WeLCOMe!
I’m Lorena Abarr, a licensed trauma therapist and certified emdr practitioner.
I’m so glad you’re here.
this is AN ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING PRACTICe dedicated to supporting folx to
create More space for joy
When people first come to see me, they’re often holding it together on the outside but underneath it all they’re overwhelmed and worried that their ways of managing no longer work for them.
They’ve gone through recent or past big T or little t trauma, major life stress or a tough loss at some point in their life. These past things that they’ve been through are still with them day to day way more than they’d like, and affect the way they feel about themselves, and their ability to do the things in life the way they’d like to.
They often hold tension and tightness in their bodies and may even experience chronic pain. Oftentimes they’re having problems sleeping, either with getting to sleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much.
Relationships are sometimes not going the way that they’d hoped, and they may let people walk all over their boundaries, or feel bad about saying no or prioritizing their own health and needs.
They imagine that joy, more ease, and the life they wish for could be within reach, but they aren’t sure how to get there or where to even start.
It is possible to recover from trauma and related depression, anxiety and grief. We can work together to help you resolve the parts of your life that feel stuck and to gain the clarity and skills needed to find your best path forward.
Specialty Focuses
There are specific clients for whom I have additional postgraduate clinical training and with whom I tend to do my best and most sparkling work. These include members of the LGBTQIA community, women, folks who are facing the challenges of mid life, survivors of narcissistic abuse, and those who have been diagnosed with a chronic physical health condition.
Trauma & Grief Therapy
For Adults Of All Ages
I know how to work with all kinds and presentations of trauma and have years of experience combining tailored modalities to help clients resolve it and find their unique healing path forward.
Hello! I’m Lorena. (she, her)
MS, LCPC, RYT – Licensed Integrative Trauma Therapist, EMDRIA Certified EMDR Practitioner, and Registered Yoga Teacher
I work with people who are craving change and are ready to show up consistently to do the work, persevering at their own pace.
We all go through stress, big “T” or small “t” trauma, and grief in life, and oftentimes it resolves on its own within the context of the natural supports and protective factors in our lives. But sometimes it piles up and overflows in a way that causes it to get stuck. Those who I work with have been through some really tough times at some point- a singular or ongoing traumatic event from adulthood or childhood, or a loss that was complicated, and some part of their experience has gotten stuck in their mind, body, and nervous system.
These experiences impact how they feel about themselves, how they experience and engage in relationships with others, and how they take care of themselves and set boundaries with themselves and others.
Sometimes they feel powerless. Sometimes they feel as if they’ve lost their freedom to do the things that bring them joy. Their physical health is likely impacted. They may be experiencing low energy or anxiety or overwhelm that is impacting work, school, relationships, or self-care.
Traumatic stress recovery and healing from related complicated grief is possible.
Therapy for Traumatic Stress and Complicated Loss
In our work together you’ll have the chance to gain clarity and self-awareness, find the support and tools needed to move forward, make meaning of your experiences and create a life that is filled with more capacity for joy.
As an EMDRIA certified EMDR practitioner with extensive postgraduate training in trauma recovery, I offer trauma and grief therapy for adults of all ages, from young adults to seniors.
I offer thoughtfully tailored trauma treatment for all types of trauma, including:
acute recent trauma such as a car accident, singular traumas that occurred years ago, traumatic or complicated loss, developmental trauma, relational trauma from childhood, such as emotional neglect or narcissistic abuse, or chronic or complex trauma experienced as an adult.
It Can Get Better and I Can Help…
My approach…
…is informed by a number of modalities that have been clinically researched and proven to be effective for trauma and loss recovery.
My style is warm, heartfelt, and collaborative. I have knowledge and training in mental health and trauma recovery, and you are the expert on your life.
Getting Started is Easy
Schedule Free 20 Min Video or Phone Chat
Book An Appointment
Show Up Online For Your 1st Session!
“And the time came when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ”
-Anais Nin
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS THERAPY LIKE?
Therapy will be different for each person, because everybody has a different situation and different goals. Typically, you can expect to meet with me weekly and discuss recent life events and challenges as well as progress or new insights that you’ve made since last session.
Some approaches that I incorporate, such as EMDR, aren’t like traditional talk therapy but are still dependent upon a strong collaborative alliance between you and your therapist. I also incorporate somatic and mindfulness based techniques that are different from traditional talk therapy but that foster the ability to develop awareness of one’s self and experience at a whole other level.
For most who see me, a combination of education about trauma and loss recovery, talk therapy, EMDR, as well as somatic and mindfulness based tools in addition to self-attunement/parts work and communication techniques can be expected.
Therapy can be short-term, long-term, or for a specific issue and therefore the length of time that one engages in therapy varies. As progress in therapy continues, sessions may be moved to every other week and eventually monthly for follow-along before ending treatment altogether.
Those who actively engage in the therapy process and who practice the concepts and skills introduced in therapy tend to get the most from the therapeutic process.
WHY DO PEOPLE GO TO THERAPY AND HOW DO I KNOW IF IT IS RIGHT FOR ME?
As a trauma and loss specialist, I see people who’ve experienced either ongoing trauma or a singular traumatic event in childhood or as an adult, or who’ve experienced a loss that has caused them to feel stuck.
Sometimes a stressful loss such as a divorce, or a move to a new area and loss of one’s former community and life as they knew it, motivates an individual to come to therapy as they learn to navigate their grief process and new circumstances, and ultimately find hope, joy and meaning in their new life.
Others come to therapy because they’ve been through a traumatic or stressful situation, and they need help to process the event so that it no longer impacts their current life in all of the ways that trauma can.
Others that come to me are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or grief brought on by the impact of trauma and loss and need support, new insights and coping skills to resolve the symptoms.
In short, those who come to therapy are ready to make changes in their lives and are prepared to persevere and do the work necessary to make those changes.
HOW CAN THERAPY HELP ME?
Therapy can help in a number of ways. A few of the main benefits of therapy are:
~Resolving trauma and traumatic loss via EMDR changes the way that the memory is stored in the brain, freeing up space and time for you to move forward with your wellness and life goals. For more information on how memory content and storage is transformed utilizing EMDR, please see the research of Marco Pagani and associates.
Other common outcomes of therapy include:
~Attaining greater self-awareness and insight into patterns and behaviors
~Learning and practicing new emotional, behavioral and relational skills
~Building new communication skills to improve relationships and boundary setting
~Discovering important concepts that set the stage for long term growth
~Cultivating self-compassion and self-esteem
~Managing stress more effectively
~Implementing new skills into old patterns
~Experiencing new ways to attune to yourself and attend to difficult emotional states
DO I REALLY NEED THERAPY? I CAN USUALLY HANDLE MY PROBLEMS.
Everybody goes through challenging times in life, and sometimes it makes sense to get support from somebody who has specialized knowledge about what one is going through.
It takes a lot of courage and self-awareness to realize that additional support may be needed at times. By taking responsibility for your life and seeking specialized support, you’re taking the steps needed to gain the clarity and skills for lifelong growth and change.
Contact Me
Ask a question or request an appointment below. For emergencies call 911 or visit your nearest hospital.