Sparked by a traumatic experience in 2018, the generalized anxiety disorder I’ve lived with as long as I can remember quickly escalated into a crippling panic disorder. Needless to say, it has been a very heavy season, but Monique leaves me feeling lighter every time we chat. I’m so grateful that she coaches from a place of compassion and is genuinely passionate about my peace of mind. I’ve met with other counselors and therapists over the past few years, but none were as helpful and relational as Monique!
Layla Palmer
The Lettered Cottage
I have been able to take a couple group classes with Monique and they were life changing for me. I learned about the Polyvagal theory. I have had complex ptsd and learning the vocabulary for how I feel and seeing how the feelings I struggle with daily do not mean that I am broken, just that my nervous system is freaked out by abuse and seeing so many things as threats in an effort to protect me. I went from ignoring my body to listening to it and working with it. Gaining that acceptance has been key for me. Now I have tools to recognize what is going on in my body and have ways to bring it back to regulation instead of full blown panic attacks. I have also had an active listening class and have been leaning about self compassion and listening to others to reflect compassions and not trying to constantly “fix” then. That’s also been huge for me. I find have not had much compassion for myself and now I do. Monique is calm and knowledgeable in her presentation. She has a way of making everyone feel comfortable and reflects back that what we say is important. I cannot more highly recommend Monique’s group work.
Lisa M
Monique’s guidance and support has been truly nurturing for my soul. She has helped me discover and bring awareness to parts of me that needs care and attention while making me feel safe and loved. Since starting services, I feel more at peace with myself. I have a clearer understanding about how my nervous system is working to protect me, and steps to help it regulate and feel safe again. I have a long journey ahead of me, but I now look ahead with hope. Hope that Monique helped me find. I used to feel so hopeless, lost and depressed about my future self, not even knowing that I had dissociative amnesia or the depths of my Complex Trauma. The hope that she helped me discover is telling me not only that I can, but that I DESERVE to be who I was born to be. I will be continuing to work with Monique throughout my journey. If you are on the edge about doing so…please take the leap of faith and reach out to her.
Kristen Hayes
The work we did together has been amazing for me. I have never felt such freedom and calmness in my life as I do today. Words cannot describe the gratitude I feel. It has changed my life, something I never could have imagined possible. Still a process but I now know what to do to help me regulate and that is such a feeling of freedom. I can connect and feel more present and safer. Monique’s very soft, responsive and understanding personality made it easy to trust, process and take it in. The result for me is like wearing a new pair of glasses. The world looks different.
Helena Moller
Monique is such a caring, insightful and loving human being. She is tremendously encouraging and truly understands the depths of trauma, and the toll it can take on a person. She instills such hope and love that leaves me feeling nourished, grateful & lighter after each session. She sees each individual as an equal part in their own journey and is so inspiring in everything that she does! I am so thankful to be on this journey with her!
Alexa Marie
TESTIMONIALS
Praise for Monique
I’ve been there …
Trauma impacts all areas of life including how we see ourselves, others, and the world, how we relate, how we feel in our bodies, how we express emotions, how we think, and how we respond. It impacts our personal sense of safety in relationships and in the world. Trauma Responses can make you feel alone, out of control, and helpless.
What is Trauma?
Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is developed over long term trauma, such as chronic neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse and more. Trauma expert Gabor Mate, MD says “Trauma is not what happens to you.
Trauma is what happens inside of you as a result of what happens to you.”
Childhood Trauma that keeps a child in active self-protection grows into an adult with an extremely sensitized nervous system that remains hypervigilant and on guard for any possible threats of danger.
It makes sense if you still feel afraid when you are now safe.
It makes sense if you struggle with shame and guilt.
It makes sense if you still feel at times like a child in an adult body.
It makes sense if you feel deep sadness even though your brain tells you that you should be happy.
It makes sense if you spend time in your head trying to figure things out so you could “feel” better.
It makes sense if you feel like something is wrong with you.
It makes sense if you find getting close to people challenging.
It makes sense if you struggle with triggers.
It makes sense if you feel overwhelmed by life.
It makes sense if you have difficult time relaxing or staying present.
Tried all the spiritual things, to believe and pray more and still feel alone and afraid.
Trauma impacts our bodies and our responses. The majority of which transpires not in our conscious rational thinking part of the brain, but below awareness in our autonomic nervous system.
Friend, You make sense and knowing this is the first step in healing.
Monique Koven
Founder
The Healing Trauma Podcast
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