Beyond Strength: Living, Connecting, and Healing After Trauma
This is a deeper dive into living with the trauma experience and a deeper exploration of connection post Silence to Strength.
This group focuses on the lasting effects of trauma on trust, intimacy, vulnerability, self-worth, boundaries, grief, anger, and belonging. Together, members will explore the protective patterns developed through survival, how these patterns affect relationships and connection, and what it means to move toward greater authenticity, agency, and self-compassion.
Through facilitated discussion, experiential activities, and interpersonal process work, participants will have opportunities to deepen their understanding of themselves and their relationships while practicing new ways of connecting in a supportive community. Rather than focusing solely on what happened, Beyond Strength centers on who participants are becoming—offering space to strengthen connection with self and others, reclaim meaningful aspects of life, and continue the ongoing journey of healing.
Cost per session:
$70
Schedule:
Check Event Calendar for Dates
Christie has been a practicing therapist since graduating from the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work in 2007. She became a Clinical Social Worker in 2010 after completing her post-graduate clinical hours at Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, Allegheny County’s sexual violence crisis and treatment center. While initially focused on the treatment of sexual violence over the lifespan, Christie has expanded over her years in practice to treating trauma in many of its varying forms, including from accidents, illnesses, traumatic loss, domestic and intimate partner violence, traumatic birth, combat exposure, and moral injury. Christie specializes in the treatment of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C- PTSD) and in the many ways trauma survivors adapt their lives to cope with the overwhelming experiences inherent to ongoing Post Traumatic Stress.
Christie transitioned to private practice for several years before beginning a four-year journey with a local Vet Center near Pittsburgh, which is part of the Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System. This is where her love for group therapy really began. It was here that she had the opportunity to develop and pilot a curriculum for group therapy for Military Sexual Trauma survivors. She adapted the curriculum for all sexual trauma survivors once returning to private practice in 2021.
Christie currently works full time as a private practice therapist providing individual, romantic partner(s), and group therapies. She is also fully trained in the use of EMDR as a tool in the recovery process.
Olivia graduated from Carlow University in 2010 and has worked as a therapist in a variety of settings since. Olivia started her career in BHRS /autism services and mobile therapy, provided school based therapy in the Pittsburgh Public School and, continued to work in Forensic outpatient providing rehabilitative counseling to offenders. She found her internship at Pittsburgh Action Against Rape to be the most influential to her career and has focused her clinical practice on counseling survivors of abuse and has expanded working experience in working with treating trauma in many of its varying forms, including from accidents, illnesses, traumatic loss, domestic and intimate partner violence. Olivia finds supporting survivors on their healing journey has been an immense privilege and honor.
Olivia is a fully Certified EMDR counselor and holds an International Certified Gambling Counseling Certification. In her free time, Olivia enjoys connecting with friends and family, reading books, spending time in nature, baking, learning new hobbies, and spending time with her dog , Indy.
