Trauma Therapy
EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a therapy technique that uses guided eye movements (or other forms of bilateral stimulation) to help your brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer feel as overwhelming or "stuck." EMDR works with the body's natural nervous system responses to help resolve trauma at a deeper, non-verbal level towards healing.
You've probably tried to talk your way through it: replaying what happened, analyzing it, trying to think your way to feeling better. But some pain doesn't live in your thoughts; it lives in your body. Your nervous system stays on high alert long after the danger has passed, bracing for something that's already over, that's not a flaw in you, it's how trauma works, and you need an approach that speaks the body's language, not just the mind.
At Deeply Well, we use EMDR to help your nervous system finally recognize that the threat has passed, working bottom-up through somatic, body-based processing rather than just top-down analysis. Through EMDR, clients often find that memories that once felt overwhelming start to lose their charge, their bodies stop bracing for impact, and they can finally feel safe in the present instead of stuck in the past.
Acute Trauma
The Danger's Over, Your Body Hasn't Caught Up
Sometimes trauma arrives all at once, with no time to brace for it: an assault, a car accident, a sudden medical crisis, or the unexpected death of someone you loved. One moment your life looked one way, and the next, it didn't. Even if the event itself is over, your nervous system may not have gotten that message yet, leaving you on edge, replaying what happened, or feeling strangely disconnected from a life that used to feel normal. You don't have to wait for time to "heal it on its own", sometimes it doesn't, not without help.
Through therapy, Deeply Well help you process what happened at a pace that feels safe to help your body and mind catch up with the fact that the danger has passed. Through therapy, clients often find they can think about the event without being pulled back into it, sleep and function more easily day to day, and feel like themselves again instead of like someone still living in the aftermath.
Trauma Therapists at Deeply Well
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Amy Ashland - Licensed Professional Counseling Supervisor (LPCS)
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Rose Anderson - Licensed Professional Counseling Associate (LPC-A)
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Meredith Gawai, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
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Chad Cooper - Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A)
Secondary Trauma
For Nurses, Doctors, Healthcare Workers, Caregivers, and Helping Professional
You didn't live through the trauma yourself: you witnessed it, over and over, in the people you cared for. Situations that didn't end well. Families you had to deliver terrible news to. Suffering you couldn't fix no matter how hard you tried. It's easy to tell yourself that “I can do this” or push the trauma aside since it may not have happened to you directly, but left unaddressed, that weight doesn't just sit quietly. The burden compounds over time, showing up as numbness, dread before work, or apathy, making you wonder, "what is even the point of trying to help?" Your desire to care for others may be snowballing into over-responsibility of patients, co-workers, or family members. You don't have to keep absorbing it alone, and you don't have to wait for burnout to force the issue.
At Deeply Well, we've supported healthcare workers, non-profit workers, ministry workers, and crisis response workers who are exhausted from always being "on," helping everyone but themselves. Through therapy, clients often find they can set down what isn't theirs to carry, feel steadier and more present both at work and at home, and go back to caring for others without quietly suffering yourself. If you've been longing for someone to take care of you, seeking counseling for secondary trauma may be the next right step.
FAQ’s about Trauma Therapy
How long does trauma therapy usually take?
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Many clients attend between 12 and 20 sessions, though the length of therapy depends on goals, history, and the challenges being addressed.
How do I know if I need therapy, or if I should just push through on my own?
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If you're asking the question, that's usually a sign it's worth exploring. Therapy isn't only for crisis moments — many women come to Deeply Well while they're still functioning well on the outside but feel exhausted, anxious, or disconnected from themselves underneath. You don't need to hit a breaking point to deserve support.
Is trauma therapy only for clients in crisis?
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No. Many clients seek therapy to strengthen resilience, rebuild connection, or prevent future problems before they escalate.
Is therapy worth paying for?
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Therapy helps you achieve outcomes that help your life improve. The constant worry, anxiety, depression, or struggle you feel is not worth living in without having a therapist guide you towards the peace you were meant to have.
How often do clients attend sessions?
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Most couples begin with weekly or biweekly sessions and adjust frequency as progress is made.
Getting Started With Deeply Well
At Deeply Well in Charleston SC, support is grounded in compassion, clarity, and practical guidance. If you’re feeling uncertain, stuck, or ready for change, help is available, and you don’t have to navigate it alone.