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Understanding the Difference Between a Church and a Cult Through a Trauma-Informed Lens
What If I Don’t Want to Believe I Was in a Cult? If you read my guide on high-control environments and religious trauma , and felt uneasy at the idea of being in a “cult,” you are absolutely not alone. Many people experiencing religious trauma, purity culture harm, or spiritual abuse struggle with that word, sometimes more than anything else. And that hesitation isn’t a sign that you’re exaggerating. It’s a sign that your nervous system is trying to protect you. Before we ex

Rachel Hansen
Jan 75 min read


How to Trust Yourself Again After Trauma
You second-guess every decision. You struggle to know if your feelings are valid. You wonder if you can even trust your own mind. If trauma has made you doubt yourself, you’re not alone. One of the deepest wounds trauma leaves behind is self-distrust. Maybe you ignored your gut feeling once and something bad happened. Maybe someone you trusted betrayed you, leaving you unsure of your own judgment. Maybe you were taught that your thoughts, feelings, and instincts weren’t relia

Rachel Hansen
Nov 18, 20255 min read


Tried Therapy Before and It Didn’t Work? Here’s Why
If you've tried therapy before and it didn't help you make any lasting changes, or any changes at all, it can be a lonely place feeling like you're stuck with your pain forever. The truth is, there are many reasons therapy might not have worked in that season of your life: the timing, the type of therapy, or even the therapist themselves. As a trauma therapist in Las Vegas offering EMDR therapy , Ketamine Assisted Therapy , and Psychedelic Integration , I often work with cli

Rachel Hansen
Oct 6, 20256 min read


Self-Administered EMDR vs. Working with a Therapist: What You Need to Know
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has become one of the most trusted and effective trauma therapies available today....

Rachel Hansen
Sep 22, 20254 min read


Why is trauma therapy so exhausting? (And Why That’s Actually a Good Sign)
My puppy Miley (12 years ago!) learning to listen to me and gain impulse control. Many people come to therapy not knowing what to expect. Relief can happen pretty quickly, and it’s also common to feel exhausted, emotionally drained, and even a little confused about why healing feels so demanding. Trauma-focused therapy can feel challenging, and often that's actually a sign that deep healing is happening. For many people, this exhaustion shows up when a nervous system that has

Rachel Hansen
Jul 7, 20255 min read


How Childhood Trauma Affects Trust in Relationships (And How to Heal)
You want to trust. To feel safe with someone. To believe that love can be consistent, secure, and lasting. But no matter how much you...

Rachel Hansen
Jun 24, 20254 min read


Why You Keep Attracting Emotionally Unavailable Partners—And How to Break the Cycle
You fall for someone who seems promising. At first, they’re engaged, interested, and giving you just enough to feel hopeful. But then—slowly or suddenly—they pull away. Maybe they avoid deep conversations. Maybe they send mixed signals, keeping you guessing. Maybe they disappear when things get too close emotionally or physically. And somehow, this pattern keeps repeating. If you keep attracting emotionally unavailable people, it’s not because you’re unworthy of love. It’s o

Rachel Hansen
May 12, 20255 min read


IFS vs EMDR: What’s the Difference and How They Work Together in Trauma Therapy
What’s the difference between Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) when it...

Rachel Hansen
May 6, 20258 min read


What is Trauma Therapy Really Like?
Discover transformative trauma therapy at Thrive Well Therapy PLLC. Virtual sessions tailored to your needs. Learn more in our blog!

Rachel Hansen
Feb 19, 20245 min read
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