Welcome to the Erica Barton Counseling Blog

A space for reflection, healing, and growth. Here you’ll find insights on trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, attachment healing, and somatic therapy written to support cycle breaking women and therapists through their healing experiences. Explore topics like Anxiety, Relationships, Trauma, Brainspotting, IFS therapy, and embodied mindfulness practices that help you reconnect with your true, whole, authentic self.

Whether you’re seeking trauma therapy in Bend, Oregon, virtual therapy in Oregon state, or online Yoga Therapy anywhere you are, these articles offer guidance, education, and gentle encouragement for your healing journey.

What is functional freeze, and how does it relate to anxiety and stress?
Nervous System, Depression, Anxiety, Mental Health, Trauma, Somatics, Self Esteem, Mind Body, Women's Health, Resilience, Stress reduction Erica Barton Nervous System, Depression, Anxiety, Mental Health, Trauma, Somatics, Self Esteem, Mind Body, Women's Health, Resilience, Stress reduction Erica Barton

What is functional freeze, and how does it relate to anxiety and stress?

Functional freeze is a protective response from your nervous system. When you face stress or danger, your body has a few options: fight, flight, or freeze. Freeze happens when neither fighting nor fleeing feels possible. You have high peaks (anxiety, panic, overwhelm), and low valleys (freeze). Your system "freezes" to keep you safe by conserving energy and avoiding harm.

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Expanding your window of tolerance
Anxiety, Trauma, Nervous System, Shame Resilience, Stress reduction, Relationships, Women's Health, Depression, Therapy, Mental Health, Somatics Erica Barton Anxiety, Trauma, Nervous System, Shame Resilience, Stress reduction, Relationships, Women's Health, Depression, Therapy, Mental Health, Somatics Erica Barton

Expanding your window of tolerance

Have you ever felt like your emotions are a rollercoaster, swinging from feeling super anxious to completely drained? Or maybe you feel stuck in one place—constantly on edge, or totally checked out. These feelings aren’t random. They’re connected to how your nervous system responds to stress and past experiences. Understanding something called the window of tolerance can help explain what’s happening and how therapy can make a difference.

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