Personal Injury cases

When to seek treatment:

• experiencing fear in regards to driving or being a passenger after an accident which has resulted in changes to your driving habits (example no longer being able to drive on the freeway, having panic attacks when driving, inability to drive during times of traffic, etc).  
• increased irritability or excessive anger
• flashbacks from the accident
• persistent nightmares from the accident
• mood swings
• increased anxiety symptoms or panic attacks
• feeling emotionally disconnected from others
• suicidal or thoughts of wanting to hurt yourself.  

Services Provided:

• Brief trauma treatment with goal of return to pre-accident functional level
• Services are available via Telehealth 
• Psychological Assessment in cases where differential diagnosis is needed or malingering is suspected
• Short term medication to assist with symptoms of increased anxiety, arousal or sleep disturbance
• All ages including children who are nonverbal 
• Services are via lien

In the case of an animal bite, frequently with permission from parents and patient a furry co-therapist will be added.  

Typically this will be Nakoa (pictured here) who is an American Bully and is certified as a therapy dog, Louie who is a rag doll cat (pictured beneath) or Janie who is a Chihuahua  mix.  

All three animals are sweet and have the temperament to help with treatment.   Having positive interaction with a loving animal while doing trauma treatment can help minimize long-term side effects from a traumatic event and it allows for the victim to experience animals in a soothing fun manner.  

For younger children, treatment is done via play therapy.  Children are incredibly resilient and often only a few sessions are needed to fully treated any symptoms of trauma or anxiety from having been in a vehicle accident or being bitten by a dog or animal. 

Children typically show changes in behavior such as regression in behavior, bed wetting, inability to sleep or nightmares/night terrors as well as showing elevated fears throughout the day.  They may show hyperactivity to loud noises or getting into the car seat.  Children will often play out what occurred and they may show increased aggressive behavior. Treatment can be done with younger children who are non-verbal or those that have a disability such as autism.