Chelsea Spencer, LCSW, LICSW

I am an Air Force Veteran with 15 years working directly alongside the SOF community with experience as an Active Duty Mental Health provider and a civilian. I understand that the SOF community comes with a unique set of demands. The training, deployments, long stretches away from home, constant readiness, exposure to trauma, high operational tempo, and pressure to perform can affect you in ways that aren’t always obvious—and sometimes don’t show up until much later.

For many in the SOF community, asking for help can feel like admitting weakness or giving up control. It isn’t. Knowing when something isn’t working and having the willingness to address it is another form of strength.

I work with SOF service members, veterans, spouses, and families dealing with trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, substance abuse, anger and irritability, relationship struggles, grief and loss, transition, and the cumulative stress that comes with the lifestyle. Sometimes there is a specific event that needs to be worked through. Other times, there isn’t one obvious thing—you just know you’re not sleeping well, you’re more disconnected, your relationships aren’t what they used to be, or you don’t feel like yourself anymore.

My goal is to create a space where you can take the armor off for a while and talk openly without judgment. We’ll focus on what’s actually useful to you and work toward practical changes that translate into your everyday life, your relationships, and your ability to perform and function at your best. Whether you’re dealing with the aftermath of a deployment, carrying experiences you haven’t talked about, struggling to sleep, feeling disconnected from your family, navigating transition, or simply recognizing that something needs to change, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

I also understand that SOF doesn’t just affect the person wearing the uniform. The operational tempo, deployments, unpredictability, and demands of the job impact spouses, children, and the entire family system. I enjoy working with couples and families to rebuild connection, improve communication, and navigate the challenges that come with this lifestyle.

I take a holistic approach to mental health and believe there is a strong connection between the mind and body. Together, we’ll work on understanding your responses to stress and trauma, regulating your nervous system, improving sleep, managing emotions, strengthening relationships, and developing tools that help you stay effective without constantly operating in survival mode.

I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Somatic Therapy and Polyvagal Theory, and several evidence-based trauma treatments, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused CBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Gottman Therapy for relationships.

You’ve spent a lot of time preparing for the mission. Therapy can be a place to work on what happens when the mission comes home with you.