Clinical Care

Mental health is multifaceted, and Dr. Schafer’s expertise reflects the diverse needs of the community she serves. She specializes in several core areas of clinical care:

• Trauma and Grief: Whether processing a single traumatic event or long-term "complex" trauma, Dr. Schafer provides a gentle yet effective framework for recovery. She understands that grief is not a linear process and offers the patience required to honor a client's unique timeline.
• Anxiety and Depression: Moving beyond simple coping mechanisms, she helps clients understand the underlying roots of their emotional distress, empowering them to reclaim control over their daily lives.
• Relationship Distress: Recognizing that our well-being is often tied to our connections with others, she works with both individuals and families to mend fractured bonds, improve communication, and establish healthy boundaries.
• Innovative, Evidence-Based Clinical Approaches: What sets Dr. Schafer’s practice apart is her integration of neuro-experiential and evidence-based modalities. She recognizes that many challenges, particularly trauma and anxiety, are stored not just in our thoughts, but in our nervous systems. To address this, she utilizes advanced therapeutic tools:
• EMDR and Brainspotting: Both Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Brainspotting are powerful techniques that go beyond traditional talk therapy. By accessing the subcortical parts of the brain where trauma is often "trapped," these methods allow for deep processing and significant breakthroughs. Dr. Schafer guides clients through these processes to help "unstick" the brain from past triggers.
• The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP): Furthering her commitment to nervous system health, Dr. Schafer offers the Safe and Sound Protocol. This evidence-based listening therapy is designed to reduce auditory sensitivity and improve social engagement by "tuning" the nervous system toward a state of safety. It is a transformative tool for those struggling with sensory processing or chronic stress.
•  The Rest and Restore Protocol™ (RRP): Furthering her commitment to nervous system health, Dr. Schafer offers the Rest and Restore Protocol. This clinical-grade listening therapy, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and Anthony Gorry, utilizes scientifically engineered soundscapes to support deep relaxation and autonomic balance. By signaling safety directly to the internal organs and brain, it serves as a powerful restorative tool for individuals navigating chronic stress, trauma, or functional disorders. 
•  Somatic Regulation & Nervous System Health: Recognizing that the body carries what the mind cannot always process, Dr. Schafer integrates somatic interventions to help clients move beyond talk therapy into physiological healing. By focusing on "bottom-up" regulation, this work helps track internal sensations, release stored tension, and expand the "Window of Tolerance." This approach is essential for those who experience "bracing," chronic anxiety, or a sense of being disconnected from their physical selves, allowing for a return to a felt sense of safety and agency.