Mental Health Counseling for Individuals Affected by Gun Violence
Gun violence trauma counselingoffers a path toward healing for individuals and families affected by the life-altering impact of violence. These traumatic experiences often leave deep emotional wounds that disrupt daily life, relationships, and a person’s sense of safety. At her Sacramento practice, Kathleen Oravec, LMFT, provides a calm and compassionate space where clients can process overwhelming emotions such as fear, anxiety, grief, and anger. Many individuals who have survived or witnessed gun violence struggle with trust, communication challenges, and emotional disconnection, especially within family or professional settings.
Kathleen brings years of experience in trauma-informed therapy and is dedicated to helping clients move forward with clarity and strength. Each session is tailored to the individual, using proven therapeutic methods such as EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness techniques. Her approach supports emotional regulation, reduces intrusive thoughts, and helps restore a sense of control. Clients often experience improved sleep, stronger relationships, and renewed confidence in coping. Through compassionate care and personalized guidance, Kathleen helps individuals reclaim their well-being and build a healthier, more peaceful life after trauma.
Discover the Power of Gun Violence Trauma Counseling for Restoring Peace of Mind
Restoring emotional stability and peace of mind after a traumatic experience takes time, care, and the proper support. At her Sacramento practice, Kathleen Oravec, LMFT, helps individuals work through the profound emotional impact of violence by providing a safe and supportive space for healing. Whether someone has witnessed a violent event, lost a loved one, or struggles with fear from past experiences, counseling offers a clear path toward recovery. Trauma affects more than emotions; it can reshape how the brain and body respond to daily life. Kathleen uses trauma-informed methods to gently guide clients back to a sense of safety and control. With a focus on individual needs, she offers proven approaches like EMDR and cognitive behavioral therapy to address anxiety, flashbacks, and trust issues. Gun violence trauma counseling is an essential tool in helping survivors move forward with greater confidence, clarity, and emotional strength.
What Makes Gun Violence Trauma Counseling Different?
Unlike traditional therapy, trauma-focused counseling is designed to address the body’s and brain’s response to extreme stress and fear. The aftermath of gun violence often includes hypervigilance, sleep disturbances, emotional numbness, intrusive thoughts, and difficulty maintaining relationships due to withdrawal or mistrust. These symptoms can profoundly affect a person’s ability to function in daily life. Kathleen Oravec, LMFT, uses trauma-informed techniques that go beyond talk therapy to promote real, lasting change. By applying evidence-based methods that reconnect the mind and body, clients are supported in restoring control, emotional safety, and clarity. Each session is tailored to help reduce symptoms, rebuild internal stability, and support healthier communication with loved ones. Gun violence trauma counseling focuses on deep healing that empowers individuals to move forward with greater resilience, helping them feel safe, seen, and supported throughout the recovery process.
How We Help: Specialized Counseling Methods
Kathleen Oravec, LMFT, offers a range of specialized trauma-focused therapies designed to support recovery from the emotional and physical impacts of violence. Each approach is carefully selected to meet every client’s needs, ensuring a thoughtful and personalized path toward healing. Gun violence trauma counseling incorporates proven methods that address both the psychological and physiological effects of trauma, helping clients process their experiences and regain a sense of control.
Here are the therapeutic approaches available:
EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Helps reduce the emotional charge associated with painful memories by targeting the brain's natural processing system.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Assists clients in identifying and reshaping negative thought patterns that often contribute to anxiety, panic, and depression.
Somatic Experiencing
Focuses on the body’s physical response to trauma and promotes emotional release and nervous system regulation.
Grief and Loss Counseling
Provides a compassionate space to grieve and honor loved ones, while helping individuals move through the stages of loss.
Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques
This class teaches practical tools for staying present and calm in distress or emotional overwhelm.
These methods are combined to support emotional clarity, resilience, and meaningful progress in each client’s healing journey.
Why Gun Violence Trauma Counseling Is Essential?
