand the unique needs of women, because oftentimes we don’t have the luxury of time to sit still and take care of our own mental health needs.
So in the under 1 hour that you work with me, my job is to help you prioritize yourself, validate yourself, find safety and help give you the tools so that you can continue to function as the high performing woman that you are.
I specifically love that brainspotting is so empowering to women. It helps you feel like you belong in your own body again. You are no longer frightened by the difficult memories. You learn how to ask for what you want, to comfort yourself when you need it, and to express emotions appropriately.
Brainspotting helps you get your power back, because we know that trauma could have you feeling completely weak and stuck.
How Brainspotting Works: A Deeper Look into Trauma Therapy
Brainspotting basically helps stop overthinking, over rationalizing and can help connect you to the more emotional part of your brain. When one goes through trauma, sometimes you shut off the emotional part of you in order to protect yourself. But a fully functioning woman deserves to have full access to both her thoughts and her emotions.
Let’s learn a bit of brain science.
Most of us are engaging the frontal cortex when we talk, when we make everyday decisions. But we typically neglect the emotional centers. But with brainspotting, the frontal cortex gets to take a break (no more overthinking), so that you can have access to the deeper areas of the brain where your emotions are (and where trauma is stored).
Why is this helpful?
Because traumatic emotions literally make you feel like you are trapped. When you are able to access these emotions at a deeper level and digest them, you can be set free from the pain of trauma.
What to Expect During Your First Session with a Trauma Therapist in Houston
After the assessment session that I mentioned previously, you are now ready to begin brainspotting. Yup! Just like that. You don’t need fancy prep work.
The second session is where I introduce brainspotting. You’ll decide what issue or memory you would like as the target of the session. Then I’ll ask you what emotions are coming up for you and where you sense it in your body (brainspotting is really great for helping improve your mind-body connection).
Once this is done, I take a step back and allow you to see what comes up.
It will feel like you are taking a series of wild turns in your brain. Some people talk through it, while others are silent. But it will feel like your thoughts are moving rapidly until you find a resolution. And yes, you will eventually reach a point in the brainspotting session where you feel like you have digested the issue.
Just. Like. That.
If you’ve never experienced brainspotting, I realize this will all sound wacko. But once you experience it, it makes all the sense in the world.
Is Trauma Therapy Right for You? Finding the Best Trauma Therapist in Houston
Now brainspotting feels remarkably different from traditional trauma therapy. For one, your therapist won’t be doing a whole lot of talking. Instead, you will be given the space to explore the emotions as they naturally come up.
I do have to say brainspotting can feel intense, but once you get all the emotions out, the catharsis is HUGE. Some clients say they had the best sleep of their lives after a brainspotting session.
If you are ready to trust the process and truly heal from trauma, then it might be the right type of therapy for you.
Now, on to choosing the right trauma therapist in Houston.
Go with someone whom you feel will listen to you, guide you and will match your general vibe. Ensure that they actually do have training in some type of modality that deals with trauma.
Before selecting a therapist, go through their website, ask to schedule a consultation call so that you can get a sense of their personality. Because if it’s not a cultural fit, it just won’t work.
What do I mean by cultural fit?
For example, when working with me, I literally don’t care how you dress. Show up in a bonnet, a blanket and some pajamas, and I’m fine, as long as you are cozy.
I also inject a lot of slang, laughter and lightness into sessions. Sure we’re working on trauma, but we have to live right? Yup! I also understand the unique needs of immigrants, Christian women, first gen folks and highly sensitive people. So I weave all of this into my work with you.
Ready to take the next step in your healing journey with a trauma therapist in Houston? Click here to book your free consult call for brainspotting trauma therapy and reclaim your life today!
About Me
My name is Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist in California and Texas. I help women who are struggling with trauma, anxiety and insomnia.
I also help couples learn how to speak each other’s language, date each other again and manage conflict in a non-painful way.
Many of my clients are:
Everything you need to know about trauma therapy in Houston
We’ve all heard about trauma. And it’s difficult to define. I simply tell my clients that trauma is anything that you define as trauma.
It’s that simple. If it left a mark and it feels like it has you in a chokehold, then it is trauma. I’m not a fan of invalidating your experiences.
But trauma is unfortunately everywhere. Even long after the event or events are over, trauma is a horrible thing that leaves its mark. You try to shake it off, but it seems to have seeped into your bones and pores.
We’ve all heard about trauma. And it’s difficult to define. I simply tell my clients that trauma is anything that you define as trauma.
It’s that simple. If it left a mark and it feels like it has you in a chokehold, then it is trauma. I’m not a fan of invalidating your experiences.
But trauma is unfortunately everywhere. Even long after the event or events are over, trauma is a horrible thing that leaves its mark. You try to shake it off, but it seems to have seeped into your bones and pores.
You lay awake thinking about that horrible thing that happened to you. You find that you’re no longer as friendly or as trusting of others as you used to be. The world now feels darker. Colder.
