Support From a Trauma Therapist
Abigail Frank, PLMHP, PMSW
Does if feel like your past is controlling the present?
When a client feels like their past is controlling their present, it often shows up through various symptoms and behaviors linked to trauma, anxiety, depression, or unresolved emotional experiences. Here are some common signs you might observe or explore with your client:
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Persistent feelings of anxiety or fear, often triggered by reminders of past events
Depression, sadness, or feelings of hopelessness
Emotional numbness or dissociation — feeling disconnected from oneself or reality
Mood swings or intense emotional reactions that feel disproportionate to the current situation
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Avoidance of places, people, or situations that remind them of past trauma or distress
Difficulty trusting others or forming close relationships
Repetitive patterns of unhealthy or maladaptive relationships
Compulsive or self-soothing behaviors such as substance use, overeating, or self-harm
Hypervigilance or being easily startled, showing a constant “on guard” state
Difficulty managing stress or regulating emotions
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Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares related to past trauma
Negative self-beliefs such as “I am not good enough” or “I am unsafe”
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Feeling overwhelmed by seemingly small challenges
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Chronic tension or pain without clear medical causes
Fatigue or sleep disturbances
Gastrointestinal issues or other stress-related physical complaints
Trauma doesn’t look the same for everyone.
Trauma Doesn’t Look the Same for Everyone
Trauma is deeply personal, and there is no “one size fits all” experience. People respond to trauma in many different ways, and symptoms can vary widely. Some common ways trauma may show up include: Emotional responses, behavioral changes, physical symptoms, cognitive challenges, and relational difficulties.
Some people may show outward signs, while others may seem fine on the surface but feel distressed internally. Recognizing trauma means honoring your unique experience—no two journeys look exactly alike.
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Anxiety, sadness, anger, numbness, mood swings, or feeling overwhelmed by emotions
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Avoidance of certain people or places, difficulty trusting others, withdrawal from social activities, or repeating unhealthy relationship patterns
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Headaches, stomach issues, fatigue, sleep disturbances, or a persistent sense of physical tension
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Intrusive memories, flashbacks, difficulty concentrating, negative self-talk, or feelings of confusion or disorientation
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Struggles with intimacy, communication issues, or feeling disconnected from others
My Specialties Are
I specialize in helping people heal from all forms of trauma, including:
Childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse
Complex trauma and developmental trauma
Trauma related to loss, grief, and bereavement
Domestic violence and intimate partner violence
Medical trauma and chronic illness
Secondary or vicarious trauma (for caregivers and professionals)
Trauma related to discrimination, racism, and social injustice
Natural disasters, accidents, and sudden life changes
My approach is compassionate and tailored to each individual’s unique experience, supporting clients in reclaiming safety, stability, and hope.
Trauma Therapy With Me
Isn’t About Reliving the Past
Healing from trauma does not require reliving painful memories or becoming overwhelmed by past experiences. Instead, trauma therapy with me centers on tuning into and embodying the messages your nervous system communicates, alongside honoring your emotions. By working with both the body’s signals and emotional experience together, we create a safe and supportive pathway to process and release stored trauma, fostering deep, lasting healing and resilience.
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Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-centered, evidence-based therapy designed to help people heal from trauma by focusing on the body’s natural ability to process and release stress. Trauma is often stored not just in the mind but in the nervous system, manifesting as physical tension, pain, or dysregulation.
In Somatic Experiencing, you learn to gently tune into your bodily sensations—such as pressure, tightness, or warmth—and notice how these sensations change during therapy. This awareness helps your nervous system complete natural responses that may have been interrupted during the original traumatic event.
By gradually processing these sensations in a safe and supportive environment, SE helps release stored trauma, reduce anxiety, and restore a sense of balance and safety in your body. This process often leads to lasting improvements in emotional regulation, stress tolerance, and overall well-being.
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Brainspotting is a powerful, evidence-informed trauma therapy modality that helps people access and process stored trauma at a deep neurological level. It works by identifying and focusing on specific eye positions—or “brainspots”—that correlate with areas of emotional distress held in the brain and body.
During a session, you’ll be guided to find these brainspots by tracking eye positions while attending to bodily sensations, emotions, or memories. This focused attention activates the brain’s natural ability to process and release trauma. Unlike some talk therapies, Brainspotting emphasizes the connection between the eyes, brain, and body to bypass mental defenses and tap directly into the subconscious.
Clients often find Brainspotting deeply effective for resolving trauma-related symptoms such as anxiety, PTSD, depression, and somatic complaints. It supports emotional regulation, clarity, and a felt sense of relief.
If you’re interested, I can guide you through this gentle and integrative process, helping you move toward healing and greater well-being.
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Exploring and healing relational wounds and attachment patterns that affect current relationships and emotional well-being.
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Emotion-Based Therapy (also known as Emotion-Focused Therapy or EFT) centers on understanding, experiencing, and transforming emotions as a key pathway to healing. Emotions are powerful signals that guide us to what matters deeply and can reveal underlying needs, fears, and unresolved pain.
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Ego State Therapy, also known as Parts Work Therapy, is a therapeutic approach that recognizes that our personality is made up of different “parts” or “ego states” — distinct aspects of ourselves with their own feelings, memories, and perspectives. These parts often develop in response to life experiences, especially during times of stress or trauma.
In therapy, you’ll learn to identify and connect with these different parts of yourself—whether they are protective, wounded, or resourceful. The goal is to understand how these parts interact, resolve internal conflicts, and help the parts communicate and cooperate in a healthier way.
