Discover how starting Trauma/PTSD therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
5 therapists available in Bentonville
I always work with a servant's heart to embrace the uniqueness of each person and the challenges they face. “It is not the mountai...
About
I always work with a servant's heart to embrace the uniqueness of each person and the challenges they face. “It is not the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out, it is the pebble in your shoe."
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 13 years of experience supporting children, adults, and families. I specialize in helping clients navigate trauma, mental illness, abuse, and behavior concerns. My goal is to create a safe and compassionate environment where clients feel understood, valued, and empowered to make meaningful change. I bring empathy, creativity, and collaboration into my sessions to meet each client where they are in their journey toward healing.
I earned my Master’s in Social Work from Boise State University. I use play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and solution-focused techniques to guide growth and healing while remaining flexible in my approach. I enjoy incorporating art, music, and open-ended dialogue to promote self-awareness, problem-solving, and emotional expression.
Healing is a courageous journey, and I believe the act of caring itself is heroic. I invite you to take that step with me as we explore the process together. Whether you’re seeking clarity, growth, or relief from life’s challenges, I look forward to walking alongside you and supporting your transformation with compassion and purpose.
Education and training
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Are you, your child, or your family struggling with anxiety, depression, stress management, or trauma? I have a passion for workin...
Are you, your child, or your family struggling with anxiety, depression, stress management, or trauma? I have a passion for working with individuals (children and adults), families, and couples. My job is to assist you in helping you look at things differently. Focusing on a shift in perspective allows for needed changes in feelings, thoughts, and behaviors to fall into place. I have been a practicing therapist for 13 years. My aim is to assist individuals, families, and/or couples in creating a better quality of life. So, if a better quality of life is what you are seeking, I want to walk with you on that journey.
I enjoy studying behavior analysis and learning concepts and conditioning. During my collegiate career, I participated in my college's study of Oddity Concepts in Learning. I graduated cum laude with my master's degree in counseling in 2009 from UALR.
Beginning a new mental health journey is not easy, but it is worth the effort. I value the vulnerability that it took to begin this journey. I see you. I hear you. Let's take this journey together. Therapy is not an overnight fix. There is not magic wand. It won't always be easy. But, it will be worth it. Are you ready?
I believe everyone has a unique story, including pitfalls and challenges to overcome. I consider it a privilege to help identify e...
I believe everyone has a unique story, including pitfalls and challenges to overcome. I consider it a privilege to help identify each client's strengths, gifts, and skills as we work through the next chapter together.
Dave Welcher is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 4 years of experience. He specializes in assisting adolescents, teens, and adults with a range of concerns including PTSD/trauma, chronic illness/pain, depression, anxiety, panic disorders, interpersonal communication and relationship issues, behavioral and motivational changes, teen-parent interactions, and mood and personality disorders. Dave's primary focus is on the overlapping symptoms of trauma, anxiety, and depression. He has worked in school-based therapy, clinical therapy, crisis screening work, and psychoeducation.
Dave received his Master's in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Central Arkansas. He incorporates trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and solutions-focused therapy with evidence-based approaches including mindfulness, person-centered therapy, and narrative therapy.
Dave believes everyone can overcome personal challenges and adapt to face life's trials. He strives to understand each person's experience, keeping in mind that no one “fix” works for everyone. Seeking counseling is a success in itself.
As someone who has struggled with mental health, domestic violence, and trauma in both a personal and professional capacity, I fee...
As someone who has struggled with mental health, domestic violence, and trauma in both a personal and professional capacity, I feel I am uniquely qualified to empathize and assist in growth and healing to many individuals.
Heather Zimmerman, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has 5 years of experience helping clients navigate life’s challenges with compassion and adaptability. Known as a “modern-day hybrid therapist,” she integrates a variety of therapeutic techniques tailored to client needs. Heather believes therapy should feel natural, allowing healing and growth to occur organically. She creates a safe, honest, and supportive space where clients can experience meaningful progress without unnecessary judgment or discomfort.
Heather earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Arkansas. She is skilled in individual and group therapy, utilizing approaches such as motivational interviewing, positive psychology, and trauma-informed care to support client growth and resilience.
