We offer a wide range of therapy—whether you're never had therapy before or have done lots of previous therapy. Julie offers individual therapy for adults. Steve offers individual and couples’ therapy for teens and adults.

Additionally, Julie offers supervision for LPC Associates and Consultations. Steve offers Substance Use assessments.

Trauma can be anything that overwhelms our capacity to cope. This could be a big event like a car accident or seemingly smaller events that add up over time. How something impacts us is dependent on multiple factors: genetics, support, coping, history of past trauma, our sleep patterns, neurodivergence, and more. Trauma changes our beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world around us.

Flashbacks are a re-experiencing of our trauma. This can be visual representations of a memory or physical sensations tied to a previous trauma. In terms of parts work, we may have a part that is trying to get our attention to better understand their pain or aspects of the trauma. Working with this part, we can understand the flashback as a form of communication that we can learn from and attend to.

PTSD can arise from a singular event.

It becomes Complex PTSD when we experience ongoing, inescapable traumas over a longer period of time.

‍Complex PTSD is not yet a diagnosis in the current DSM-5, however, advocates are lobbying to have it added to the next revision.

Yes, it can. Sometimes we can remember events vividly and in great detail. Other times, we may feel hazy on certain aspects of the events, missing whole portions or not remember events at all (amnesia). When aspects of trauma are hidden from our memory, it is generally because our nervous system has decided this is safer for the time being and to prevent us from overwhelm. Sometimes these memories can come back to us on their own, when we are feeling more safe, or when we use a tool like EMDR that may access unconscious material.

Dissociation is a protective mechanism in the nervous system that allows us to reduce distress after trauma. It can show up in a number of different ways:

Depersonalization- Feeling like you are not real, detached from self. Looking in the mirror and not recognizing yourself or feeling non human. May observe yourself from the outside looking in (as if above yourself).

Derealization- Feeling that the world is not real, is a simulation or fantasy. Can feel foggy and like in a dream.

Amnesia- Partial or complete memory loss beyond regular forgetfulness.

Dissociative Identity Disorder- Shifts in identity or personality, feeling as if multiple or many people live inside you with different feelings and memories.

Neurodivergent means that you were either born neurodivergent (ADHD, Autism, Childhood OCD, Down syndrome, etc) or you acquired neurodivergence through trauma, head injury, etc. It is a brain and nervous system type. There is no neurotypical brain/nervous system type, only the societal oppressive idea that there is neuro-normativity (one way that all brains/nervous systems should be).

Neurodivergent folks experience a spectrum of traits, including: executive functioning, emotional processing/regulation, communication, relationships, and sensory.

In general, we form our attachment style by age three through our interactions with our caregivers. When we are consistently attended to, our emotional and physical needs are met, and we are met with compassion and comfort allowing authentic expression, we become securely attached. Our parent’s attachment styles heavily influence our attachment.

When our needs are met inconsistently (sometimes nurturing and other times unavailable), we do not know if our needs will be met. This drives heightened anxiety and insecure attachment that following us into adulthood. When we experience regular neglect as a child, we come to believe our needs won’t be met and we can’t rely on others, producing an avoidant attachment style. Folks experiencing complex trauma often have a combination of both anxious and avoidant attachment, called disorganized attachment. In our adult relationships we may desperately want connection but also fear that connection is not safe.

‍ We may seek validation, struggle with boundaries or space, and fear separation or abandonment. We may push people away, believe we can only rely on ourselves, struggle to ask for help, and fear losing ourselves in relationships. Our partner’s attachment style can often influence how our attachment may be triggered. If they are anxious, we may become more avoidant. If they are avoidant we may become more anxious. ‍

We are both trained in EMDR (Julie is certified), IFS/parts work, CBT, mindfulness and Steve is Hypnosis trained.

EMDR helps with:

Trauma (emotional, physical, spiritual, sensory) and complex trauma

Dissociation

Substance Use and Compulsive Behaviors

Disordered Eating

Chronic Pain

Panic Attacks

Nightmares

Flashbacks

Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria

Anxiety

Depression

Grief and Anticipatory Grief

Performance Anxiety

Perfectionism

Self Confidence

Emotional Capacity

Sleep Issues

Trusting Self and Others

Future events

Managing Chronic Health Conditions

Feeling Stuck or Overwhelmed

Hopelessness

Suicidal Ideation and Self Injury

Clarifying Thoughts and Feelings

And SO MUCH MORE!

EMDR is a structured approach that utilizes bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, etc) to reduce distress around memories, access adaptive information about the events to ultimately store them again without the emotional charge they once had. It can also target symptoms, sensory distress, and future concerns.

IFS allows us to explore the inner aspects of our personality, including those that protect us and defend against harm. When we understand why our parts behave in the ways they do, it allows for more compassion with all aspects of self. Helping parts to understand each other improves: internal communication, cooperation, and connection. When our inner team feels seen, heard, and is working more as a unit, we experience more internal peace.

Yes. EMDR can be used in the treatment of complex trauma, but treatment may look different from EMDR for a single-incident trauma. People with complex PTSD, particularly those experiencing dissociation, may benefit from a longer preparation and stabilization phase before trauma memories are processed.

Meeting internal parts, providing them elements of safety, orienting them to present time, helping them feel seen and heard, preparing them for why we do EMDR, and getting consent is paramount with complex trauma and dissociation. This lays the foundation to transition into EMDR potentially accessing more parts and more willingness to engage in the work. EMDR often allows us access to information that may not have been conscious and increase our ability to see what we previously could not out of protection.

Getting started is simple. Reach out to us by phone or email.

Julie Jones

512-967-3275

juliejones@aligntherapyandemdr.com

Steve Jones

512-553-8445

stevejones@aligntherapyandemdr.com

https://www.aligntherapyandemdr.com/contact

We both have 20 years of therapy experience. We have worked in hospital, inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient settings. Helping people is innately who we are, not just our jobs. We are always committed to learning and growing ourselves and believe this quest never stops. Unlearning internalized oppression and helping our clients understand their experiences within the context of our society reduces shame/pathologization.

We accept private pay and out of network insurance (we can bill for you so you do not have to worry about super bills). Steve also accepts United, Aetna, and Oscar/optum, Cigna and BCBS. We have a small number of sliding scale spots for oppressed groups.

For Steve’s additional sliding scale options please visit:

https://www.aligntherapyandemdr.com/contact

Collaborative, compassionate, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process with you, bring ideas to the table, and create a safe foundation for healing to occur. We are always open to and appreciate feedback.