An Invitation for Peace!

Discover the healing power of intensive trauma therapy through our unique integrative art therapy protocol!

About Us

IATx

Integrative Art Therapy, LLC (IATx) is a trauma‑focused practice led by Dr. Alexandria "Zandy" Zettler, Licensed Mental Health Counselor (FL), Board‑Certified Art Therapist (ATR‑BC), Certified Trauma Therapist (CTT), Instinctual Trauma Response® (ITR) certified, CITI‑certified, and CAPS‑5 certified. Her specialty populations are dissociative disorders and childhood relational/trauma.

Approach

IATx blends creative expression with evidence‑based trauma interventions. The ITR method focuses on updating the autonomic nervous system so clients can recognize that traumatic events are “over,” using visual processing, narrative writing, and bilateral stimulation. Animals in a Safe Place is a unique protocol developed by Dr. Zettler adapted from her ITR Research Protocol and is designed to help deeply rooted trauma release and dissolve triggers.

Services

Brief Intensive Trauma Therapy: Up to twenty clinical hours over two weeks offered in‑person, online, or hybrid with 90-day follow-up. Repeated as needed.
PTSD & CPTSD Evaluation — Dr. Zettler administers the CAPS‑5 (Clinical Interview for PTSD and CPTSD) before and after treatment
Specialized Trauma Protocols — Instinctual Trauma Response® (ITR) method, “Animals in a Safe Place” (AiSP) protocol, parts psychology (Externalized Dialog®), narrative art therapy, breathwork, somatic experiencing, and Rewind Technique
Populations Served — Adults, children (7+), and trauma‑affected individuals across the lifespan
Flexible payment plan & insurance reimbursement documents produced as requested
Additional Offerings — Local small‑group intensive art therapy and breathwork retreats

What is the Instinctual Trauma Response (ITR) method?

As a certified traumatologist in the Instinctual Trauma Response® (ITR) method,

Dr. Zettler asserts ITR is a fundamental treatment protocol for treating trauma. The ITR Graphic Narrative® (GN) and Externalized Dialog® (ExD Techniques externalize internal thoughts, feelings, and emotions using visual processing and activates bilateral stimulation through narrative writing and the re-presentation. Both the GN and ExD facilitate neuroception and utilize the concept of TIME and the HERE and NOW to update the central nervous system (CNS) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) that an event is OVER.

Additionally, the phrase "instinctual trauma response" includes the underlying concept of most trauma resolution methods. Specifically, the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is designed to respond instinctually to any threat in a very systematic way and if the threat cannot be avoided, the wound to the ANS may be what most people call trauma. Repeated threats can cause injury through any or all of the sensory channels (e.g., sight, smell, sound, taste, touch, vestibular, proprioception, …) and then any reminder can set off the instinctual trauma response. Eventually the entire central nervous system is affected including cognitive functioning. This is the genius of Drs. Tinnin and Gant's development of ITR method.

Stabilization Examples

Nervous System Regulation: breathwork
Visualization: safe place drawing
Sensory Awareness: e.g., vestibular sense (balance and movement), proprioception (body in space awareness), taste, smell, touch, sight, and sound
Self-Psychology: identifying and resourcing aspects of SELF
Parts Psychology: identifying proactive protectors, reactive protectors, and hurt parts that directly experienced the traumatic experience
Somatic Psychology: body mapping and parts mapping
Play therapy: substituting the human figure in the Graphic Narrative (GN) drawing with an animal

Sensory Integration and Reconsolidation Examples

Hypnotherapy Techniques: Anamnesis
Art Therapy: Graphic Narrative (GN): Drawing the components and writing out the event in 3rd person, past tense point-of- view

Rehabilitation Examples

Bilateral Stimulation: Re-presentation of the graphic narrative (GN) and production of the Externalized Dialog (ExD)
Relational Therapy: ongoing Externalized Dialog (ExD) with parts
Body awareness: Reviewing the ITR components and associated nonverbal cues

We at IATx are grateful to Dr. Linda Gantt, Mary Carlson, the HFT innovative team, and all the others along the way for their thoughtful contributions and continued development, updates, training, and application of ITR method across populations and peoples. Please contact www.helpfortrauma.com for training or participation in ongoing research (see link below).

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Tue	By Appointment
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Thu	By Appointment
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Sun	By Appointment

An Invitation for Peace!

About Us

IATx

Approach

Services

Alexandria Zettler

Alexandria Zettler

Alexandria Zettler

Tessa Paulsen

Alexandria Zettler

Alexandria Zettler

Anna Paulsen

Alexandria Zettler

Anna Paulsen

Contact Us

Drop us a line!

Integrative Art Therapy, LLC

Hours: 9am-9pm Eastern

Resources WE LOVE!

What is the Instinctual Trauma Response (ITR) method?

An Invitation for Peace!

About Us

IATx

Approach

Services

Alexandria Zettler

Alexandria Zettler

Alexandria Zettler

Tessa Paulsen

Alexandria Zettler

Alexandria Zettler

Anna Paulsen

Alexandria Zettler

Anna Paulsen

Contact Us

Drop us a line!

Integrative Art Therapy, LLC

Hours: 9am-9pm Eastern

Resources WE LOVE!

What is the Instinctual Trauma Response (ITR) method?

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