Healing from the effects of gun violence involves more than just letting time pass. It takes focused support, compassionate care, and the right therapeutic approach to restore emotional well-being. Kathleen Oravec, LMFT, offers gun violence trauma counseling designed to help individuals and families work through the lasting impact of trauma with care and clarity. Whether someone has personally experienced violence or is supporting a loved one affected by it, counseling provides a safe, structured space to heal and grow.
Understanding Trauma Without Shame
Acknowledging trauma can be difficult, especially when feelings of guilt or self-blame are present. Kathleen creates a judgment-free environment where clients can explore their emotions and experiences at their own pace.
Recognizing Triggers and Building Tools
Identifying triggers is a key step in managing anxiety, fear, or panic. Through counseling, clients learn coping strategies that allow them to respond rather than react.
Rebuilding Communication and Trust
Trauma often causes emotional disconnection in personal relationships. Therapy supports improved communication and helps rebuild trust with partners, family members, and friends.
Restoring Purpose and Daily Functioning
Trauma can interrupt routines, responsibilities, and motivation. Counseling guides clients toward reintegration, helping them find strength and meaning in their everyday lives.
Your Experience with Kathleen Oravec, LMFT
Kathleen Oravec is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 16 years of private practice experience. Her background includes work in psychiatric crisis settings, family counseling, and gun violence trauma counseling in Sacramento. Clients value her calm, professional approach and her ability to offer compassionate guidance through complex emotional challenges. Here is what clients can expect when working with Kathleen:
- Clinical Experience: Over 16 years in private practice, plus work in psychiatric facilities and county mental health, providing therapy and crisis care for individuals, couples, and families navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, and emotional instability.
- Crisis Assessment Skills: Extensive experience in evaluating suicidality, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, and anxiety during crisis intakes, ensuring clients receive appropriate, timely mental health support based on accurate and compassionate assessments.
- Family-Focused Insight: Former on-site school counselor and group home therapist for youth with developmental delays and behavioral issues, helping families work through peer conflict, emotional trauma, and parent-child relationship challenges.
- Licensed Professional: Licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences with a graduate degree, over 3,000 hours of supervised clinical training, and years of post-licensure experience in trauma recovery and gun violence trauma counseling.
Scheduling Your Gun Violence Trauma Counseling Session
Taking the first step toward healing can feel overwhelming, but it is also an act of strength. Kathleen Oravec, LMFT, offers a supportive and straightforward way to begin your journey. Scheduling a gun violence trauma counseling session can be done easily through a confidential online booking portal. If you have questions, Kathleen welcomes the opportunity to speak with you and explain what to expect during the process. There is no pressure or obligation. It is a compassionate conversation to help determine whether this is the right time and fit for your needs. Whether you are ready to start now or are just exploring your options, reaching out can be a decisive step toward emotional recovery, clarity, and a greater sense of peace.
FAQs About Gun Violence Trauma Counseling
If you are considering therapy but have questions about what to expect, you are not alone. Many individuals have similar concerns when starting gun violence trauma counseling. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions:
Is trauma counseling confidential?
Absolutely. All sessions are private and follow strict confidentiality guidelines.
Do I need to have experienced the violence firsthand to seek help?
No. Trauma counseling can benefit witnesses, family members, and those impacted by nearby events or media exposure.
Can therapy help me feel safe again?
Yes. After a few sessions, many clients report improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and a stronger sense of peace and control.
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes, we offer secure teletherapy options for those unable to attend in person.
Take the First Step Toward Healing
You do not have to carry the weight of trauma alone. Whether you have experienced gun violence firsthand or are struggling with its impact on someone you care about, support is available. Kathleen Oravec, LMFT, offers gun violence trauma counseling to help you move toward healing with clarity, strength, and emotional stability. Taking the first step can feel difficult, but it is also a powerful act of self-care and courage. Please call Kathleen at (916) 912-4777 for a free, 15-minute telephone consultation, or email her to get started.
Kathleen’s office at 2118 P Street in Sacramento provides a calm and welcoming space for in-person sessions. Secure telehealth options are also available for those who prefer remote access. Flexible scheduling is offered to meet a variety of needs. Each session is designed with your comfort in mind, creating an environment where meaningful progress can begin.
