Compassionate PTSD and Trauma Therapy in Dallas, TX
The echoes of a traumatic event can shape your entire world. At Alif Counseling Services, we are a dedicated partner on your healing journey. We offer specialized, empathetic, and culturally sensitive therapy for trauma and PTSD for the Dallas, TX community.
Your journey to a more peaceful, fulfilling life is just a step away. Book Free Consultation today.
- Licensed Professional Counselor
- Trained Therapist
- Culturally Responsive
- 10+ Years Experience
Do I Have PTSD? Recognizing the Symptoms
Understanding the signs of trauma is the first step toward clarity and healing. PTSD is a treatable condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.
Re-experiencing/Intrusion
Involuntary and vivid reliving of the traumatic event. Unwanted, recurring memories; distressing dreams/nightmares; flashbacks; intense emotional/physical reactions to reminders.
Avoidance
Actively trying to avoid reminders of the traumatic event. Staying away from people, places, activities that remind one of the trauma; emotional numbing/detachment.
Negative Thoughts & Mood
Persistent negative thoughts about self/others/world; memory problems related to trauma; feeling detached from loved ones; ongoing emotions like fear, blame, guilt, shame.
Arousal & Reactivity
Being constantly on guard for danger and easily startled. Irritability/angry outbursts; trouble sleeping/concentrating; reckless/self-destructive behavior.
Understanding Your Experience
If you’re here, you may be silently carrying the weight of the past, feeling isolated, constantly on edge, or wondering if you’ll ever truly feel like yourself again. The confusion, fear, and exhaustion are real, but please know this: your experience is valid, and what you are feeling is not a sign of weakness.
You are not alone in this struggle. Taking the step to seek support is an act of profound courage. Our goal is to provide a safe, non-judgmental space where you can process your experiences, find your strength, and reclaim your life.
Our Specialized Approach to Trauma Healing in Dallas
At Alif Counseling, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all solution. We use a range of proven, evidence-based therapies to help you process trauma in a way that feels safe and effective for you.
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
Asma Sheikh is an EMDR-trained professional. This powerful therapy helps your brain reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional charge and allowing healing without extensive talking about distressing details.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
This approach helps you identify and challenge the negative thought patterns and beliefs rooted in trauma, developing healthier coping skills and a more balanced perspective.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
This compassionate therapy helps you understand the different "parts" of yourself that hold the pain of trauma. By working with these parts, you can heal internal conflicts and foster self-leadership.
Psychodynamic & Somatic Approaches
We explore how past experiences unconsciously influence your present life and acknowledge the mind-body connection. By paying attention to bodily sensations, we help release tension where trauma is stored.
The Alif Counseling Difference: Healing That Honors Your Whole Self
Choosing a therapist for something as personal as trauma is a critical decision. Here’s why so many in Dallas trust Alif Counseling Services.
Culturally Responsive & Spiritually Integrated Care
We provide therapy that respects and understands your unique background. For clients from immigrant, South Asian, Muslim, and other minority communities, this means you won't have to explain your cultural nuances or fear being misunderstood.
A Client-Centered, Safe Environment
Your healing journey is yours to lead. We believe in a collaborative partnership where you are the expert on your own life. You set the pace, and you are never pressured to share more than you're ready for.
Meet Asma Sheikh: Your Guide and Advocate
Asma Sheikh, MA, LPC, is the founder of Alif Counseling Services. She is a dedicated Licensed Professional Counselor with over eight years of experience helping adults, adolescents, and families navigate crisis and find healing. Asma is an EMDR-trained professional who specializes in anxiety, trauma, and mood disorders.
Her passion lies in empowering women, adolescents, ethnic minorities, and immigrant communities. Having worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings, she brings a wealth of clinical expertise to her practice. Asma is proficient in English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, and Siraiki, allowing her to provide therapy in the language that feels most comfortable to you. Her approach is warm, collaborative, and deeply rooted in cultural humility and clinical integrity.
Our Approach to Helping You Find Balance
We know that starting therapy can feel intimidating. We’ve made the process clear and supportive every step of the way.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Book a complimentary, 15-minute confidential phone or video call. This is a chance for you to ask questions and see if our approach is the right fit for you.
Your First Session
In our first meeting, we'll listen deeply to your story, understand your challenges, and collaboratively set meaningful goals for our work together.
Begin Your Path to Wellness
Through ongoing, supportive sessions, you'll gain insight, learn practical skills, and build the confidence to create lasting, positive change in your life.
Take the First Step Towards Well-being in Dallas, TX
You have carried the weight of the past for long enough. A life where you feel safe, calm, and joyful is possible. Taking the first step is an act of immense strength.
- Phone: (972) 645-6553
- Email: Admin@alifcounseling.com
- Locations: Allen, TX & McKinney, TX – Proudly serving the greater Dallas-Fort Worth community
- Sessions: Available both in-person and online via secure, confidential video
Frequently Asked Questions
Trauma is the distressing event itself. PTSD is a specific mental health condition with persistent symptoms (like flashbacks and avoidance) that can develop after a trauma and significantly impact your life for more than a month. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD.
This is a valid fear. However, a trained trauma therapist creates a safe, controlled environment to process memories at your own pace. The goal is to reduce the memory's emotional power, not to re-traumatize you. Many find that finally being able to speak about it with a trusted professional is incredibly liberating.
While every journey is unique, evidence-based treatments like EMDR are often structured. Many clients see significant progress in an average of 8-12 weekly sessions. We will work at a pace that is comfortable and effective for you
There is no such thing as trauma that isn't "severe enough." If an experience has had a lasting negative impact on your life, it is worthy of attention and healing. Seeking a professional opinion is the best way to understand your symptoms and determine the right path forward.
feeling (e.g., "I've been feeling really overwhelmed and exhausted lately, and I'm looking for ways to feel better"). Frame it as a proactive step toward improving your well-being, much like seeing a doctor for a physical health concern. It can also be helpful to set boundaries, explaining that while you value their love and support, this is a personal decision you are making for your own health.28 Remember, choosing to seek help is a sign of immense strength.
Take the First Step Towards Well-being in Dallas, TX
You have carried the weight of the past for long enough. A life where you feel safe, calm, and joyful is possible. Taking the first step is an act of immense strength.
- Completely confidential
- No pressure
- Available in multiple languages