Tonya Nowlin

My earliest experience working with trauma, was my grad school practicum. I was placed in a St. Louis area high school, working as a professional counseling intern in a school setting. I saw more than 50 teens throughout the course of that school year and nearly every one of them had a story that could break your heart. I learned very quickly that they were the trauma experts and just invited me into their world for a short time. I also gathered that what I had been taught and what I thought I knew about working with traumatized individuals, was little more than a bandaid. After graduation I became licensed in Missouri, where I saw individuals, families, and couples. In addition, I ran adult and teen grief groups as well as children's grief camps. After my family relocated a few times for my husband's work, we ultimately settled in the Chicago area. I became licensed in Illinois and recognized the need to find my niche. Based on my practicum experience it made sense to become trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), an evidence-based trauma treatment. I became trained in 2019 with EMDR Consulting.This was the turning point for me. Since then, I have witnessed the level of transformation that is possible for my clients. I've continued to expand upon my knowledge in the treatment of trauma spectrum disorders, including complex trauma, attachment and dissociative disorders. I'm also a bit of a neuroscience geek. I love all things brain related and plan to pursue certification in Neurofeedback treatment.