River Bend Counseling

Marnee Alfson is an EMDR trained trauma specialist in private practice in Vancouver, WA. Marnee received her Master of Arts in Counseling from Western Seminary in 2018. She undertook additional trauma informed training under the direction of leading author and developer of Story Informed Trauma Therapy (SITT), Byron Kehler, MS. She has worked with survivors of various traumas such as sexual and/or domestic assault, displacement, first responders, attachment in relationships, body image, life transitions and mood management.

Additionally, Marnee is also registered with the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and is recognized by the state of Washington as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) She has also been EMDR trained through EMDRIA Certified Trainer Philip Manfield.

Some individuals who have experienced a trauma might find themselves having difficulty concentrating, feeling not themselves, living with rigid or controlled thinking. Other areas that trauma shows up in our lives might be an overwhelming sense of guilt or shame from a past experience. Low self-esteem, feeling worthless, mistrust in relationships, pattern of being a victim, abandonment issues, anger issues, depression, or the need to be invisible. It can show up with physical symptoms such as gastrointestinal problems, headaches, fatigue, phantom pains or joint pains.

Marnee believes we gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience we choose to walk through. Trauma recovery therapy is an important part of hope in helping other survivors live their lives free of the pain they have experienced.