Clients working with Heather can expect a warm, nonjudgmental environment where openness is encouraged. She is dedicated to helping individuals feel heard, valued, and empowered, ensuring they know they are never alone in their journey toward healing.
I strive to create a space where you feel truly heard, understood, and supported from the first conversation....
I strive to create a space where you feel truly heard, understood, and supported from the first conversation.
Jessica Preston is a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with 7 years of experience providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care. She specializes in treating anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. Jessica is known for her calm presence and patient-centered approach, working collaboratively with clients to create personalized treatment plans that may include medication management, supportive therapy, and lifestyle guidance.
Jessica earned her Master’s in Nursing from the University of Arkansas. She is trained in psychopharmacology and psychiatric assessment, and her approach blends clinical expertise with compassion. Jessica values collaboration and takes time to understand each client’s story, goals, and needs to guide holistic, individualized care.
Jessica understands that reaching out for support can be overwhelming. She creates a safe, nonjudgmental space for clients navigating life transitions, emotional distress, or chronic stress. Whether starting your mental health journey or continuing it, Jessica welcomes the opportunity to support your growth and healing.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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My go-to approach for helping people in PTSD/trauma therapy is cognitive processing therapy (CPT), which is evidence-based and has been established for decades. I enjoy using and teaching CPT because it allows you to learn to 'be your own therapist,' to combat the spirals and triggered anxiety on the occasions they do intrude into your everyday life. Most of all, CPT views our avoidance of stressful situations and trauma reminders as normal. No shame in this game!
I teach the following tools in PTSD/Trauma Therapy:
I know a client is making meaningful progress in PTSD/trauma therapy when we see the duration, intensity, and frequency of triggered spirals and responses decrease. We can help track these using a couple of simple self-report tools that are even included in the CPT material (PCL-5, and PHQ-9). What that feels like to a client: Less of your week spent trying to prepare for and/or manage active trauma responses, and more energy left to get back to the things trauma has taken from you.
Clients can supplement their time in PTSD/trauma therapy with everything from online support groups to bibliotherapy (helpful books). Self-care and hobbies can be used to help express and process emotions that are hard to discuss in words-practices like journaling, painting, dance, sculpture, scrimshaw, etc. Several organizations supply free educational material on PTSD and trauma recovery, and countless individuals have published or shared their stories worldwide. Yes, we may have guided activities and self-reflection worksheets to help (the dreaded 'homework' word!), but what is most important is being willing to keep trying!
To prepare for the first PTSD/trauma therapy session, you will have already met for an intake session and general history-gathering/trust-building meeting before diving into specific trauma-treatment. We will have discussed which trauma(s) is the most impactful. Someone can help prepare for that trauma-focused treatment by doing a little log-keeping—try to notice any theme or pattern to when a triggered response occurs; you are the foremost expert on you!
At Thriveworks, Trauma/PTSD therapy involves dedicated efforts to address and navigate through past and/or recent traumatic events. Therapists specializing in trauma create a secure environment to process and heal from these experiences, aiming to reduce trauma-related symptoms and enhance overall quality of life.
Our Thriveworks providers use Trauma/PTSD therapy treatments like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing EMDR, CBT, and exposure therapy with the goal of helping clients process the traumatic events they have experienced so that they can to start feeling safe and secure again.
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can vary but often include:
The best way to overcome PTSD triggers is to seek the assistance of a professional therapist, such as those at Thriveworks, who can help you to understand and treat your PTSD triggers.
In most cases, a therapist who specializes in Trauma/PTSD therapy is the best type of mental health professional to address the symptoms of PTSD.
PTSD/trauma therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
If a client is working through a single traumatic event that occurred as an adult, trauma or PTSD therapy may only take a few months, but in general, it can take a year or more to effectively treat trauma symptoms and PTSD. The duration of treatment is highly dependent on the client and the severity of their symptoms.
The success rate of therapy for PTSD depends entirely on the individual’s symptoms, commitment to attending sessions, and personal abilities.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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