Susan Miller, the Psychological Services Coordinator at Independence, Inc., has been a professional counselor since 1992. She specializes in working with people with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and is a Certified Trauma Specialist through the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists. As a body-centered counselor, Susan helps people learn skills for grounding and centering and using the body's wisdom in healing trauma and managing stress.

Individual counseling takes place on-site at 2001 Haskell Avenue in Lawrence, Kansas. Counseling sessions can be used to address issues of psychogical distress including depression, anxiety, stress, grief, or the effects of a major life transition.

Psychological evaluations can be conducted for the benefit of Disability Determination Services for anyone applying for disability benefits. Psychological evaluations are offered as part of the Benefits Advocacy services at Independence, Inc. Our Psychological Services staff and volunteers work collaboratively with the Benefits Attorney to provide accurate documentation when a disabling condition is present.

The following funding sources may pay for your services:

Medicaid
MediKan
Vocational Rehabilitation

We will help you apply for these services if you are eligible. We also have a sliding fee scale. We hope to make our services accessible, affordable, and available to you.

Healing Benefits of Counseling

Greater composure in stressful situations
Greater composure in general
An enhanced ability to rest and relax
A general feeling of well-being
Enhanced interpersonal skills
Enhanced skills in managing emotions
Enhanced skills in managing pain
A more stable and calm mood
Greater enthusiasm and enjoyment of life

Post Traumatic Stress
If you have been traumatized, you may have Post-traumatic Stress. Symptoms of this stress can result from any overwhelming or life-threatening experience. If you have had any of the following experiences, you might have Post-traumatic Stress. Even if the experience was years ago, you may still be effected.

Have you been in a natural disaster?
Have you been the victim of a crime?
Have you been in a motor vehicle accident?
Have you been raped or assaulted?Have you been a soldier in a combat zone?
Have you had invasive medical procedures?
Were you abused as a child?
Do you have Post-traumatic Stress?
Have you had a life-threatening or overwhelming experience
Do memories of that event still bother you?
Do you have nightmares about the event?
Do you avoid thinking or talking about the event?
Do you feel physically or emotionally numb?
Are you excessively jumpy and easily startled?
Are you excessively irritable?
Do you feel like you need to be constantly alert to possible danger?

If so, you could benefit from trauma counseling.

Anxiety or Depression and other symptoms of psychological distress

Do you have symptoms of anxiety?
Excessive worry
Inability to stop worryingRestlessness
Irritability
Tension in your body
Panic attacks
Difficulties falling or staying asleep
Do you have symptoms of depression?
Persistent sadness Loss of interest in activitiesWeight gain or loss Interrupted sleep, or over-sleeping
Restlessness, or sluggishness, or both
Excessive guilt
Difficulty making decisions
Thoughts of death, wishing to die
Are you in a major life-transition?
Death of a loved-one
A newly acquired illness or disability
Do you have an eating disorder?
Do you have relationship difficulties?
If you said yes to any of these questions, you could benefit from counseling.


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