Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Nurse | Trauma Therapist & Process Group Facilitator | Founder of Andes Counseling | Collective Partner

You Don't Have to Tone Yourself Down Here

If you've ever been told you're "too much," you've probably learned to edit yourself.

Maybe you've become the one who keeps the peace, stays quiet, takes care of everyone else, or tries not to let people see how deeply you feel. Over time, that can leave you feeling disconnected—not just from other people, but from yourself.

I don't believe your emotions are problems to solve.

I see them as valuable information. They can point us toward what matters, what hurts, what needs attention, and what is asking to heal.

My role isn't to tell you who you should become. It's to help you understand yourself more fully so you can live and relate to others in ways that feel genuine and sustainable.

Healing Happens in Relationship

While I offer individual therapy, group therapy is where I feel most at home as a clinician.

I've seen people spend years understanding their patterns intellectually but still feel stuck. Insight is important, but lasting change often happens when we have the opportunity to experience ourselves differently in relationship with others.

That's what draws me to process groups.

In a supportive group, you don't just talk about trust, boundaries, vulnerability, or connection—you begin practicing them in real time. You discover that you're not the only person who struggles, and that can be incredibly freeing.

Watching people become more comfortable with themselves, build healthier relationships, and experience genuine connection is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.

Who I Work With

I work with adults navigating a variety of life experiences, including:

• Trauma and complex trauma
• Grief and loss
• Caregiver stress and compassion fatigue
• Religious trauma
• Life transitions and identity changes
• Anxiety and emotional overwhelm
• Substance use and recovery
• Relationship challenges and family dynamics

I especially enjoy working with thoughtful, emotionally aware people who want more than symptom relief. They want to understand themselves more deeply, build healthier relationships, and create meaningful change that lasts.

My Approach

Before becoming a therapist, I worked as a registered nurse, an experience that continues to influence how I understand healing. Emotional well-being and physical health are deeply connected, and I believe caring for the whole person matters.

My approach is relational, collaborative, and trauma-informed. Together we'll slow down enough to notice patterns, explore emotions with curiosity instead of judgment, and make sense of experiences that may have felt confusing or overwhelming.

I don't believe therapy should feel like someone giving you answers. I believe it should be a space where you can discover your own.

Process Groups at the EMDR Counseling Collective

As the Collective's process group therapist, I create groups that offer more than education or coping skills. They offer an opportunity to experience something different. Groups become places where people practice healthy boundaries, give and receive honest feedback, discover they aren't alone, and begin relating to themselves and others in new ways.

Whether you're navigating grief, caregiver fatigue, trauma, or a significant life transition, process groups can provide a level of connection and growth that is difficult to recreate anywhere else.

If you've been curious about group therapy but aren't sure what to expect, I'd be happy to help you explore whether it's the right fit.

Is Traci a Good Fit for You?

You may find we're a good fit if you:

• Have spent much of your life feeling like you're "too much," "too sensitive," or somehow different from the people around you.
• Understand your patterns intellectually but still find yourself repeating them.
• Want more than coping strategies—you want meaningful, lasting change.
• Are looking for therapy that feels collaborative rather than prescriptive.
• Value authentic conversations and genuine human connection.
• Feel drawn to the idea of healing alongside others through a process group.

Whether we work together individually or in a group, my goal is to help you better understand yourself, strengthen your relationships, and move through life with greater authenticity, confidence, and self-compassion.

Education & Professional Background

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Registered Nurse (RN) with experience supporting adults through trauma, grief, caregiver stress, substance use recovery, and major life transitions.

My background in both healthcare and psychotherapy allows me to appreciate the connection between emotional and physical well-being while providing compassionate, evidence-informed care.

I am honored to be part of the EMDR Counseling Collective, where I provide individual therapy and lead trauma-informed process groups designed to help people heal through connection, insight, and shared experience.