Trauma Therapy — Grand Forks, ND

Many people come to trauma therapy saying some version of:
“I’m not in that situation anymore… so why do I still feel this way?”

Trauma doesn’t always show up as flashbacks. It often shows up as a nervous system that stays on high alert—or shuts down to conserve.

You might notice:

• Feeling anxious, restless, or constantly “on edge”
• Overwhelm, irritability, or reactivity that doesn’t match the situation
• Shutdown, numbness, brain fog, or disconnection
• Hypervigilance, trouble sleeping, or a body that won’t unclench
• Difficulty trusting, setting boundaries, or feeling safe in relationships
• A pattern of “doing everything right” but still not feeling okay inside
   

This isn’t a willpower issue. It’s physiology.

Trauma-informed therapy means we treat your experiences with respect and care, and we work in a way that prioritizes pacing, consent, and stability.

Trauma-focused therapy means we also help you process and heal the patterns trauma created—so you’re not stuck managing symptoms forever.

At Level Up MHC, we do both.

Our work integrates trauma-sensitive practices into every aspect of therapy so you feel supported, understood, and appropriately challenged—without being pushed past your capacity.

A lot of therapy is “top-down”—talking, analyzing, reframing. That can be valuable, but if your body is still in protection, insight may not create change.

Our clinical identity is nervous system-centered and informed by a Biology of Trauma® lens, which means we pay attention to:

• What your body does under stress
• How your system learned to protect you
• What helps your physiology build more capacity and stability
   

Our work is informed by advanced training in the Biology of Trauma® framework developed by Dr. Aimie Apigian. Dr. Aimie has personally trained our team, and our founder, Lacy Suby, is Biology of Trauma® certified. 

As a practice, we’re building shared clinical language and consistency through ongoing training and supervision.

What this looks like in session

Depending on your needs and your clinician, trauma therapy may include:

• Nervous system education that helps you understand your patterns without shame
• Body-based tracking (tension, bracing, numbness, activation) so your system can update, not just your thoughts
• Structured regulation skills you can use in real life (not just “coping tips”)
• Trauma processing methods (when appropriate and when your system has capacity)
   

We integrate evidence-based modalities that may include EMDR and Somatic Experiencing-informed approaches, along with other trauma-focused methods—always paced to your capacity and goals.

Trauma recovery requires more than comfort. It requires stability.

Our environment is warm and human, and it’s also structured and boundaried—because a dysregulated system settles through predictability.

You can expect:

• Clear pacing and session structure
• Strong clinical boundaries that create steadiness (not confusion)
• A therapist who tracks your capacity and doesn’t rush the work
• A process focused on regulation → capacity → integration
   

You won’t be pushed into intense content without the foundation to hold it. We build stability first so therapy is effective—not overwhelming.

Trauma patterns can begin early, especially when stress responses and co-regulation are disrupted.

Ashlei Stanczyk, LMSW, supports infants (0+) and caregivers with attachment and co-regulation work—strengthening the caregiver-child relationship and helping the child’s nervous system return to parasympathetic settling rather than getting stuck in ongoing stress responses.

This approach is often a strong fit if:

• You’ve tried talk therapy and still feel stuck in body symptoms
• Your stress response feels automatic (reactivity, shutdown, panic, numbness)
• You want therapy that treats root patterns—not just symptom management
• You want trauma-informed care that is warm, structured, and steady
• You’re ready to build capacity and integrate change into everyday life
   

If you’re looking for quick fixes or unstructured “just venting,” our services may not feel like a match. Our work is supportive, but it’s also intentional.

• EMDR Therapy
• Anxiety Therapy
• Depression Therapy
• Child Therapy
• Teen Therapy
• Somatic Therapy / Nervous System Regulation
• Other Common Concerns
• Other Therapeutic Modalities