Dr. Sheila Sturgeon Freitas

Welcome

Welcome to the website of Sheila Sturgeon Freitas, Ph.D.

Specializing in helping children, adults and families with complex issues relating to trauma, adoption and giftedness, Dr. Sturgeon Freitas is an Idaho licensed psychologist with offices in Meridian (Telehealth available).

About Myself

As a clinical psychologist, I have extensive experience working with children, teens, adults, families and couples of all ages. Having received my Master’s in Clinical Psychology in 1998 and my Doctorate in 2005, I work collaboratively with my clients to address the issues that have led them to seek help.

While I frequently work with clients addressing general stressful life events, mood, anxiety or relationship issues, I carry specific specialization in adoption, complex trauma, gifted and talented issues and bereavement.

I have unique expertise in the areas of adoption, attachment, trauma, abuse (physical/sexual/emotional), PTSD, and foster care, with experience working on both the social work and clinical sides of each of these issues. As a social worker, I was a director of a foster family agency, foster parent educator, houseparent for an adolescent girls group home, crisis intervention worker, and with the Department of Children and Family Services, a foster-care reunification worker and an adoptions worker. As a clinician, I have extensive training and in-depth treatment experience in all of these issues, including intense and specialized work with complex trauma, dissociative disorders, sexual abuse victims, perpetrators, and their families (children through adults). I have further provided expert testimony in these areas.

In treatment of these issues, I pay significant emphasis on how trauma and neglect impacts brain organization, general development, one’s ability to self-soothe, behavioral and emotional regulation, and ability to relate to and invest in relationships with others. I treat the entire spectrum of trauma-related issues, including mood, anxiety, oppositional defiance, attachment disruptions, post-hospitalization stabilization, sexual acting out, dissociation and AD/HD symptoms. I draw on a number of treatment interventions, including attachment-focused play and relationship building within the family unit, narration and integration of the trauma, ARC, EMDR (level II trained), DBT, TBRI, TF-CBT, targeting of sympathetic over-arousal, art, containment and more general trauma processing strategies. The pace with which a sense of safety and security can be internalized frequently determines the pace of treatment. As such, it is not surprising that treatment for these issues typically requires extensive time and intervention with the family as a whole.

In addition to trauma, EMDR and adoption work, I also enjoy working with more general stressful life events. These can include bereavement issues, post-divorce adjustment, step-family, relationship issues, etc. I also address non-trauma focused AD/HD, higher functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

I additionally enjoy working with gifted and talented related psychotherapy issues. These issues frequently include parenting a gifted child, addressing mood or anxiety issues, and coping with individual intensities. Social relatedness, underachievement, school mis-match, mood dysregulation, and differentiating potential co-morbid disorders, such as AD/HD, Autism Disorder, from giftedness are also common issues raised in treatment.

Finally, I am published in the area of bereavement, specifically in the area of conjugal loss (i.e. death of a spouse). My research focused on how on how the quality of one's relationship with their spouse prior to the death, impacted the bereaved's long-term adjustment. This work specifically looked at the internalized attachments of their spouse. I have additionally presented at numerous conferences at different stages of this and other research work during my time in graduate school.

Should you be an individual, parent or family in need, please leave a message or complete the website request form.