This therapy is particularly helpful for:
Healing trauma and fragmented experiences
Resolving inner conflicts and self-sabotaging patterns
Building self-awareness and self-compassion
Strengthening internal resources and resilience
Ego State Therapy creates a safe space to work with your internal world, fostering integration, balance, and healing across your whole self.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identifying and gently challenging unhelpful thoughts and beliefs that stem from traumatic experiences.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Utilizing bilateral stimulation to process and reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories.
Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques: Cultivating present-moment awareness and safety to manage anxiety and emotional dysregulation.
Narrative Therapy: Empowering you to re-author your story and find meaning beyond trauma.
Psychoeducation: Providing knowledge about trauma and its effects to increase understanding and self-compassion.
Results From
Trauma Therapy With Me
After therapy, my clients report:
Working together in trauma therapy, many clients experience profound shifts and healing that ripple through their lives. Some of the results you may notice include:
Increased Emotional Regulation
Greater Self-Awareness
Release of Stored Trauma
Improved Relationships
Enhanced Coping Skills
Renewed Sense of Safety
Empowerment and Clarity
Every client’s journey is unique, and healing unfolds in its own time. My role is to provide compassionate guidance and a safe space as you move toward your next step in healing.
About Abigail Frank, PLMHP & PMSW
Read More About Me
Specializing in Trauma and Healing
I support individuals as they navigate anxiety, depression, and attachment patterns. My work deeply honors the felt sense—acknowledging what is experienced in the body, including what may be hidden or not yet fully felt. I have a particular focus on women’s issues and supporting survivors of horrific experiences, whether firsthand or witnessed.
I guide clients in breaking free from survival mindsets, facilitating emotional shifts that enable the release of stored distress from past events. This process opens space for healing and reclaiming a fuller sense of balance and well-being.
I work with individuals from all walks of life. Many of my clients carry long-held beliefs of “not being good enough” or have histories they have never shared before. Whether you are experiencing professional burnout, trapped in maladaptive patterns or relationships, or have spent years simply surviving, my approach is compassionate, validating, and tailored to your unique journey.
Credentials, Eduation
& Professional Experience
Provisional Licensed Mental Health Practitioner # 14662
Provisional Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor #P-1894
Provisional Masters of Social Work #8293
University of Denver, Colorado
Master's in Social Work | August 2020
University of South Dakota, South Dakota
Masters in Science| August 2017
Professional Experience
Speciality Group Consultation Healing with BSP, Poetry, Music, & Act December 2025-May 2026
Yothera Facilitator Training November 2025-2026
Somatic Experiencing (SE) Training Program |2025-2027|
Phase 3 Brainspotting Certification (BSP) |2025|
Phase 1 & 2 Brainspotting Certification (BSP) |2022| In process of Certification
Phase 1 & 2 Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)|2020|
Additional Certifications in Ego State an Somatic Interventions.
Therapy FAQs
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I accept self-pay, Medicaid, Bluecross Blueshield, Ambetter, and self-pay
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I have two office locations?
Next Step Counseling, LLC is located in Neligh & Norfolk, Nebraska, Options to have online therapy or telehealth services.
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Clients have the option to opt out of insurance if insurance is not covered under my license.
Please contact my office for rates.
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Clients complete and IDI or Initial diagnostic interview for insurance and for diagnostic purposes. An IDI covers history dynamics. It is good for one year.
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I do see children ages 0-18 years of age.
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At this time I do not accept Medicare or Medicare as a secondary insurance.
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At this time my caseload is full.
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Monday Through Friday
Tuesday and Thursday In Neligh Location and Evening appointment TImes. Telehealth available.
Monday and Wednesday in Norfolk Office . Telehealth options.
Friday is if needed.
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What’s the Difference Between Somatic Experiencing, Brainspotting, and EMDR?
All three are effective, evidence-informed trauma therapies that help people process and heal from distressing experiences, but they each use different approaches and techniques:
Somatic Experiencing (SE)
Focuses on tuning into the body’s sensations and nervous system responses.
Helps you become aware of and release trauma that is held physically in the body.
Uses gentle tracking of physical sensations to renegotiate survival responses like fight, flight, or freeze without needing to retell traumatic events in detail.
Brainspotting
Uses eye positions (“brainspots”) to access deep areas in the brain where trauma is stored.
The therapist guides your eye focus while you attend to bodily sensations and emotions linked to trauma.
This method helps process trauma at a subconscious level by connecting eye positions to emotional experiences, facilitating natural healing.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Uses specific, rhythmic bilateral eye movements (or other bilateral stimulation) while recalling traumatic memories.
Helps the brain reprocess and integrate traumatic memories so they become less distressing.
Typically involves revisiting the trauma story in a structured way, with guided cognitive restructuring and emotional processing.
Get Started in 4 Steps
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You can call the office at 402-929-5009 OR click anyone of the links to share basic information and Next Step Counseling, LLC will be in touch.
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Can call the office to setup a consultation. Or click on any of the contact me or free consultation links to get started with scheduling. The link will be telehealth option orf video chat. Contact Next Step counseling, LLC if wanting in person.
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If bypass and don’t need to do a free consultation session. Next Step Counseling, LLC will be in touch and find a time that works best for you. I do do evening appointment times.
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Beginning therapy can feel like a big step, but you don’t have to do it alone. Together, we’ll create a safe, compassionate space where you can explore your experiences and start your healing journey at a pace that feels right for you.
The first step is simply reaching out—whether that’s a call, email, or filling out a contact form. During our initial session, we’ll get to know each other, clarify your goals, and build a foundation of trust and understanding.
Healing is a journey, and I’m here to walk alongside you every step of the way. When you’re ready, let’s take that next step together.