Developmental Trauma is a term used to describe childhood trauma such as chronic abuse, neglect or other harsh adversity occurring in various settings. Psychotherapy services for developmental trauma are based on the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT™). What is NMT™? The NMT™ is a developmentally sensitive, neurobiology-informed approach to clinical problem solving. NMT™ is not a specific therapeutic technique or intervention. It is an approach that integrates core principles of neurodevelopment and traumatology to inform work with adults, children, families and the communities in which they live. NMT principles are utilized during phase I treatment for psychoeducation. Psychotherapy is delivered through a three phase-oriented treatment approach. Phase I on focuses stabilization and trauma/nervous system psychoeducation including teaching skills on how a person’s childhood trauma manifests in daily challenges such as emotional regulation, self-compassion, vulnerability, body awareness, etc. Phase II focuses on any reprocessing or narrative editing needed for certain meaning carried from experiences. Phase III support patients in integrating new ways of living into their lives. Psychotherapy utilized in clinic is based on various therapy models (emotion-focused, compassion-focused, body-based approaches, etc.) that will be formed into a treatment plan to meet the unique needs of the person.

Traumatic grief is the loss of a person or animal that is beyond mourning and often seen as traumatic. It can be shocking in its intensity with the manner of which the loss occurs and often overwhelms the person’s ability to cope. We can feel uprooted, and insecure, and our trust in the world has often changed. Psychotherapy services are provided under the ATTEND (attunement, trust, touch, egalitarianism, nuance, and death education) model of care. The ATTEND model utilized from the Compassionate Bereavement Care (CBC) framework by Dr. Joanne Cacciatore. A person’s grief experience is unique to the person in connection with the human or animal in someone’s life who died in a traumatic manner making therapy also a unique and individualized experience within the lens of the CBC approach.

The Mindfulness, Meaning, and Self-Compassion (MMSC) esketamine-assisted psychotherapy clinic uses an integrative therapeutic approach combining mindfulness, self-compassion, and meaning to approach non-ordinary states of conscious. Our hope in this psychotherapy is to utilize the neuroplasticity of the brain to create new ways of approaching situations from the past and present. As you prepare for or continue the dosing sessions, we want to encourage approaching them with an attitude of openness, curiosity, and acceptance, as much as possible. Sessions are offered through telemedicine within 24-48 hours of dosing and/or in person for an integration session directly following dosing.

Therapy services are available to patients through a service line within DTTG. Sessions for maternal mental health are online, via telemedicine platform, and focus on managing emotions, regulation, relationships, self-worth, parenthood, and individual strengths. For those without insurance coverage for psychotherapy, we are able to provide 10-12 sessions with no charge to the patient. Click here for a link of resources.

We recognize that an individual’s sense of self is affected by a set of physical, psychological, and interpersonal characteristics that is not wholly shared with any other person. Identity can include a range of affiliations (e.g., race, sexual orientation) and social roles impacting our view of self, others, and the world. Dr. Crenshaw coined intersectionality as "a metaphor for understanding the ways that multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage sometimes compound themselves and create obstacles that often are not understood among conventional ways of thinking." We practice under the awareness that identities influence lived experiences including experiences in therapy, healthcare, relationships, and within generational trauma and/or grief.

Do we take insurance?

We accept Viva Health, most Blue Cross plans, and most Medicare plans. Because policies vary greatly on what is covered for behavioral healthcare, it is important for patients to call their insurance to understand what they may be financially responsible for and if we are in-network.

What would I have to pay?

Your insurance benefits will be verified and Dr. Rampe bills insurance for the time she observes a session. Billing procedures for the clinic do not differ from the policies outlined by the department. Most insurances will require a small copayment (typically $20-30 per session). Please check with your insurance to see what your financial responsibility will be for services.

Paper Billing is utilized by the department and the phone number is 205-934-4912

Do we offer a sliding scale or private pay?

Not at this time. Patients are required to have insurance and maternal mental health patients who are not covered for psychotherapy will not be billed

Do we offer in-person services?

Dr. Rampe sees patients in-person but the graduate clinicians or interns do not at this time.

How long are therapy sessions?

Typically 53-60 minutes. Sessions in clinic are offered weekly.

What telemedicine platform do we use?

We utilize a HIPAA compliant platform named Teledoc.

Do I have to live in Birmingham?

No, we can provide services to patients who are in the state of Alabama.

Do you host programming?

Dr. Rampe is always open to providing workshops and educational sessions for various groups. Dr. Rampe has started offering Compassion and Trauma Responsive Practices trainings that can be requested through this link. Please contact Dr. Rampe with any questions at rrampe@uabmc.edu.

This clinic offers an advanced practicum to doctoral graduate students, licensed social workers, doctoral students on internship, and postdoctoral fellows. All positions are filled for the 2025-2026 academic year. Please contact Dr. Rampe to be added to a training waitlist for the future.