PTSD Treatment in San Marcos, TX
Heal your past, Reclaim your present, Build your future
Healing Begins Here - PTSD Treatment in San Marcos, TX
Welcome to Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR. If you’ve been considering beginning therapy or looking for PTSD treatment in San Marcos, TX let me commend you on taking this first step toward reclaiming your life. Many people struggle to find lasting healing after surviving through past trauma and stress. It can leave you feeling like you’re stuck in quicksand. Trying to move on, reaching for the future, but the past keeps intruding and pulling you back.
Whether you're struggling with the effects of a traumatic event, managing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or facing the challenges of complex PTSD, as an experienced trauma specialist I'd be honored to support you in your healing process. I specialize in empowering individuals looking to heal from painful past experiences and reclaim their lives. I strive to create a safe, supportive environment where your unique needs are met with compassion, understanding, and evidence-based care.
Alex Penrod, MS, LPC, LCDC
Owner and Therapist
Welcome, allow me to introduce myself. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC), and a person in long-term recovery with 10 years of experience working in the behavioral health treatment field.
As a trauma therapist, I'm trained in a range of therapy options to provide personalized, effective trauma treatment. I specialize in the following evidence-based treatment approaches:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR Therapy)
Internal Family Systems Informed Therapy (IFS)
Ego State Therapy
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Using a collaborative and integrative approach, I can help you process trauma, regulate your nervous system, improve your self-esteem, and build coping mechanisms to enhance your quality of life.
I offer individual trauma therapy sessions with virtual sessions available across Texas.
I welcome new clients from all walks of life including adults, young adults, and college students. By working closely with PTSD treatment centers and medical professionals for medication management I strive to ensure you receive integrated, whole-person care at the right level of care.
To learn more about how I can help you find lasting healing, continue scrolling or schedule your free 15-minute consultation with me. I’d be happy to learn more about your goals and answer any questions you may have.
What is Trauma?
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Trauma can be defined as an event, experience, or time period that causes severe stress exceeding a person's resources and ability to cope.
After experiencing trauma, some people recover naturally while others develop symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Traumatic Experiences Involve a Wide Range of Issues
There are many forms of trauma and secondary issues, I'm here to support you in healing from:
Single event trauma (e.g., surviving through a natural disaster, car accident, or severely distressing event)
Developmental trauma (e.g., childhood trauma and childhood abuse)
Complex trauma (e.g., prolonged or repeated periods of severe stress where escape was difficult or impossible, such as domestic violence)
Traumatic grief from the loss of a family member
Sexual abuse and sexual assault
Substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders
Anxiety disorders, mood disorders, panic attacks, and social anxiety
Dissociative disorders
Difficulties with life transitions, grief, self-worth, and relationship issues
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your emotional response to past traumas, coping with the symptoms of PTSD, or struggling with a co-occurring mental health condition, as a trauma therapist I'm here to support your recovery journey.
Living with the Impacts of PTSD Can be Debilitating
Common Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Intrusion Symptoms
Involuntary and intrusive thoughts and memories of the traumatic event(s)
Disturbing dreams or nightmares
Flashbacks as if the experience was occurring again
Intense emotional and physical reactions to reminders of the trauma
Avoidance Symptoms
Significant efforts to avoid internal reminders of the trauma like thoughts, feelings, or memories
Avoiding people, places, and things that are now associated with the trauma
Negative Alterations in Thoughts and Mood
Persistent feelings of shame, blame, fear, or anger
Difficulty feeling positive emotions
Feeling intense emotions or emotional numbness with little space in between
Developing negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself, others, and the world
Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
Experiencing memory issues
Feeling detached from others
Having difficulty maintaining relationships
Heightened Physical and Emotional Reactivity
Feeling “jumpy” and easily startled
Staying on guard and alert to danger (hypervigilance can feel like severe anxiety)
Engaging in risky or impulsive behavior
Feeling irritable with angry or aggressive outbursts or behavior
Having difficulty concentrating
Sleep disturbance
Depersonalization
Feeling detached from your own mind or body as if an outside observer or in a dream
Derealization
Feeling as if your surroundings aren’t real (distant, distorted, dreamlike)
There is Light at the End of the Tunnel
What is EMDR?
Strategies and Goals for Healing
My first priority is to create a safe environment and work to build a trusting relationship with you. As this develops we’ll create a custom treatment plan based on your specific needs, strengths, and goals. No two healing journeys are the same and trauma recovery shouldn’t be a cookie cutter experience.
Whether you’re working toward personal growth, building self-esteem, or just trying to gain stability in daily life, I’ll meet you where you are and focus on what’s most important to you regarding your progress. By incorporating multiple treatment options and taking a holistic approach, I can tailor therapy to your individual needs. In general, trauma-focused therapy aims to produce the following benefits:
Reduction of Mental Health and Trauma Symptoms
EMDR therapy has been shown to reduce PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms.
A high percentage of individuals no longer meet criteria for a PTSD diagnosis after EMDR.
One study from the National Institute of Mental Health found 8 sessions of EMDR was superior to fluoxetine (antidepressant) for depression.
Healing Your Past
By targeting and reprocessing the past experiences underlying current symptoms of trauma, energy and resources are freed up to move from surviving to thriving.
Reclaiming Your Present
By coming to understand the effects of trauma on the brain and nervous system, learning coping skills, and targeting present triggers with EMDR, the present moment can shift from a place of fear and dread to the zone of creativity, motivation, and action toward your goals.
Building Your Future
Post-traumatic growth goes beyond simply returning to the previous state before the trauma, it’s marked by shifts and transformations in mental, emotional, psychological, and spiritual growth, opening up new ways of experiencing life.
After healing the past, many people find they are able to reconnect with their passions, zero in on new directions in life, and build relationships that feel stable and rewarding.
Empowering you to capture this natural momentum and helping you direct it toward your goals is one of my favorite parts of therapy.
Take the First Step Toward Healing
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You don't have to face your trauma alone. As a trauma specialist I'd be honored to support you. I know how difficult it can be to reach out, but sometimes it's those difficult decisions that bring the most positive change to your life.
3 Step Plan
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Book Your Free 15-Minute Consultation
Follow the link below to use my calendar and choose a time that’s right for you.
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Together we assess your needs and determine a plan of action
A consultation allows you to explore if therapy with me is right for you with no commitment or obligation.
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Begin healing your past, reclaiming your present, and building your future
After consultation, beginning therapy is as easy as scheduling your first session.
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Yes, PTSD treatment and EMDR therapy can be successfully conducted online through secure video sessions. The process can be adapted for teletherapy, utilizing visual cues, auditory tones, or tapping for bilateral stimulation. This flexibility allows you to receive treatment from the comfort and safety of your home.
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I only offer virtual online sessions in San Marcos at this time.
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I have several ways you can use your insurance.
I'm in network with Aetna and offer a convenient hassle free way to handle your claims through a company called Headway.
For all other insurance carriers, if you've met your deductible for the year you could get automatic reimbursement and only pay for a portion of your sessions by using a company called Thrizer to process out of network claims. If you haven't met your deductible, we can submit superbills to Thrizer to apply toward meeting it.
I can assist you with your options in a free 15-minute consultation or visit my services page for links to explore these options for yourself.
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I charge $150 for 60-minute sessions and $225 for 90-minutes sessions.
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See my frequently asked questions page for more questions and answers or schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me. I'd be happy to help!