Evidence-based, trauma-informed care

Our Specialties

Every modality we offer is grounded in research, refined through clinical practice, and chosen because it works. We tailor our approach to each client — meeting you where you are and guiding you toward where you want to be.

Why Modality Matters

Trauma doesn't live only in the mind — it lives in the body, in memory, in the nervous system. That's why we offer a range of specialized approaches that go beyond traditional talk therapy. Whether you're processing a single traumatic event or a lifetime of complex experiences, we have the tools and the training to help.

Peaceful, calming nature scene representing healing

ART

Accelerated Resolution Therapy

Rapid relief. Lasting change.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a brief, directive therapy that combines elements of established therapies with a unique imagery rescripting technique. ART works quickly — many clients experience significant relief in just one to five sessions — without requiring them to talk in detail about their traumatic experiences. Instead, ART uses voluntary memory replacement to help clients replace distressing images with positive ones, fundamentally changing how the memory is stored in the brain.

What to expect

ART sessions are structured and directive. Your therapist will guide you through a series of eye movements while you hold a distressing image in mind, then help you replace that image with something more peaceful or empowering.

May help with

Trauma & PTSDDepressionAnxietyPhobiasGriefPerformance anxietyRelationship issues

ART has been recognized by SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) as an effective treatment for trauma and other mental health conditions.

Brainspotting

Where you look affects how you feel.

Brainspotting is a powerful brain-body therapy developed from EMDR that identifies specific eye positions — called "brainspots" — that correlate with areas of emotional and physiological activation in the brain. By holding focused attention on these spots, Brainspotting accesses the deeper, subcortical brain where trauma is stored, allowing for processing that goes beyond what language and conscious thought can reach. It is particularly effective for trauma that feels "unspeakable" or that hasn't responded to traditional talk therapy.

What to expect

Your therapist will help you identify a brainspot by noticing subtle physical or emotional responses as your eyes move across the visual field. You'll then hold your gaze at that point while processing occurs — often with music or bilateral sound to support the work.

May help with

Complex traumaPTSDAnxiety & depressionSomatic symptomsPerformance issuesDissociationAttachment wounds

Brainspotting is used by thousands of therapists worldwide and has a growing body of research supporting its effectiveness for trauma, anxiety, and performance enhancement.

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Reprocess the past. Reclaim the present.

EMDR is one of the most extensively researched trauma therapies available. It works by helping the brain reprocess distressing memories that have become "stuck" — memories that continue to cause emotional pain, intrusive thoughts, or physical symptoms long after the original event. Through guided bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), EMDR allows the brain to process these memories in a way that reduces their emotional charge, so they no longer interfere with daily life.

What to expect

Sessions involve brief, focused attention on a distressing memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation. Most clients notice a significant reduction in distress within a relatively short number of sessions.

May help with

Trauma & PTSDAnxiety & panicPhobiasGrief & lossChildhood traumaSingle-incident trauma

EMDR is endorsed by the World Health Organization, the American Psychiatric Association, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as an effective treatment for PTSD.

Forensic Treatment & Evaluations

Clinical expertise at the intersection of mental health and the law.

Our forensic services bring specialized clinical expertise to the complex intersection of mental health and the legal system. We provide trauma-focused treatment and comprehensive psychological evaluations for individuals involved in legal proceedings — including custody disputes, criminal cases, and child welfare matters. Our evaluations are thorough, objective, and grounded in current research, providing courts and legal teams with the clinical clarity they need to make informed decisions.

What to expect

Forensic evaluations involve structured clinical interviews, psychological testing, and a thorough review of relevant records. Our treatment services for forensic-involved clients are trauma-informed and tailored to the unique challenges of navigating both the therapeutic and legal systems simultaneously.

May help with

Custody & parenting evaluationsChild abuse & neglect casesCriminal competency evaluationsTrauma treatment for legally-involved individualsExpert witness testimonyChild welfare consultations

Our forensic clinicians hold advanced training and credentials in forensic psychology and are committed to the highest standards of professional ethics and clinical rigor.

SandPlay Therapy

A world in a tray. A story without words.

SandPlay Therapy is a non-verbal, expressive therapy in which clients create scenes in a tray of sand using miniature figures and objects. Rooted in Jungian psychology, SandPlay provides a safe, contained space for the psyche to express what words cannot — allowing unconscious material, emotions, and inner conflicts to emerge and be witnessed. The sand tray becomes a bridge between the inner world and the outer world, facilitating deep healing without requiring clients to articulate their experiences verbally.

What to expect

Your therapist will invite you to create a scene in the sand tray using whatever figures or objects feel meaningful. There is no right or wrong way to do this. Your therapist will witness your creation with you, and together you may explore what it means — or simply allow the process itself to do the healing work.

