Christian Therapist for women with anxiety and trauma throughout CA &amp; TX

Couples who want to regain their friendship and trust

If you’re ready to take the next steps, click here.

Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali 10/9/24 Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali 10/9/24

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:

Couples who want to regain their friendship and trust

If you’re ready to take the next steps, click here.

Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali 10/2/24 Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali 10/2/24

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.

Enter brainspotting.

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.

Find out more about me here.

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.

Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali 9/18/24 Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali 9/18/24

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: