Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care is grounded in and directed by a thorough understanding of the neurological, biological, psychological, and social/relational effects of trauma. It takes into account knowledge about trauma — its impact, interpersonal dynamic, and paths to healing.
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Why We Incorporate Somatic (Body-Centered) Therapy
By working with both the mind and the body, we can deepen our understanding of ourselves and create new and lasting patterns.
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A Trauma Informed Approach to Medication Management
We are thrilled to say that Kyle McKinley has decided to remain at CCIH as both a prescriber and therapist, and will begin offering medication management appointments in November 2023! Kyle is a licensed Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of mental health care experience, who is currently finishing up his year as…
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Let’s Talk About ADHD: Part 1
Despite vast amounts of research articles and books on the subject, Attention DeficitHyperactive Disorder (ADHD) continues to be misunderstood.Part of the confusion may stem from the fact that the name ADHD is a misnomer, considering that there is no deficit of attention. So, what is it ADHD? Rather than a deficit, there is an abundance…
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Building a Somatic Vocabulary
You might be familiar with the “feelings wheel” – a helpful tool in building awareness of emotions that bring more specificity to our experience, especially when trying to communicate it to another person. Identifying our feelings can also help us identify our needs, ways to cope, increase our understanding of self, sense into boundaries, or…
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Learning to Hear the Body’s Wisdom: Some Reflections on Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
If we start with the idea that every symptom makes sense in the context of your unique lived experience and that our work is to honor that wisdom and get curious about new possibilities, we can open up the door for growth to naturally unfold.
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Seeing Suicidal Ideation through a Trauma-Informed Lens
“I don’t want to be here anymore.” These words strike fear in the hearts of all therapists. They remind us of the reality that pain may be so deep and pervasive that someone would think of ending their life. They also raise questions of our legal and moral responsibility for the lives of others. The…
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Coming Back Into Connection
As a trauma therapist, I utilize a body-centered approach with my clients. This means, understanding and respecting the impact of trauma on the body and our physiological states and how our bodies are integral in the process of healing. Trauma can leave us disconnected from ourselves and our bodies as a way to keep us…
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How Our Inner Critic Acts Up In Times of Stress
As a therapist to clients during an unprecedented time, a worldwide pandemic, a modern civil rights movement, an intensely divided political climate, I have a unique privilege to witness and be with individuals as they process and endure through these times. It’s led me to notice a thematic trend amongst my clients, and myself. A…
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The Power of Bearing Witness
Over the past week, I have been reflecting on the article Holding, Containing and Bearing Witness: The Problem of Helpfulness in Encounters with Torture Survivors by Dick Blackwell (1997). In the article, Blackwell (1997) explores the role of the therapist in supporting our client’s wants and needs in therapy, especially with respect to survivors of …
