Therapy for Trauma

Trauma Is About More Than What Happened

Trauma is not defined only by the events you lived through. It is shaped by how your nervous system adapted in order to survive.

You may know that something is “in the past” and still find that your body reacts as if it is happening now. You might feel on edge, numb, overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure why certain situations affect you so strongly.

Trauma-informed therapy starts by understanding these responses as protective patterns rather than signs of weakness or failure.

How Trauma Often Shows Up

Trauma can appear in many forms, especially when it has been carried quietly over time. You may notice:

• Feeling constantly on alert or easily startled

• Emotional numbness, detachment, or disconnection

• Strong reactions that feel confusing or out of proportion

• Difficulty trusting yourself or others

• A sense of being stuck between the past and the future

Many people with trauma histories function well outwardly while carrying significant internal strain. These responses often made sense once, even if they no longer feel helpful now.

Trauma in Daily Life

Trauma often shows up indirectly rather than as clear memories. Day to day, it can look like:

• Difficulty relaxing or feeling safe in your body

• Chronic anxiety, irritability, or shutdown

• Trouble with boundaries or asserting needs

• Repeating relational patterns that feel hard to change

• Physical symptoms such as tension, fatigue, or pain

Because these responses can become automatic, they may feel frustrating, confusing, or hard to explain.

Neurodivergence and Trauma

Neurodivergent adults are more likely to experience trauma, and trauma can look different when neurodivergence is part of the picture.

Sensory sensitivity, differences in emotional processing, communication styles, and executive functioning challenges can increase exposure to chronic stress, misunderstanding, or invalidation. For some people, trauma develops not from a single event but from repeated experiences of being overwhelmed, misread, or expected to function in environments that did not accommodate their needs.

This work is neurodivergent-affirming and focuses on reducing suffering, building safety, and supporting recovery without pathologizing difference.

Trauma and the Nervous System

Trauma lives in the nervous system as much as in thoughts or memories. When the body has learned that the world is unsafe, it may stay in a state of hypervigilance or collapse even when danger is no longer present.

In therapy, we work to:

• Recognize nervous system patterns and stress responses

• Build capacity to stay present with difficult sensations

• Expand your window of tolerance

• Restore a sense of agency, choice, and self-trust

This work is paced carefully. The goal is not to relive experiences, but to help your system learn that the present moment is different from the past.

What We Focus On in Therapy

Trauma therapy in my practice is integrative and relational. Our work may include:

• Psychodynamic exploration of how early experiences shaped your patterns and inner world

• Cognitive and behavioral strategies to understand and shift unhelpful thought-behavior loops

• DBT-informed skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and self-compassion

• ACT-informed work to clarify values, increase flexibility, and reduce struggle with internal experience

• Mindfulness practices to build awareness, grounding, and present-moment safety

Safety comes first. From there, we work toward integration rather than eliminating parts of you or your experience.

You remain in control of the pace and focus of the work.

Why This Work Matters

Unaddressed trauma can quietly limit your life. It may affect relationships, work, creativity, and your sense of possibility.

As trauma responses soften, many people notice:

• Greater emotional range and flexibility

• Improved ability to rest and relax

• More stable and satisfying relationships

• Increased clarity, self-compassion, and confidence

Healing does not mean forgetting. It means living with more presence and less fear.

Who This Work Is For

This work may be a good fit if:

• You feel stuck in patterns you cannot fully explain

• Your body reacts before your mind can catch up

• Past experiences still feel active in the present

• You struggle with trust, safety, or emotional closeness

• You want careful, respectful, integrative support

This work is offered for adults in individual therapy.

What to Expect From Therapy

Trauma therapy moves at a deliberate pace. Sessions often focus on:

• Building safety and stability

• Increasing awareness of internal cues

• Practicing grounding and regulation

• Integrating insight with bodily experience

Progress tends to be gradual and cumulative. Over time, many people feel more grounded, more connected, and more able to engage fully in their lives.

Ready to Begin?

The first step is a 15-minute consultation call. We will talk about what you are looking for support with, answer any questions you may have, and explore whether this approach feels like a good fit.