We can’t change what happened, but we can help you heal.

We provide a safe space to explore and process your trauma, develop coping strategies, and regain control over your life. With the guidance of a skilled therapist trained in empirically supported treatments, you can work towards healing and building a healthier, more resilient future. Don't let your past define you, reach out for a consultation with KGO Psychology today.

YOU ARE NOT BROKEN

Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy

PTSD is a treatable condition and KGO Psychology has the tools to help you heal. The weight of traumatic experiences is a lot to carry on your own, and it is natural to want to avoid talking about negative experiences. However, trauma-focused psychotherapy is specifically designed to help individuals heal from traumatic experiences.

The overarching goal is to alleviate the distress and negative impacts that trauma has on a person's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. This process can help make sense of what happened, reduce symptoms associated with past traumas, restore functioning in your daily life, enhance emotion regulation skills, rebuild a sense of safety in yourself and the world, and promote post-traumatic growth.

KGO Psychology has experience with traumas such as sexual assault, traumatic loss, natural disasters, childhood and developmental traumas, religious-based traumas, and traumas related to job duties and accidents. As a result of this expertise, KGO Psychology often works with physicians, therapists, medical professionals, veterans, and journalists.

Illustrated woman gardening with plant

“Step out of your history and into the path of your future.”

– Oprah Winfrey

Clinical Specialties

ACT

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

ACT is a behavioral therapy that helps individuals change their relationship to thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations instead of trying to change them. The goal of ACT is to increase psychological flexibility by helping you connect with what is most important in your life.

  • ACT uses mindfulness skills to observe your inner and outer experiences without judgment. In ACT sessions, you'll engage in mindfulness practices, explore your values, activate positive behaviors, and practice cognitive defusion (separating yourself from your thoughts). By letting go of the struggle with thoughts, feelings, or physical sensations, you learn to live your life while making space for any discomfort that arises.

    The "commitment" aspect of ACT involves aligning your actions with your values. When we face challenges, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Through ACT exercises, you can clarify your values and use them as a guide to get back on track. ACT has proven to be an effective treatment for anxiety, depression, and trauma.

    More information on ACT can be found here or in this Washington Post Article.

emdr

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds) to help the brain process traumatic memories. The goal is to reduce the emotional charge of these memories and allow for healthier responses to triggers.

  • EMDR sessions focus on holding memories in awareness while the clinician guides you through a series of eye movements, taps, or sounds. EMDR is especially popular for people who find it hard to put words to their experience. This treatment does not require you to talk in detail about the trauma if you’re not comfortable. Your safety and comfort are our top priorities. We’ll proceed at a pace that feels right for you.

    More information on EMDR can be found here:

IFS

Internal Family Systems

IFS is a therapeutic approach that helps others to achieve inner harmony through better understanding different parts of their personalities. IFS assumes a multiplicity of mind that is a healthy part of every human, and aims to help reduce suffering by better understanding and respecting inner struggles.

  • The theory of IFS is that everyone has a larger Self and that Self has the capacity to work with inner managers, protectors, and exiles to get the system working together. In IFS sessions, you are guided to gently explore your internal parts, helping them to express their feelings and needs. This therapy can help you achieve deep emotional healing, self-compassion, and sustainable change.

    To learn more, please visit https://ifs-institute.com/

Don't let your past define you.

Reach out for a consultation with KGO Psychology today.