Trauma Counseling in Grand Rapids, MI

You don't have to keep carrying what happened alone.

Trauma can change the way you experience yourself, your relationships, and the world around you. Even long after a difficult experience has ended, your nervous system may continue to respond as though you're still in survival mode.

You may find yourself feeling constantly on edge, emotionally overwhelmed, disconnected, exhausted, or stuck in patterns that no longer serve you. You might wonder why it's so difficult to relax, trust others, or feel fully present in your own life.

Healing doesn't require forgetting what happened. It begins with creating enough safety to understand how your experiences have shaped you and learning new ways to respond with greater flexibility, compassion, and choice.

At Green Grass Counseling, I provide trauma-informed counseling for adults in Grand Rapids and virtually throughout Michigan. Together, we'll work to help you feel more connected to yourself, your relationships, and your life.

Trauma can affect every part of life.

Trauma isn't defined only by what happened. It's also about how overwhelming experiences continue to affect your mind, body, emotions, and relationships.

You may notice:

  • Feeling anxious, on edge, or constantly alert

  • Difficulty relaxing, even when you're safe

  • Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected

  • Overthinking or expecting the worst

  • Trouble trusting yourself or others

  • Shame, self-criticism, or feeling "not enough"

  • Difficulty setting boundaries

  • Flashbacks, intrusive memories, or nightmares

  • Avoiding situations, people, or emotions

  • Feeling stuck in survival mode

  • Physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, digestive concerns, or chronic fatigue

Whether your experiences involve childhood trauma, relational trauma, medical trauma, abuse, loss, neglect, or other overwhelming events, your responses make sense in the context of what you've lived through.

My approach to trauma counseling

I believe healing happens when we understand not only our thoughts and emotions but also the ways our nervous system has adapted to help us survive.

My approach integrates trauma-informed counseling with somatic counseling and neuropsychotherapy to support healing on multiple levels. Together, we'll explore patterns with curiosity rather than judgment, helping you develop greater awareness of your emotions, physical sensations, thoughts, and relationships.

Counseling is collaborative and tailored to your individual needs. Depending on your goals, we may incorporate evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), motivational interviewing, relational therapy, person-centered counseling, solution-focused strategies, and somatic interventions that help you reconnect with your body in ways that feel safe and manageable.

You are always in control of the pace of counseling. There is no expectation that you share more than you feel ready to discuss.

What trauma counseling can help with

Trauma counseling may be helpful if you're experiencing:

  • Post-traumatic stress

  • Complex trauma

  • Anxiety or panic

  • Chronic stress

  • Emotional overwhelm

  • Dissociation

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Low self-esteem

  • Perfectionism

  • Burnout

  • Grief and loss

  • Life transitions

  • Nervous system dysregulation

Even if you don't identify with the word "trauma," counseling can help you better understand patterns that developed through difficult or overwhelming experiences.

What to expect

Beginning counseling can feel vulnerable, especially if you've learned to manage everything on your own.

Our first sessions focus on getting to know you, understanding your goals, and creating a sense of safety and trust. Rather than jumping immediately into painful memories, we'll work together to build the skills and resources that help you feel grounded and supported.

Healing isn't about forcing yourself to revisit every difficult experience. It's about expanding your capacity to experience the present with greater flexibility, connection, and self-compassion.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. Many people have experienced overwhelming events or chronic stress without meeting the criteria for PTSD. Trauma counseling focuses on how your experiences continue to affect your life today, regardless of diagnosis.

  • No. Counseling moves at your pace. Building safety and trust is an important part of the process, and there is never pressure to share more than you're ready for.

  • Not at all. Trauma counseling can help with experiences that occur at any stage of life, including relationship trauma, medical trauma, accidents, workplace experiences, grief, loss, and other overwhelming events.

  • Yes. I provide in-person counseling in Grand Rapids as well as virtual counseling for adults throughout Michigan.

Begin Your Healing Journey

If you're feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or exhausted from carrying the effects of trauma, you don't have to navigate it alone.

I would be honored to walk alongside you as you move toward greater safety, resilience, and connection.

If you're ready to learn more or schedule an appointment, I'd love to hear from you.

Begin Healing