Services

Dr. Musser offers integrative and evidence-based relational treatments for clients and consultation for loved ones that involve respect, information and hope to counter the effects of trauma and abuse. He offers individual and group treatments that use strategies and protocols, personalized to clients' needs.

Psychological trauma can happen to anyone. By definition, it is an unanticipated experience where danger, harm or violence overwhelms a person. Trauma is often manifest following physical violations and occurrences, however recent neuroimaging research clearly indicates emotional traumas leave long lasting impressions and affect lives in profoundly negative ways. Trauma is the Greek word for “Wound” and emotional wounds affect people developmentally and change the trajectories of many lives in our society. It is only in the last decade or so that we have come to realize that trauma treatment works.

Trauma treatment is about helping people feel safe right now. To be fully alive and fully engaged in the present. To have a voice. Trauma treatment is about reclaiming lives

Today, psychological trauma, particularly Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is viewed as an anxiety disorder because of its physiological reactions. However, in my experience, there is also a level of meaning that must be addressed because trauma often destroys the presumed and essential beliefs in life. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to respond to this collapse of meaning, for instance when a difficult to understand life event such as childhood sexual and physical abuse occurs. Subsequent to a trauma or multiple traumas, whether physical or emotional, a person can feel scared, isolated, outraged, and alienated by an event and live alone with the memory and private meaning of what happened. When a person must deal with "Terrible Knowledge" alone, it can create layers of confusion and isolation that exacerbate the physical symptoms. And physical symptoms can then become life threatening.

There is no magic in healing from psychological trauma, but it must be taken seriously as it often leads to a loss of engagement in life and other illnesses. One should not underestimate the destructive power of isolation after any trauma. All traumas call for a reorientation of purpose and re-engagement in vital relationships.