Steyn Integrative Counseling

My name is Chrissie Steyn (like a "stain" on your shirt!) and I lead a growing team of holistic and mindful therapists focused on healing symptoms at their root. We consider ourselves to be "trauma-informed" which basically means we are nervous-system, science nerds and way more fun than that sounds. We want to help you feel more comfortable in your body and therefore more present in each moment. If you are a person of faith--more present with God too. "Trauma comes back as a reaction, not a memory." --Bessel A. van der Kolk, M.D. We believe our stories impact our bodies not just our hearts and minds. Overwhelming experiences or periods of prolonged stress in our past (and our epigenetics) can manifest in the present as anxiety, ADHD, depression, PTSD, etc. In fact, words like "overwhelmed, dys-regulated, triggered and activated" are more common terms for what a therapist might call a "trauma response." When overwhelmed, our bodies and brains can get disconnected from what's rational about our safety in the present moment. This disconnect often shows up in our bodies as everything from digestive issues and difficulty sleeping to disproportionate emotional responses to life and people. You may know the origin of your trauma responses, though we often find our clients can't pinpoint a specific incident to explain why they are getting activated. This makes sense because trauma can be developmental (childhood), relational (complex), and incidental (PTSD). "Safety is the treatment." --Stephen Porges, Neuroscientist Our therapists prioritize removing the "scare" and "overwhelm" out of the experience of therapy by inviting collaboration and deferring to your body's comfort or resistance using Internal Family Systems (IFS). We only bring healing (EMDR, unburdening, witnessing) to stories of past harm or overwhelm when all parts of you feel comfortable doing so. We'd love to be of support as you untangle from shame, get curious about your past, reconnect to your body, and cultivate a better relationship with your authentic self so you can have deeper, richer more satisfying relationships with the people you care about most. Serving IL residents in person and via telehealth. Serving FL residents via telehealth provider #TPMC1459. https://flhealthsource.gov/telehealth/. Meet our therapists by going to brand.page/steynintegrative.com