The good news is that even though trauma left you wounded, it’s possible for us to work together to begin to patch up the wounds. You might be left with some scars, but you don’t have to be permanently defeated.
Today I’m simply going to answer some questions you might have about trauma therapy in Houston. And I’ll let you decide if it’s for you.
Because at the end of the day, you know what’s best for you.
Is Trauma therapy Worth it?
Before you begin on your journey of healing, know that trauma therapy is not for the faint of heart. To heal your trauma, you might have to revisit some of the scary places in your mind. There will be tears, fear, anger, sadness, disdain, and all the other emotions in between, before you finally get to a place of healing, joy and peace.
If you are ready to begin to slowly peel off some of the protective layers that have kept you safe, then I’d say trauma therapy is well worth it for you. But if you are not yet ready to go there, then maybe it’s not the right time for you.
And that’s okay.
If you are thinking, “I’m ready to heal my trauma, but I’m not interested in giving my therapist a play by play of exactly what happened.” Then you have come to the right place. Because there are many different approaches to healing trauma.
With traditional talk therapy, you might have to talk about the exact details of what you experienced. But with a non traditional style like EMDR trauma therapy or Brainspotting trauma therapy, you do not have to go over the gory details of your trauma in order for therapy to be successful.
Click to watch my video “What exactly is brainspotting?
Click to watch my video “How does brainspotting work?
What is the difference between therapy and trauma therapy?
In my opinion, there really isn’t much of a difference. Therapy helps you work towards specific goals, while trauma therapy has its main goal as healing your trauma. Not every therapist is a fan of trauma therapy (because it does take a very specific set of skills to execute the work properly and there is also a risk of the therapist being traumatized too as they hear your stories).
So if you are going to do trauma therapy, ensure that your therapist is indeed a trauma therapist.
How do you know if your therapist is a trauma therapist? Just ask.
What makes a therapist a trauma therapist?
Training.
Let me give you a brief crash course in therapy education. When we get our masters degrees in social work, counseling, psychology or marriage and family therapy, we get an overview of different types of therapy. we are tauught about several different diagnoses and we get snippets on how to intervene. And we also get thousands of hours in face to face practice with real clients.
After we graduate, we can decide to pursue further training in whatever areas we feel will be beneficial to us and our clients.
For example, I have further training in Gottman method couples therapy, Dialectical Behavior therapy, Brainspotting trauma therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, amongst many others.
In the case of trauma therapists, we have decided to pursue additional trainings in areas that could help our clients heal from trauma. My preference for trauma therapy is brainspotting hands down.
Why do I love brainspotting for trauma?
I like it because it is much gentler than talk therapy. I worked with clients on their traumas for years using traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and I struggled with it. It was exhausting to both me and them. I also found that it just didn't suit my clients who were sick and tired of talking about the gory details of their trauma over and over again.
Talking over and over again about something that has haunted you for years just didn’t seem so helpful.
Another struggle I faced with trauma therapy is it didn’t seem to be a good match for clients of certain cultures. And it is very important to me that I am able to hold space for clients from some of the non dominant cultures.
In some cultures, it really isn’t acceptable to tell everyone and their mama your business. And talk therapy is just that- telling your business.
But with brainspotting trauma therapy, my clients can work on their trauma in silence if they want to. They don’t have to come to me for years and years, and it is still very effective. Brainspotting gets the job done in a much shorter amount of time than talk therapy.
Boom! It’s a win for me and a win for my clients.
My goal as a therapist is to see my clients feel healed and free.
Which therapy is best for past trauma?
I am biased. My preferred approach for trauma therapy is definitely brainspotting. My clients have gotten great results from it. And I don’t change a winning strategy.
Now you can pretty much get great results from other types of trauma therapy, but brainspotting tends to get my clients results pretty quickly. Trauma therapy isn’t easy for anyone, so why not rip the bandage off quickly so we can zoom right on over to the healed part of us?
When not to do trauma therapy
Now although I am a great fan of trauma therapy and trying to stop trauma from controlling you, but trauma therapy isn’t for everyone.
If you do not feel you are ready to go looking for skeletons in your closet, then maybe trauma therapy isn’t for you.
If you do not feel like you are ready to commit to regular therapy sessions, then trauma therapy isn’t your jam.
If your therapist is not indeed a trauma therapist, then please find one.
If it is difficult for you to trust the process, then trauma therapy will be harder. There will be tears and discomfort before we get to the healing part.
And there you have it- some simple nuggets to answer your questions about trauma therapy in Houston.
If you are ready for trauma to stop controlling your entire existence and you want to finally heal what was broken, click here to schedule your free consultation call for brainspotting trauma therapy in Houston.
About Me
My name is Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist in California and Texas. I help women who are struggling with trauma, anxiety and insomnia.
I also help couples learn how to speak each other’s language, date each other again and manage conflict in a non-painful way.
Many of my clients are:
Ready to get rid of anxiety, finally kick insomnia or for marriage counseling?