Tracy Trefethen

I love this work.

I bring proven skills, science and compassion to support people to find themselves again, or perhaps for the first time, beyond the pain and uncertainty of depression, anxiety, traumatic experience and wounds from childhood.

I collaborate with individuals and couples who want to find their way out of feeling stuck, anxious, depressed, lonely, ashamed, fearful or disconnected. I use proven, effective methods that foster real change, making it possible for people to experience joy, inner-confidence, love and well being.

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While I draw from a handful of methods, there are several basic approaches, I find especially effective:

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Cognitive & Dialectical Behavioral Therapies (CBT & DBT), informed by Buddhist psychology and interpersonal neurobiology--these approaches work to reduce and transform negative patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that often lead to chronic stress, anxiety and depression. 

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Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)--developed over decades by celebrated clinician and researcher Sue Johnson, this is a very potent approach to couples counseling. EFT teaches couples how to view their negative relational patterns with clarity and compassion, and then open the door to ways of becoming deeply loving & connected romantic partners. This approach is excellent for all couples, including new couples wishing to get a solid start as well as those who have been together for a many years. 

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Somatic-based trauma treatment--

It turns out that trauma is fundamentally held in the body. As an advanced student of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, I work with clients to fully integrate past traumatic experiences and thus significantly reduce or eliminate symptoms. SMP is considered a cutting edge treatment approach  by key experts in the field of psychology, including Daniel Siegel and Bessel Van der Kolk. Learning to listen to the messages in the body can not only show us how to reduce reactive emotional patterns caused by traumatic experience.  Somatic treatment can powerfully reduce the negative beliefs about self and the feelings of guilt and shame that so often accompany untreated trauma.  Clients learn quickly how to use these tools, and the counseling environment provides the necessary safety and for optimal treatment. After sessions, clients often report having an immediate sense safety, inner strength, and positivity.  

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Mindful Self-Compassion

Self criticism and insecurity can be toxic. When we are caught in the trance of unworthiness we can shutdown, withdraw from others, and become unable to experience the warmth and support of healthy relationships. 

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Mindful Self-Compassion enables us to build healthy, supportive relationships. We can rewrite our internal beliefs about ourselves to build confidence, self-worth, and a life-changing practice of inner kindness.

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