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Trauma Treatment Approaches
TRAUMA TREATMENT APPROACHES
Healing Beyond Survival
At Painted Bird Psychotherapy, we recognize that trauma affects more than thoughts and emotions—it impacts the nervous system, relationships, identity, and sense of safety in the world. Because no two individuals experience trauma in the same way, we utilize a variety of evidence-informed and neuroscience-aligned approaches to support healing and recovery.
Our clinicians work collaboratively with clients to determine which treatment approaches best align with their goals, experiences, and needs.
TRAUMA MODEL THERAPY (TMT)
Trauma Model Therapy is a comprehensive framework for understanding and treating trauma, dissociation, attachment wounds, and complex emotional experiences.
Developed by Dr. Colin Ross, the Trauma Model recognizes that many symptoms traditionally viewed as separate diagnoses may actually represent adaptive responses to overwhelming experiences. Treatment focuses on helping individuals understand their internal experiences, develop emotional regulation skills, strengthen resilience, and move toward greater integration and healing.
Trauma Model Therapy serves as a foundational framework for much of our trauma-informed work at Painted Bird Psychotherapy.
DEEP BRAIN REORIENTING (DBR)
Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) is an innovative, neuroscience-based trauma therapy developed by Dr. Frank Corrigan.
DBR focuses on the brainstem and the body's original response to shock, threat, and attachment-related trauma. Rather than requiring clients to relive traumatic events, DBR helps process the nervous system's underlying survival responses, often leading to profound shifts in emotional and physiological distress.
DBR may be particularly beneficial for:
Many clients find DBR to be a gentle and deeply transformative approach to trauma recovery.
EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR)
EMDR is an evidence-based trauma therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories and reduce their emotional impact.
Using bilateral stimulation, EMDR assists the brain in processing experiences that may have become "stuck" following traumatic or overwhelming events. As memories are reprocessed, many clients experience reduced distress, improved emotional regulation, and healthier beliefs about themselves and the world.
EMDR may be helpful for:
EGO STATE THERAPY & PARTS WORK
Many individuals discover that different parts of themselves hold different emotions, memories, needs, and coping strategies.
Ego State Therapy helps clients develop awareness of these internal experiences with compassion and curiosity rather than judgment. Through this process, clients often gain a deeper understanding of themselves while resolving internal conflicts and strengthening emotional well-being.
This approach can be particularly beneficial for:
EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY
Not all healing happens through words.
Expressive Arts Therapy utilizes creativity as a pathway to emotional processing, self-discovery, and healing. Artistic experience is not required. The focus is on the process of expression rather than the final product.
Approaches may include:
Expressive arts can provide access to emotions and experiences that may be difficult to communicate verbally.
NEST™ (NESTED EGO-STATE SYSTEMS THERAPY)
NEST™ (Nested Ego-State Systems Therapy) is an innovative therapeutic framework currently under development by Desiree Devonne Smith, LCSW-S.
Grounded in trauma-informed care, neuroscience, developmental understanding, expressive, somatic and experiential healing, NEST™ reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing trauma treatment and supporting deeper pathways to healing and integration through innovative programming.
Additional information regarding NEST™ will be available in the future.
FINDING THE RIGHT APPROACH
Healing is not one-size-fits-all.
Our clinicians will work with you to identify the treatment approaches that best support your goals, experiences, and healing journey. Whether you are seeking support for trauma, anxiety, depression, attachment wounds, military-related concerns, or personal growth, we are committed to helping you find a path forward.
You do not have to carry your story alone. Healing begins when safety, connection, and understanding come together.