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Yes, You Can Heal From Your Past! |
Rebecca Drogen, Licensed Professional Counselor |
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Providing Individual and Couples Therapy in Denver, CO |
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303-910-2802 |
Are you overwhelmed by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worry, or anxiety?
Have you lived in such a way that you’ve been keeping things together fairly well, but now suddenly, you just can’t seem to manage as well anymore? Do you find yourself reacting in anger or irritation with loved ones in a way that seems out of proportion to the situation? Do you find that you don’t seem to have enough motivation or energy to do the things you need to do – that nothing seems to matter?
You don’t have to live like this. You are not alone. I’ve helped many people work through difficult situations and get their lives back.
Do you feel like you are on an emotional roller coaster?
Sometimes, we find ourselves dealing with emotions that seem out of control, take us over, and seem too big to manage. Such emotional upheavals can occur during significant events in our lives, such as personal tragedies, loss of a loved one, illness, accidents, chronic stress, or even happy events such as a wedding or the birth of a child.
Significant events can trigger painful feelings from the past and cause us to feel as if we are experiencing aspects of the past again.
I can help you work through these patterns and heal the emotions that may feel so overwhelming right now. Here is an example of how a happy event could actually trigger painful feelings from the past and how those feelings can be healed in the process of therapy:
Cathy had a troubling reaction to her daughter’s request that Cathy help with childcare of her infant son. Cathy felt an immense sense of sadness in response to the request and was disturbed and surprised by her own strong reaction to such a simple and valid request. In the course our exploration, Cathy realized that her daughter’s request had triggered painful memories of the time when her daughter was a baby, and Cathy felt alone and unsupported by her parents. In just one session, Cathy was able to make the connection between the past and the present, and transform her belief that she would always have to carry that ancient pain. After her work on this issue, Cathy was able to connect with her daughter, offer her love and support, and fully participate in the joy of being with the new baby.
Questions and Answers:
True, no one has a perfect childhood. Even people growing up in wonderful, supportive families had times where they felt rejected, humiliated, afraid, ashamed, alone, or sad. Most of us have developed strategies to make sure that those situations never happen again. The problem with many of our strategies is that they no longer work – they sometimes restrict us, affect our moods, and wreak havoc in our relationships. However, I have a deep conviction that we all have the capacity to heal the pain from our past, transform the beliefs we developed about ourselves, and lead happy, well-balanced lives. The changes I see in my clients affirm that conviction.
The way I work with clients can resolve immediate and acute difficulties in a relatively short time. Of course, complex and chronic issues may take longer. Some people choose to target a specific issue they want to resolve:
Marion is a bright, competent, 35-year-old woman who worked as a personal assistant for a high-powered lawyer. Marion came to therapy because she was depressed. She struggled to go to work and found herself incapable of defending herself against her extremely critical boss. Marion felt paralyzed and unable to speak up for herself. In our work together we found that Marion had developed a strategy of being very quiet when her parents treated her in a similar way. Marion was able to heal the parts of her that still held the pain from those times, and transform the beliefs she had formed about herself from the way she was treated. Marion now feels capable of expressing her thoughts and opinions in a clear and confident way. She can hold her own in the midst of stressful interactions, and no longer feels trapped.
“I know I had a rough time in my childhood, and I’ve tried therapy before. It opened up too much stuff. I don’t want to do that again.”
This is a common and valid concern. Emotions can feel overwhelming. You are in control of the content and the pace of your therapy at all times; we work as a team. I have years of training and experience helping people heal painful emotions and traumatic experiences, and check in with clients on an ongoing basis to ensure that they feel safe and at ease as our work unfolds.
You may be wondering if I can help you. Call me at 303-910-2802 to set up a one-time consultation: I offer a free 30-minute consultation to get acquainted and to see if working together feels like a good fit. I look forward to meeting you and addressing any additional questions you may have.
Testimonials:
Rebecca guided me through some really rough waters. I was sure I’d be too overwhelmed to deal with the pain that came up in our sessions. Her confidence and skill helped me move through some issues that had been plaguing me for years. I feel so free and so much happier.
Thank you, Rebecca! -Marie, in Wheat Ridge
Rebecca Drogen is one of the most naturally gifted therapists I have encountered in my work. She has uncommon intuition and training in working with trauma and chronic illness. She is kind and gentle, with an exquisite attunement to the client’s experience and pace. I have felt very comfortable referring clients to her, as I know that they will be treated with great respect and will thrive in the climate of safety and skill Rebecca provides. - L. R. Beckett, LMFT