Trauma Therapy & Brainspotting
Trauma affects both the mind and the body, shaping how people think, feel, and respond to the world around them.
The Role of Trauma in Psychotherapy
The practice of psychotherapy has increasingly recognized the influence of emotional and physical trauma on the psyche of the individual. In 1992, Dr. Coughlin returned to academia to complete a doctoral degree. The focus of her studies and her final dissertation was the understanding and evaluation of treatment options for individuals impacted by traumas.
What Is Trauma?
A trauma is defined as: an event which suddenly disrupts one’s sense of safety, predictability, and stability. Research has proven that adverse childhood experiences often lead to lifelong emotional difficulties and diminish individual performance. To do a self-evaluation to determine if this service may be needed for you can take this quick test. Any score over three, a consultation is recommended.
Trauma isn’t just something that happens in the past, its residue can linger in the nervous system and daily responses, long after the event itself.
How Trauma Shows Up
Traumatic experiences may derail a person’s ability to manage their life and trigger mood disorders, rage, or drug use. When someone has a repeated pattern of emotional intensity disproportionate to the situation, it is usually triggered by events similar to past traumas, therapy is highly recommended. In a traumatic situation, a person moves into survival mode (fight, flight or freeze), doing whatever is needed to survive the assault on one’s sensibilities.
Immediately after trauma, most individuals attempt to resume normal functioning as soon as possible. In doing so, we often fail to process the emotions attached to the trauma; those emotions become suppressed and stay within the psychological structure, often contaminating our responses in the present. Trauma residue is the unprocessed, unresolved emotional remnants of a traumatic event.
Why Specialized Approaches Are Needed
The good news is that most symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder can be resolved, however, traditional therapeutic tools are seldom effective. Because traumatic material is stored in a non-linear, non-rational manner, traditional therapeutic techniques are usually ineffective.
Brainspotting, Biofeedback & Neurofeedback
In 2023, Dr. Coughlin and her associate, Jamie Coughlin, trained to provide biofeedback and neurofeedback assessments and treatments. In 2025, both became certified to complete Quantitative Electroencephalogram assessments and develop brain training protocols to reduce PTSD emotional dysregulation.
Ms. Jamie Coughlin oversees the brain training sessions which can occur concurrent with or prior to more traditional interventions with Dr. Coughlin. PTSD symptoms can be resolved using the proper combination of treatments. The decision of which modalities to use rests with the client in collaboration with Dr. Wendy Coughlin and Ms. Jamie Coughlin.
A Message from Dr. Coughlin:
“Trauma isn’t linear, the brain stores it in ways that overwhelm traditional therapy. Brainspotting and neurofeedback access what words cannot.”
Psychotherapy Fees
Clear, transparent pricing for individual sessions and related services.
Core Sessions
50-minute session
$350
25-minute session
$175
Extended time
$87.50 / 15 min
Off-site appointment
$500 / hour
(2-hr minimum)
Phone consultation
$87.50 / 15 min
Additional Fees
Late cancellation (within 24 hours)
$150
No-show for scheduled appointment
$150
Treatment update (reports, letters, etc.)
$150
Copy of records (faxed, mailed, etc.)
$1.00
per page
Payment is due at the time of your appointment. Dr. Coughlin is out-of-network; as a courtesy, we will file a claim on your behalf for out-of-network services.
Ready to Get Started?
Taking the first step toward therapy can feel big, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Schedule your first consultation today.