Recent Professional Clinical Workshops and Presentations

• Sturgeon Freitas, S. (September 2019). Nuts and Bolts of Child Trauma. Presented at The Nuts and Bolts of a Child Protection Practice Workshop. Sponsored by the Idaho State Bar Association Child Protection Section and the Idaho Governor’s Task Force for Children at Risk.
• Sturgeon Freitas, S. (March 2019). An In-Depth Look at Resilience for Children Raised with Trauma. Workshop for Strengthening Families Training Institute Annual Conference presented by the Idaho Children's Turst Fund/Prevent Child Abuse Idaho. Boise, ID.
• Sturgeon Freitas, S. (July 2018). Understanding and Managing the Risks of Secondary Traumatic Stress for Advocates and Attorneys. Workshop for DisAbility Rights Idaho staff. Boise, ID
• Sturgeon Freitas, S. (June 2018). Building Resilience with Families Impacted by Severe Trauma. Workshop for Health and Welfare Children's Mental Health staff. Kuna, ID.
• Sturgeon Freitas, S. (March 2018). Trauma and the Brain for Play Therapists. A Neuro-biological and Developmental Overview. Workshop for the Idaho Association of Play Therapy Annual Conference. Garden City, ID.
• Understanding the Impact of Childhood Trauma on the Brain and Body. Workshop for Health and Welfare Children's Mental Health staff. Boise, ID. February 2017.
• Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma: A Workshop for Resource Parents. Workshop using National Child Traumatic Stress Network Curriculum. PATH Idaho. Idaho Falls; Meridian, ID. (Given multiple times 2015/2016.)
• Understanding the Impact of Childhood Trauma. Idaho Conference on Alcohol and Drug Dependency (ICADD). Boise State University, Boise, ID. May 2016.
• Complex Trauma in Childhood: How the Brain and Development are Shaped by Trauma. Idaho Psychological Association Annual Convention on Treating Trauma: Issues for Treating Complex Trauma and PTSD in Children and Adults. Sun Valley, ID. April 2015.
• Recognizing Symptoms of Trauma and Attachment in Adoption. The Pursuit, Boise, ID. January 2015.
• Partnering in Delivering Trauma Informed Care. Training for Idaho’s North Hub community partners and Department of Health and Welfare, Children and Family Services. Coeur D’Alene, ID. November 2014.
• Complex Trauma: How a Child’s Brain and Development are Impacted by Child Neglect and Abuse. 12th Annual Resource Family and Social Worker Conference. Idaho Child Welfare Research and Training Center. Coeur D’Alene, ID. (Keynote Speaker). May 2014.
• What Helps: Everyday Strategies to Regulate and Shape Complex Developmental Trauma. 12th Annual Resource Family and Social Worker Conference. Idaho Child Welfare Research and Training Center. Coeur D’Alene, ID. May 2014.
• When Foster Placements End: Grief and Loss in Foster Care. 12th Annual Resource Family and Social Worker Conference. Idaho Child Welfare Research and Training Center. Coeur D’Alene, ID. May 2014.
• Understanding Complex Developmental Trauma – The Neuroscience of Trauma and Everyday Things that Help. 12th Annual Resource Family and Social Worker Conference. Idaho Child Welfare Research and Training Center. Meridian, ID. (Keynote speaker). March 2014.
• Understanding the Developmental Impact of Trauma. Parenting with Connections Trauma and Adoption Workshop. Calvary Chapel. Boise, ID. April 2013.
• Identifying and Managing Trauma Pitfalls. Idaho Post-Adoption Center Conference. Responding to Trauma in Adoption and Foster Care. Boise, ID. September 2012.
• Recognizing Trauma and Attachment Related Symptoms in Post-adoption Clients. Idaho Health and Welfare, Children’s Mental Health (Region 4) retreat. Meridian, ID. May 2011.
• Recognizing Trauma and Attachment Symptoms During the Adoption Process. A New Beginning Adoption Agency. Boise, ID. February 2011.

Credentials

Sheila Sturgeon Freitas, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in the state of Idaho and provides trauma-informed psychological services to children, teens, families and adults. She holds a doctorate and master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (now known as Palo Alto University), in Palo Alto, California (APA Accredited). She further is able to provide psychological services via telehealth mediums to clients residing in most other states under the authority of PSYPACT, having earned an “Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology Authorization” (APIT) through the PSYPACT Commission. This authorization is specific for clients residing in other PSYPACT approved states, which can be found at https://psypact.org/mpage/psypactmap. She currently serves as the mental health representative on the Idaho Governor's Task Force for At Risk Children, having been appointed in 2017. She holds the following certificates:

• Certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
• Certified Family Trauma Professional
• Certified in Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC) Therapy
• Certified EMDR therapist – Level 2
• Trauma-Sensitive HeartMath Certified Professional
• Certificate of Proficiency with Distinction “The Best Start in Life: Early Childhood Development for Sustainable Development” SDG Academy (Collaborative effort via experts from Harvard University, New York University and UNICEF)
• Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology Authorization

Documents

Here are some important documents for new and existing patients.

Initial Contract

This document contains important information about my professional services and business policies.

Notice of Privacy

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.

Registration Info

Please fill out and sign this form prior to our first meeting.

Release of Information

This form, when completed and signed by you, authorizes Dr. Sturgeon Freitas to release or obtain from an outside party, protected information from your records, from the records of your child or from the records of a person for whom you are legally responsible to the person/entity you designate.

Telehealth Informed Consent

This form explains how you can use Telehealth to obtain services from Dr. Sturgeon Freitas and, when signed, authorizes its use.

COVID Informed Consent

This document contains important information about the potential decision to resume in- person services during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

E-mail Encryption Instructions

This document explains how confidential information can be discussed electronically in order to comply with federal law.

Locations

Dr. Sturgeon Freitas has offices in Meridian for your convenience. Telehealth may also be available depending on your particular circumstances.

Meridian
3709 N Locust Grove Rd Suite 150 Meridian, ID 83646

Contact

Phone:

208-475-4690

Fax:

208-899-4703

Mailing address:

Sheila Sturgeon Freitas, Ph.D.
3709 N Locust Grove Rd Suite 150
Meridian, ID 83646

E-mail:

Use the following form to contact Dr. Sturgeon Freitas electronically. Include your telephone number, as certain kinds of information cannot be discussed via e-mail unless encryption safeguards are in place (see this document for more information).

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