Trauma and Abuse Aren’t Always Obvious

Sometimes trauma is obvious like past sexual abuse/assault, or domestic violence, but sometimes it is subtle, like a parent who was never able to hug you when you were sad, or living in a culture that stereotypes your race, gender, or sexual identity as lesser than.

Often, we have no idea that our experiences “qualify” as traumatic and that the way we relate to others and see ourselves may be part of how we are coping with what happened to us. These coping mechanisms may have helped us survive the immediate aftermath of our trauma but have now become the source of problems in our lives.We may not even realize our behaviors are related to a traumatic history.

Symptoms related to a traumatic and abusive history:

• Hyper vigilance
• Angry outbursts
• Social anxiety
• Uncontrolled feelings of irritation, disconnection, or even feeling out of your body
• Trouble sleeping and/or disturbing dreams
• Headaches and/or stomach aches
• Reoccurring painful images in your mind
• Avoidance of things you used to love: an activity, place, or relationship
• Being with others (even people you like) is hard and stressful

Trauma Always Shows Back Up – When You Least Expect It

In my work I have seen many people who have lived through traumatic stress downplay their experiences and are living life feeling like something is wrong with them. Suffering in silence. No matter how we push it away or pack it up in a box and bury it deep inside ourselves, trauma has a way of showing up in our lives causing us pain and disconnection from ourselves and the ones we love.

Relationships, even healthy ones, can trigger underlying trauma you’ve experienced. Emotional triggers can cause adverse reactions, fulfilling negative patterns in your psyche. Identifying and dealing with those demons head-on can create a stronger foundation on which to build the rest of your life.

No Matter What Type of Trauma You May Have Experienced, I am Ready to Help

Over the years I have been honored to work with many clients who have experienced devastating trauma in their lives. My therapeutic approach to trauma work is holistic and involves supporting you in breaking free from the burden and weight that trauma has brought into your mind, body, and relationships. I offer a safe, judgement-free space to tell the story that will no longer define you – it is only a part of you of your life journey.

As your therapist I will:

• Work at your pace and meet you where you are
• Provide research-based psycho-education about the way trauma affects your brain and your nervous system
• Empower you to “own” your trauma story ‘
• Help you identify the origin of your feelings
• Help you identify when you are triggered by past traumatic stress
• Identify your strengths and resiliency
• Help you trust your instincts again
• Provide grounding skills to battle destructive emotions and behavior
• Nurture your desire to connect with others in an authentic way
• Help you feel better about yourself and identify your self-worth

Helpful Methods I Use

I use a variety of helpful treatment methods to address clients’ varying needs. These methods include:

Attachment Focus

Client-Centered Focus

Strengths-Based Approach

Psychobiological Approach

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy