E38: What makes Sharon Burtzlaff with Renewed You Counseling a good neighbor?
E38: What makes Sharon Burtzlaff with Renewed You Counseling a good neighbor?
In a recent episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast, host Millie M welcomed Sharon Burtzlaff of Renewed You Counseling to discuss trauma healing, innovative therapy techniques, and the universal nature of emotional wounds. This enlightening conversation revealed important insights about mental health treatment that many people might not be aware of, especially regarding trauma and its impact on our daily lives.
Sharon Burtzlaff, whose practice is based in Marietta, Georgia, offers both in-person and teletherapy services throughout Georgia and Florida. Her mission goes beyond simply helping clients cope with their challenges – she aims to guide them through a process of genuine healing and renewal. What sets her approach apart is the concept she playfully calls reaching an "okey-doke life" – a state where individuals maintain their inner peace regardless of external circumstances. This resilience allows her clients to navigate chaos without being triggered, knowing their worth and maintaining emotional equilibrium.
One of the most compelling revelations from the interview was Sharon's explanation about trauma. Contrary to popular belief, trauma isn't limited to catastrophic events like war experiences, major abuse, or severe accidents (what therapists call "big T trauma"). Sharon emphasized that every person carries some form of trauma, including what professionals term "small t trauma." These include moments when we weren't comforted during distressing situations, didn't feel protected, or lacked guidance during challenging experiences. These smaller traumas can become stored in the brain, manifesting as disproportionate emotional reactions to seemingly minor triggers – those moments when we wonder, "Why did I just react like that?"
Sharon's path to becoming a trauma therapist began with an endearing childhood influence – watching the Bob Newhart Show. At just eight years old, she discovered her calling after asking her father if being a therapist was a real job. This early inspiration set her on a career path that she now describes as her dream job. Her personal experience with loss – her father passed away unexpectedly when she was eleven – deepened her spiritual connection and developed her capacity for empathy at a young age, qualities that enhance her effectiveness as a therapist today.
What makes Sharon's therapeutic approach particularly effective is her use of EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily engages the left side of the brain, EMDR works with both hemispheres to access and process stored trauma. This innovative technique actually rewires neural pathways, transforming negative self-perceptions like "I'm not safe" into positive ones such as "I am safe, I survived." The therapy can be remarkably efficient compared to traditional methods, potentially resolving specific traumas in as little as four to six weeks.
To learn more about Renewed You Counseling go to:
Renewed You Counseling
(404) 849-2543
