When we or our loved ones are in crisis, everyone is in crisis. We must come together to provide the comfort and safety during their greatest time of need.
Frustration. Fear. Anxiety. Hopelessness. Confusion. Isolation. Desperation.
These are just some of the emotions you experience when you are worried about a loved one, or worse, they are in crisis.
Known by many of her clients as “the Fixer for Families," Julie has the gift of helping navigate this emotional terrain with her warmth and empathy while also developing a strategic care plan to meet the needs of individuals, families and communities.
Julie, who is valued for her relatability, her candor, her cultural competence, and her discretion, offers therapy, crisis care and crisis response services.
Treatment Modalities
The treatment modality I utilize most is EMDR therapy and trauma-informed cognitive behavior therapy.
Other complementary approaches I integrate may include:
- Mindfulness + self-compassion practices
- Systemic play + art therapy
- Sensorimotor therapy + somatic practices
- Family systems
- Writing practices
I'm also currently studying the following modalities to see how they may support my clients: Polyvagal Theory, Neurofeedback + Brainspotting.
Areas of Specialization
- Vicarious Trauma, Compassion Fatigue and Secondary Stress (emphasis on supporting trauma workers, clinicians, educators)
- Domestic Violence, Abuse and Sexual Assault
- Childhood and Generational Trauma
- PTSD and Complex PTSD
- Mood Disorders including Depression & Anxiety
- Grief and Loss
- Substance Use
- Adverse Life Events (traffic accidents, traumatic loss/ grief, assault, etc)
- Mindfulness and self-regulation training
- Children and Adolescents
- Aging adults including elder care concerns and care management
- “Sandwich” generation (aka caring for children and aging parents)
A Note on Cultural Competence
Cultural competence is the ability to understand the beliefs, social forms, and traits of a racial, religious, social group or organization. In short, it means having the empathy and understanding of the unique needs, experience and value system of others. For clinicians, this is critical that we have an understanding of not just the needs of our clients needs, but their culture as well.
Growing up with educators and law enforcement (teachers, superintendent, probation officer), I experienced what it’s like to be affected by the work; I saw the excitement and the challenges that came were particular to these lines of work. As a clinician, I also know that the nature of my work has influenced my own children.
This lens influenced me to increase my understanding of the unique culture and needs of these professionals and their families, including the impact of secondary stress. It often takes a professional familiar with this lifestyle who "gets it” which is why I continue to enhance my understanding through various trainings and with frequent coffee and chats with both first responders and educators, ride alongs with first responders, K-12 classroom visits. I also expand my cultural awareness through LGBT allies and anti-racism workshops.
EMDR, Psychotherapy + Coaching
Julie works through the lens of “what happened to you,” rather than “what’s wrong with you.” Julie values both verbal communication and non-verbal expression to holistically approach your concerns. She has a collaborative, culturally competent approach, offering deep presence, experience, and genuine compassion. She has offices in Portland, Oregon and Lafayette, Colorado. Additionally, she sees clients virtually using the TeleHealth platform.
Julie believes that the relationship developed between client and therapist is one of the most important aspects of healing. To see if you and Julie are a fit, schedule a 15-min Phone Consultation here or contact our offices. If you and Julie are not a fit, she will help you find the right support to fit you and your needs.
In-Home Family Support Care + Crisis Care
When a loved one is in crisis, it means you are in crisis. Your emotions will up, down and all around. One minute you may feel anger and then relief, followed by sadness and then love and then anger again and more sadness … and just about everything in between.
Julie offers two levels of discreet, confidential in-home individual and family care to address behavioral and emotional needs and mental health concerns: In-Home Support and In-Home Crisis Care. Both options are based on the philosophy that individuals - specifically children, adolescents and the aging - are best supported in their home and community. Services can include:
- Comprehensive and timely assessment and delivery.
- Individualized, strengths-based treatment plans.
- Therapeutic family and individual interventions
- Child, adolescent and parent coaching, psych-education and skills development.
- Safety and coping skills development and planning.
- Care advocacy and coordination, planing and and post-care plan.
- Case management and transitional living support.
- Post-care follow-up session
- 24-hour immediate crisis support and response for crisis care families.
- Discreet delivery of therapeutic services in the family home by Julie Smith, a Qualified Mental Health Professional.
For more information or to schedule, contact our offices, or, if in imminent need, please call us at 720-340-1155.
Crisis Response for Schools + Communities
When a traumatic event, such as violence, a death, a natural disaster or a behavioral or health epidemic happens, the whole community can feel uprooted and vulnerable leaving them susceptible to behavior and mental health concerns including PTSD, anxiety, depression, anger and grief.
Julie can work with your school, center or agency to help navigate the intense feelings being experienced by both students, residents, staff and community members by providing an anchor in reality, strategic support and informed care.
Julie’s crisis response services may include:
- Consultation with institution and key parties to build rapport and working partnerships with relevant non-profit agencies, community members and local, state and Federal government agencies.
- Communications delivery and debriefing to aid in informing children, adolescents, adults and community members including answering questions and providing psych-education and coping skills.
- Reunification support to safely and efficiently return families to one another.
- Community education development and delivery to help increase awareness of PTSD and share safety skills, coping strategies and post-care resources.
- Mental health triage and first aid and on-the-spot EMDR and therapeutic support including identifying and meeting with individuals at risk for intense grief reactions.
For more information or to schedule, contact our offices, or, if in imminent need, please call us at 720-340-1155.
