Sharon Damsker,

 LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Montgomery County, PA

Hi, I’m Sharon Damsker, and I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Lilac Therapy Center, LLC.  I began my career in 2001 working with senior citizens and their families in a community setting, before redirecting to private practice working with college students and adults of all ages.  As a psychotherapist and trauma specialist, I help people understand their experiences in a safe and supportive space that promotes growth, healing, and exploration of all areas of life.  If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, sad, or easily triggered, talking with a professional can help you navigate through those emotions and find balance.  Through therapy, I can help people regain control/focus in their lives and disrupt the cycles that keep leading to the same negative outcomes.  

I work with adults and specialize in trauma therapy.

As a trauma therapist, I have extensive training and experience supporting individuals who’ve experienced trauma.  Through a variety of therapeutic modalities, such as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), mindfulness, and traditional talk therapy, I help my clients regain a sense of safely and normalcy in their lives following trauma.  I have experience working with people who were victims of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, random acts of violence, work-place trauma, life-changing accidents or illness, and natural disasters, as well as those who bore witness to traumatic events and struggle with flashbacks or even survivors’ guilt.  I am also experienced in supporting the unique experience of first responders.  

  • According to the EMDR Institute, EMDR is a therapeutic technique that helps people heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that may occur following disturbing life experiences. EMDR is most often used to treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but it’s application has been expanding to help individuals heal from a variety of emotional difficulties. Developed in 1989, EMDR’s effectiveness has been proven by numerous controlled trials and research studies since this time.

    EMDR is based on the theory that the brain will store normal and traumatic memories differently. Because traumatic memories can be disturbing and upsetting, the memory storage process can become disrupted, and traumatic memories are stored in a way that prevents healing. EMDR Therapy encourages individuals to briefly focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements). Instead of focusing directly on the emotions or thoughts associated with the traumatic experience, EMDR Therapy focuses on the memory itself and changes the way the memory is stored in the brain. This process then reduces the vividness and emotion associated with the traumatic memories.

    For more information on EMDR, please visit:

    https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing
    https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/

I also enjoy helping people navigate various life transitions.  Even the most positive changes, such as graduations, marriages, births, and new jobs can come with their own unique stressors.  Other life transitions, such as illness, divorce, fertility struggles, becoming an empty nester or a member of the “sandwich generation,” or retirement, may cause a significant amount of stress, anxiety, and feelings of depression.  I also enjoy working with college students, young adults, and parents who are navigating independence, relationships, work/life balance, and setting healthy boundaries.  Wherever your life’s journey is taking you, having someone to help guide you through some of the challenges that you encounter along the way can be helpful. 

Although we cannot control the ups and downs of everyday life, we can learn how to respond to and manage stress and adversity in a way that doesn’t negatively impact us.  Overall, I believe you know yourself better than anyone else: your struggles, dreams, desires, goals, feelings, and relationships.  It would be my honor to help you on your journey of healing and self-exploration.

Education and Training:

Sharon Damsker, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years experience working with adults in both clinical and community settings.  She graduated with a BA in Psychology from West Chester University in 1996 and went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Social Work from West Chester University in 2001.  Sharon has worked in a variety of clinical settings and completed her specialized training in EMDR from the EMDR Institute, Inc. in 2018.  When not working, Sharon enjoys spending time with her children, as well as hiking, biking, running, and yoga.