And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
Anais Nin
Information
My Approach
Is pain from your past and worries about the future making it hard for you to enjoy the present? Do you struggle to find joy and meaning in your life? Would you like to live life robustly with a sense of serenity and freedom? My passion is to empower you to heal from past wounds, grow into the person you intuitively are, thrive in relationships, and experience a resilient peace while engaged in life. In a safe, supportive, and comfortable atmosphere, I utilize a psychobiological approach collaborating with you to restore your instinctual capacity to rebound from past and present experiences.
I have a trauma informed and holistic perspective, am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and my theoretical orientation is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). My primary therapeutic technique is EMDR and I also draw from Mindfulness practices, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) model.
Trauma is like a “splinter” of the mind, and the best way to explain how PTSD manifests itself is to describe what happens in the brain and body, specifically in the amygdala, hippocampus, and Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). When overwhelming events are left untreated, the brain and body split off from conscious awareness, making it very difficult to stabilize physiology, access executive functioning, and be fully alert in the present. The therapeutic approach I use neutralizes these stressful events, transforming them into an indifferent narrative of something that happened in the past while instilling a sense of safety and predictability.
About Cynthia
Welcome to the counseling services of Cynthia Vlahos Palmer. I am a psychotherapist living and working under the Big Sky in Billings licensed by the state of Montana as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), and am also a National Certified Counselor (NCC). I received a Master of Science in Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - both from the University of Providence, Great Falls, Montana. I bring over 18 years experience collaborating with people in a variety of settings to include mental health centers, school based services, home based services, emergency department crisis intervention, and private practice. I am passionate about personal development and consider it an honor assisting others on their journey.
Client Forms
All new clients must fill out the Demographic Form, Consent to Treatment, HIPAA Privacy Practices, and the Adult Intake Form.
For your convenience, I have provided all forms. Please take the time to complete and bring to your first appointment.
Healing Space
