COMPASS for Counseling

At COMPASS for Counseling, Norm Stein, LCSW specializes in helping people experiencing PTSD, psychological trauma, anxiety, nightmares, grief, depression, low self esteem, and survivors of sexual assault or childhood abuse. Psychological trauma can result from a variety of life experiences, such as childhood abuse, domestic violence, car accidents,... being robbed or assaulted, workplace accidents, natural disasters, or the death of someone significant. Some people face a much higher risk of psychological trauma because of the nature of their occupation, including war veterans, law enforcement personnel and emergency responders. Our brains are designed to respond to external signals, and that allows us to learn and survive. However, it's also why trauma can actually damage structures and processes in the brain. Research shows that trauma causes neurochemical changes in the brain, as shown by symptoms such as elevated heart rate, changes in blood pressure, changes in norepinephrine and epinephrine levels, and the storage of emotional memories and behaviors associated with fear and anxiety. Fortunately, our brains are hard-wired to heal -- and this capability is known as neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their activities in response to new situations or to changes in their environment." (Medicine.net) In other words, despite the changes that a traumatic event may have caused to the brain, it is possible to reverse them. The brain wants to heal. The right treatment can help you do that. For your convenience, appointments are available from 06:00 am - 8:00 pm. If you need to be seen immediately, a session can be scheduled within 24 hours of your call. Messages and voice mail are checked regularly during the day and in the early evening. However, in an emergency, please call 911 and/or visit the closest hospital emergency room for psychiatric evaluation and acute intervention. Disclaimer: This website, ...Read More