Carrie Gaykowski, MSW, LCSW
TRAUMA RECOVERY AND GROWTH
A safe space to heal
About Me Carrie Gaykowski
I am a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Salt Lake City. I work primarily with adults. My practice is dedicated to providing a warm, non-judgmental, and supportive space for you to explore and express yourself in order to gain insight. I work with individuals struggling with the effects of trauma, C-PTSD, grief and loss, and life transitions.
Depending upon your needs and goals, I utilize Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and am trained in EMDR. Together, we explore the issues impacting your life, draw upon your strengths, and introduce new skills encouraging you to live a more full and satisfying life. Life holds challenges and difficulties, often during these moments our greatest growth occurs.
Many of the clients with whom I work have a history of childhood trauma and/or sexual abuse. I also have experience working with domestic violence survivors.
As Seen In
What is Trauma
Carrie Gaykowski
"Trauma is a psychic wound that hardens you psychologically that then interferes with your ability to grow and develop. It pains you and now you're acting out of pain. It induces fear and now you're acting out of fear. Trauma is not what happens to you, it's what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you."
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Gabor Mate
A Place to Start
Healing looks a little different for everyone because of our lived experiences and impressions. However, there are a few common elements that are helpful to most everyone. Self compassion is a wonderful tool to use no matter where you are on your journey. Below are some ideas that can help get you started.
Breathe
"Breathe in deeply to bring your mind home to your body."
Thich Nhat Hanh
Paying attention to the in and out of our breath can be the first step in beginning to feel safe within our bodies. Breathing from deep inside our bellies, rather than from the chest, is a means to slowing down our nervous system and checking in with our physical selves.
Write
"...the object of writing is to write to yourself, to let yourself know what you have been trying to avoid."
Bessel van der Kolk
Expressing ourselves through writing allows us to release the things we may not be able to say out loud. We can sob, curse, long, remember, explore, and start to feel comfortable with the thoughts and feelings that are buried.
Move
"All that is important is this one moment in movement."
Martha Graham
Moving our bodies is a way to metabolize anger, be present in
the moment and show compassion for our wonderful physical containers. Any type of movement from gentle stretching, slow walks to challenging sports and intense workouts helps with regulation and promotes trust of our bodies.
Resources
A few ideas focused on understanding trauma and healing.
"A book that through deeply personal conversations, Oprah Winfrey and renowned brain and trauma expert Dr. Bruce Perry offer a groundbreaking and profound shift from asking 'What’s wrong with you?' to 'What happened to you?'”
Treatment Modalities
Eye Movement Desensitization
Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach that was created by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and has since been widely used to treat various psychological conditions related to trauma, anxiety, and other distressing life experiences.
EMDR is based on the understanding that traumatic experiences can overwhelm the brain's natural processing mechanisms, leading to the persistence of distressing emotions, thoughts, and sensations associated with the trauma. This can result in symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and avoidance behaviors.
"EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. EMDR therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms."
During an EMDR session, the therapist guides the client to focus on a traumatic memory or distressing experience while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation. The client is then encouraged to notice any associated thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, or images that arise.
EMDRIA website
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Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that focuses on understanding and transforming the internal dynamics of an individual's psyche. "Developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz in the 1980s, IFS is a transformative tool that conceives every human being as a system of protective and wounded inner parts lead by a core Self.
We believe the mind is naturally multiple and that is a good thing. Just like members of a family, inner parts are forced from their valuable states into extreme roles within us. Self is in everyone. It can’t be damaged. It knows how to heal.
But IFS is much more than a non-pathologizing evidence-based psychotherapy to be used in a clinical setting. It is also a way of understanding personal and intimate relationships and stepping into life with the 8 Cs: confidence, calm, compassion, courage, creativity, clarity, curiosity, and connectedness."
IFS Institute website
Insurance and Payment Options
​Accepted Insurance Plans
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Aetna
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BlueCross and BlueShield
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EMI
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PEHP
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Select Health
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United Healthcare
General Insurance Guidelines
Payments or copayments will be processed at the end of day on the day of service through the secure client portal. In-network insurance reimbursements will be credited to your account. Please note that in-network providers often contract to other insurance companies for behavioral health, so clients are responsible to ensure that Far Sky Healing is in network with their behavioral heath insurance provider. In such circumstances where services have been provided and subsequently are found to be out-of network, clients will be responsible for the total balance due.
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Out of Network Insurance Billing
Far Sky Healing does not bill out-of-network insurance carriers, but can provide a monthly invoice, which clients can submit to their insurance company for reimbursement. Out-of-network sessions must be paid in full at the time of service.
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Questions to Ask Your Insurance Company
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Is pre-approval or pre-certification required for mental health services?
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Is there a limit on sessions per year?
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Which insurance company provides my outpatient, out-of-network, mental health benefits? (Sometimes this is different than your medical health provider).
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What is my mental health deductible and how much has been met?
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What is my out-of-pocket deductible and how much has been met?
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What is my out-of-network mental health deductible and how much has been met?
Payments Accepted
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All major credit cards including FSA and HSA cards.
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Sessions are billed at $165 per 55 minutes (self-pay rate is available, please email for details).
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A fee of $50 will be charged for appointments canceled less than 24 hours prior to session.
Contact
If you are in crisis please call or text 988 for immediate assistance.
In person and virtual appointments available.
Carrie Gaykowski
Address
Contact
4055 South 700 East, Suite 101 G
Millcreek, Utah 84107
385.645.0566