May help with

Children & adolescentsAdults with complex traumaThose who struggle to verbalizeGrief & lossAnxietyAttachment issuesLife transitions

SandPlay Therapy is recognized by the International Society for Sandplay Therapy (ISST) and has been used clinically for over 60 years with children, adolescents, and adults.

Somatic Experiencing

Healing trauma where it lives — in the body.

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-centered approach to healing trauma developed by Dr. Peter Levine. SE is based on the understanding that trauma is not just a psychological event — it is a physiological one. When we experience overwhelming stress or danger, the body's survival responses (fight, flight, freeze) can become dysregulated, leaving us stuck in a state of chronic activation or shutdown. SE works by gently tracking and releasing these incomplete survival responses, restoring the nervous system's natural capacity for regulation and resilience.

What to expect

SE sessions involve gentle, moment-to-moment attention to physical sensations, movements, and impulses. Your therapist will guide you to notice what's happening in your body without becoming overwhelmed, gradually building your capacity to tolerate and integrate difficult sensations.

May help with

Complex & developmental traumaPTSDChronic stress & burnoutAnxiety & panicChronic painDissociationNervous system dysregulation

Somatic Experiencing is recognized internationally and has a growing evidence base supporting its effectiveness for PTSD, anxiety, and trauma-related physical symptoms.

Trauma Informed Care

Not 'what's wrong with you?' but 'what happened to you?'

Trauma Informed Care (TIC) is not a single therapy technique — it is a foundational framework that shapes every aspect of how we work with clients. TIC recognizes the widespread prevalence of trauma and its profound impact on mental, physical, and relational health. It shifts the clinical lens from pathology to understanding, asking not "what's wrong with this person?" but "what happened to this person, and how has it shaped them?" At Dilks & White, trauma-informed principles are woven into every interaction — from the way we greet you to the way we structure treatment.

What to expect

You can expect every member of our team to approach you with curiosity, compassion, and a deep respect for your autonomy. We will never push you faster than you're ready to go, and we will always prioritize your sense of safety and control.

May help with

Anyone with a trauma historyThose who've felt misunderstood by previous providersClients with complex presentationsIndividuals, families, and couplesChildren and adolescents

Trauma Informed Care is endorsed by SAMHSA, the CDC, and major mental health organizations as a best-practice framework for working with trauma-affected populations.

TraumaPlay Therapy

Healing through the language of childhood.

TraumaPlay is a structured, play-based approach specifically designed to help children process traumatic experiences in a developmentally appropriate way. Developed by Paris Goodyear-Brown, TraumaPlay recognizes that play is the natural language of children — and that healing happens most effectively when children are allowed to approach their trauma at their own pace, through the safety of play. TraumaPlay integrates expressive arts, narrative techniques, and trauma-focused interventions within a flexible, child-led framework.

What to expect

TraumaPlay sessions are warm, playful, and child-centered. Your child's therapist will use a range of play-based activities — storytelling, art, puppets, games — to gently help your child process their experiences. Parents are often involved in parts of the treatment to support healing at home.

May help with

Children ages 3–12Childhood trauma & abuseWitnessing domestic violenceMedical traumaGrief & lossAnxiety in childrenAttachment disruptions

TraumaPlay is an evidence-informed model developed by Paris Goodyear-Brown, LCSW, RPT-S, and is widely used by trauma-specialized child therapists across the country.

Legal & Court Services

Forensic Services

We provide specialized forensic mental health services at the intersection of clinical care and the legal system. Our evaluations and court-mandated treatment programs are thorough, objective, and grounded in current research.

ASAM Evaluations

Comprehensive substance use assessments using the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria to determine appropriate levels of care and treatment recommendations for individuals involved in legal proceedings.

Court-Mandated Therapy

Structured, evidence-based therapy for individuals ordered by a court to participate in mental health treatment. We provide thorough documentation and progress reports as required by the court.

DCPP Evaluations

Psychological evaluations conducted in connection with Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) matters, including parenting capacity assessments and bonding evaluations.

Living with Children Assessments

Evaluations to assess the safety and appropriateness of an individual living in a household with minor children, often required in child welfare or custody proceedings.

Mental Health Expungement Evaluations

Clinical evaluations to support petitions for expungement of mental health records, providing objective assessment of current functioning and risk.

Parole & Probation Mandated Therapy

Trauma-informed therapy for individuals on parole or probation who are required to participate in mental health treatment as a condition of their supervision. Regular progress reports provided to supervising officers as required.

Psychological Evaluations

Comprehensive psychological evaluations including cognitive, personality, and diagnostic assessments for legal, educational, or clinical purposes.

Psychosexual Evaluations

Specialized evaluations assessing sexual history, attitudes, and risk factors for individuals involved in sex offense-related legal matters, conducted with clinical rigor and professional ethics.

Not Sure Which Approach Is Right for You?

You don't need to come in knowing which therapy you need. We'll take the time to understand your history, your goals, and your preferences — and recommend the approach most likely to help.

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