My passion lies in helping adolescents and adults improve their mental and emotional health, and the quality of their relationships with others. For the past 9 years, I have been helping children, teens and adults achieve wellness. I have had the pleasure of witnessing and being a part of people’s journeys towards healing when they have been battling with symptoms of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, self-harming behavior, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and other emotional and behavioral disorders. Utilizing interventions from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Written Exposure Therapy (WET), and Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) I have been able to support individuals and their families in making significant improvements in their lives.
In today’s busy world we are constantly surrounded by people in person and via technology but we can still feel isolated and alone. Being a teen is a difficult time for growth and change. We are often taught about the physical changes that occur in adolescents but not the mental changes that are happening as well. Brain development in adolescence can cause a tidal wave of emotions that are confusing for the adolescent and their loved ones. The emotional ups and downs and trying to find our place in the world is a difficult task. Teens and adults often struggle with anxiety related to fitting in, measuring up to the expectation of others, and being as good as their peers which can often leave them feeling depressed. Thoughts like “I am not good enough,” “there is something wrong with me,” “no one understands me,” and “no one would care if I wasn’t here” can create a sort of tunnel vision that furthers depression and anxiety. All of these things are confusing for caring people in these individuals’ lives that know how wonderful they are. As parents, we want to see our children be happy and successful. Watching our loved one’s struggle and experience hurt is an awful feeling. We want to help but are not always sure of the best way to provide that help. Sometimes our attempts to help are met with anger, other times our loved one retreats into their shell. By understanding the things that drive these feelings and beliefs I can work with the individual to help them see the big picture. We can find the tools for their loved ones to provide loving and effective support. Therapy can help these individuals begin to recognize and appreciate how they are uniquely and wonderfully made. Therapy can help the individual see that they are enough just as they are and worthy of love and happiness.
I strive to be a sounding board to help adolescents and adults explore their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. By exploring your thoughts, feelings, relationships, and spirituality we can work together to move you towards the person you want to be while living a rich, full, and meaningful life. We will work together to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, clarify your values and goals, and identify your strengths to propel you forward. I can’t promise you that your problems will be gone forever, or that you will never experience difficult feelings or situations again. However, I can help you learn to cope with the difficult times and feelings while responding to them in ways that will continue to move you forward and be congruent with the person you strive to be. You are in the driver’s seat and my role as your therapist is to be a passenger helping you read the map and navigate your way to your destination.
More about Patti Trammell, LCSW
Patti Trammell, LCSW
After high school, I moved from sunny California to the beautiful, although sometimes chilly, state of Montana. While there I played college soccer as I worked towards my bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Great Falls. After completing my bachelor’s degree, and in search of warmer weather, I made my way to the great state of Oklahoma. There, I completed my master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma. During my graduate program, I interned with Family and Children’s Services and then went on to become an employee. I completed my supervision period and was awarded my license as a Clinical Social Worker.