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trauma-focused therapy

unpacking the past without feeling stuck in it

In the United States, 2 in 3 youth experience at least one traumatic experience before the age of 16.

Trauma is experiencing or witnessing a frightening, dangerous, or violent event that poses a threat to a person’s life or bodily integrity. Trauma isn’t always one big, obvious event— it can the quiet, ongoing stress that chips away at your sense of safety and self. Whether it stems from something that happened years ago or something you're still living through, trauma has a way of showing up in your body, thoughts, relationships, and day-to-day life. You might not even call it “trauma,” but you feel the effects: anxiety, shutdowns, irritability, panic, disconnection. Trauma-focused therapy offers a space to untangle those reactions, build a sense of safety, and understand your experiences without shame or pressure.

the impact of trauma

trauma can disrupt the normal functioning of the brain, particularly areas responsible for regulating emotions, assessing threats, making decisions, and forming memories.

every person has a unique response to traumatic experiences. many people who have experienced traumatic events develop traumatic stress, which overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope.

emotional

  • constant worry, panic, or sense of danger

  • persistent low mood, sadness, or hopelessness

  • feeling on edge, reactive, or easily frustrated

  • feeling unworthy or like something is wrong with you

  • emotional numbness, shutting down, or feeling disconnected

  • sudden emotional shifts that are difficult to control

cognitive

  • intrusive thoughts or flashbacks

  • difficulty concentrating

  • harsh inner voice or distorted beliefs about self

  • black-and-white thought patterns

  • feeling foggy, spaced out, or disoriented

relational

  • isolation or withdrawal from friends, family, and community

  • difficulty trusting others, even those closest to you

  • fear of abandonment

  • struggling to connect with others emotionally or physically

  • over-attachment or detachment to others

physical

  • chronic pain or muscle tension

  • digestive issues like nausea, diarrhea, or stomach discomfort

  • difficulty falling or staying asleep

  • nightmares

  • ongoing fatigue and exhaustion, despite rest

  • rapid heart or respiratory rate

  • sensory sensitivity

  • exacerbation of pre-existing health conditions

behavioral

  • avoidance of people, places, or situations that are reminders of traumatic event(s)

  • desire to control everything to ensure safety

  • self-medicating with food, alcohol, drugs, or distractions to numb emotions

  • people-pleasing to avoid conflict

  • engaging in potentially risky or harmful behaviors

internal

  • feeling detached from body or surroundings

  • identity confusion

  • feeling unlovable, broken, or not enough

  • constantly scanning for danger

your body keeps the score but

therapy can help

Therapy won’t remove the memory of trauma, but it will help you learn to thrive despite it. Trauma often leads to patterns of behavior and emotional responses that were once self-protection mechanisms. Over time, these patterns may no longer serve you. Therapy helps you identify these patterns, understand why they exist, and empower you to shift how you respond.

Trauma-focused therapy will help you:

  • understand and manage your emotional responses

  • build healthier coping strategies

  • process difficult memories at your own pace

  • develop new, more adaptive behaviors

  • reconnect with your sense of self-worth

therapy that’s actually trauma informed

As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), I have extensive experience and training in addressing the multifaceted effects of trauma. My approach blends several proven methods to help clients understand their trauma, heal, and move forward.

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

  • Attachment-Based Therapy

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy

  • Mindfulness Practices

  • Theraplay®

  • Trust-Based Relational Interviewing (TBRI)

hands holding a string of lights signifying growth and healing
if it feels disheartening to learn that trauma changes the brain, remember that healing changes the brain too
— @howhumansheal

your healing journey starts here

let’s get started!