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    • Hello and welcome! I am Rebecca Rowe, licensed clinical social worker with a private practice in La Porte, IN. I was born and raised in Chicago, but have enjoyed living and working in Northwest Indiana for over 4 years now. I don’t know how you found my page today, but I am very glad you did! I have great respect for those who not only recognize they need help working through their obstacles and struggles, but also move forward to seek help through therapy.At R & R Mental Health Counseling, I can help you on that journey through unconditional acceptance, empathy, and honest feedback.“Difficult Roads Often Lead to Beautiful Destinations.”I currently work with teens, adults, couples, and families as well as creating support groups related to the needs of those I am working with. We will work together to process and resolve your current stressors and obstacles and move forward in balance and harmony.I have experience working with many modes of therapy, including giving interactive feedback, practicing grounding techniques, and using mindfulness activities in session. I also utilize aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in sessions, as well as coping skills and resources to meet your unique needs. I specialize in the following issues: Stress & Anxiety, Depression, Teen Therapy, Establishing Boundaries, Dealing with Toxic People, Mindfulness, EMDR and Improving Sleep. (Click on any of these options for more information.)I personally enjoy working with people across diverse backgrounds and cultures. I also enjoy working with adolescents as well as women struggling with issues related to: self-esteem, boundaries, empowerment and taking better care of their own needs.I understand your feelings of anxiety and depression. We can work together to practice finding coping skills that work for you specifically, taking what works and leaving the rest. By using these skills daily, you can manage your fears and worries. At R & R Mental Health Counseling, you will always be supported and understood.My therapeutic style is direct, compassionate, strength-based and person-centered. I am also very warm and inviting. I practice using creativity and resourcefulness to help you feel more engaged, while offering a space to feel more open, respected and safe. I also consider myself a Hufflepuff through and through, if that means anything to you.The values of honesty, humor and courage are very important to me and my therapeutic relationship with my clients. I know the courage it takes to face your fears and struggles head on. I’m continually amazed at how well being silly and having fun go hand-in-hand with building a relationship and developing trust. We can work through the tough stuff, together. During sessions, I will listen actively and non-judgmentally to you and reflect back the things I hear. I am open to your experiences and unique perspectives. My goal is to give you a space to feel empowered and safe enough to express yourself as well as helping you identify and utilize coping skills and practical tools that will be lifelong assets for you. We will focus on the details of daily living as well as your big picture and themes or patterns that may connect them.Inquire about our FREE 30 min. phone consultation today.You can also book your session online!QualificationsSchool: University of MichiganYear Graduated: 2014License No. and State: 34007714A Indiana
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February 21, 2019 by Rebecca Rowe

5 Personal Techniques to Work Through Flashbacks

Flashbacks are our brain’s way of processing traumatic events that we’ve experienced. But what tends to happen is, our subconscious goes to our storage cabinet to access some important memories regarding the event, and everything sort of tumbles out of the cabinet all at once. This falling out or flashback experience can feel almost as traumatic as the initial event.

Flashbacks usually happen without warning. Most result from a “triggering” that occurs by an external experience. Triggers are typically sensory-based experiences that manifest via smells, sounds, tastes, textures that remind the person of the traumatic event. The smell of cologne can remind someone of their perpetrator. The sound of fireworks or a car backfiring can remind a soldier of gunfire.

Living with flashbacks is very difficult, but there are some ways you can work through these disturbing events:

1. Remember

Remind yourself that you are safe and having a flashback. Tell yourself as many times as necessary that these are only memories, the event is in the past, until you can feel yourself begin to calm.

2. Empower Yourself

Sometimes using your five senses can help you to be in the present moment. If one sense it causing the flashback – your sense of smell for example – use your other senses to place yourself in the actual current environment. The tactile experience of stamping your feet on the ground can remind yourself that you are free to get away from any situation that has become uncomfortable for you.

3. Breathe

As soon as we become fearful or panicked, our breathing becomes shallow and erratic. This only exacerbates the stress we feel in that moment because our body is literally panicking from a lack of oxygen. In these fearful moments, when we slow our breathing and take deeper and deeper breaths, we actually signal to our brain and body that everything is okay.

4. Honor the Experience

The initial trauma was awful, so it’s perfectly reasonable for you to want to move on “NOW!” However, you should understand that the body needs to go through this process and experience a full range of emotions. Honor the experience and yourself for having gotten through it.

5. Find Support

It’s important that you let loved ones know about your flashbacks so they can help you through the process. You may also want to seek the guidance of a professional mental health therapist who can offer coping strategies.

 

If you or a loved one is suffering from flashbacks and would like to explore treatment options, please be in touch, I would be happy to discuss how I may be able to help.

 

SOURCES

https://psychcentral.com/lib/coping-with-flashbacks/

https://blogs.psychcentral.com/after-trauma/2013/11/why-do-flashbacks-happen/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/healing-trauma-s-wounds/201506/understanding-and-working-flashbacks-part-one


If any of this sounds familiar or relevant to you or your teen, reach out for help today. Rebecca Rowe is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with teens and families struggling with anxiety, depression & self esteem issues.

Call for your free consultation or to schedule an appointment today at (773) 706-7907. You can also schedule online by clicking here. I am happy to talk to you more about your current struggles and any other questions or concerns you may have. I really look forward to talking to you soon!


 

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Filed Under: Trauma / PTSD

Rebecca Rowe



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245 W Johnson Rd #10
La Porte, IN 46350

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