Wild Foxgloves
Counseling
Traumatic Brain Injury Specialist & Narrative Trauma Therapist
I help individuals whose lives have been derailed by concussion or traumatic brain injury.
"We have paid a lot of attention to concussions. We are more aware of concussions. But it's really the repetitive minor injuries, the ones that are asymptomatic that occur on almost every play of the [football] game, the sub-concussive hits: that's the big problem."
~ Ann McKee, M.D.
Director of Boston University's Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center
About Wild Foxgloves
Counseling
Foxgloves grow wild over Pacific Northwest woodlands that have been clear-cut, stripped, and burned. Their stunningly beautiful presence is a deep reminder that devastation will not have the final say.
The blooms waving gently over the remnants of forests is a symbol of hope and resilience, that beauty can rise from the ashes.
"You only get one brain." ~ Ann McKee, M.D.
Director of Boston University's Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center
About Cresaya E. Kingsbury, M.A. LMHC
Hello!
I'm Cresaya E. Kingsbury
I'm quirky, empathetic, a good listener and sometimes even funny. I passionately care about my clients, pursue ongoing professional development & engage my own heartache. PNW born and bred, I have lived on both sides of the Cascades— north and south, in our gritty cities, our rural industrial and agricultural towns, and out in the country. Whatever part of our beautiful state you live in, you're talking to a local who loves and understands our culture, the particular challenges our region faces, recent events—and our local healthcare.
Nothing prepares you for the reality of brain injury. I can help you process how you were injured, how it has disrupted your life, identify and manage triggers that elevate symptoms, discuss options that may further healing and to chart a path forward.
And, as you engage the aftermath of injury, you may find an open door: inviting you to care well for other heartaches and traumas that you have known.
Uncertain Whether You Have Experienced an Insult to Your Brain?
Sadly, there many faces of insults to the brain are not broadly known. As a result, many people have symptoms of cumulative sub-concussive insults, concussions or traumatic brain injury and don't know it.
Common TBI symptoms
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Brain fog
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Headaches or head pressure
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Fatigue, dizziness
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Nausea
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Light/auditory sensitivity
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Grocery store syndrome
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Avoiding multi-sensory environments (like restaurants, concerts and sports games)
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Reduced confidence in balance
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Reduced short-term memory
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Motion sensitivity
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Difficulty scrolling
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Difficulty on screens
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Visual fatigue
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A change in reading (desire, ease or memory)
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Tinnitus ("ringing" in the ears)
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"Unspecified Visual Disturbances" (unique to the individual and often seen with the eyes closed at night or at points of exhaustion (lines, colors, stars, fireworks, etc)
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Avoiding high contrasts (black and white tile floors, driving on roads where sunlight filters through trees...)
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Avoiding common household tasks like cooking and doing the dishes.
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Slurred speech when exhausted
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Double vision
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Reduced navigational skills
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Disrupted sleep (insomnia or hypersomnia)
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Executive functions that used to be easy are now taxing.
If that sounds like you, I'd be glad to journey with you.
Who I Serve
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Individuals (18+)
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Couples
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Professionals who wish to consult
Did You Know?
A "clean" MRI or CT scan does not mean your brain has not been injured. Imaging is not yet sophisticated enough to detect what is called diffuse axonal injury—injury to the brain on a cellular level. Standard imaging can only see gross structural changes and bleeding in the brain.
My Experience
My patients have been my greatest teachers. I have been continually humbled by their generosity in allowing me to see the rawness of their injuries. Concussion and brain injury are poorly understood by the public—and even many medical providers. In my 13 years on the medical side of brain injury rehabilitation, only a handful of patients had someone with whom to process how their world had been turned upside down. Witnessing the profound isolation of my patients as they navigated the complexity of brain injury recovery, finding the right providers and even having to advocate for themselves with insurance and in court cases is why I do this work.
Outside of the office, I revel in the ocean's beauty, find myself enchanted by flowers, indulge my creativity through projects, savor good food, engage in my own healing work and cherish time with my four-footed friends.
