Trauma Therapy
Transcend the Effects of Traumatic Experiences
Trauma does not have to shape your whole story
Trauma
What is it?
“Trauma” refers to what happens to the mind, emotions, and the body, in reaction to distressing (“traumatizing”) events that can happen in any life-context, in childhood or as an adult. It can be the result of a single traumatic incident, or a long history of physical or emotional pain, sexual abuse, extreme neglect or more. Common to such events is the experience of helplessness, of having no power to escape or protect oneself.
Do you hear yourself?
Listen...
The trauma is in the nervous system, not the event
- Peter Levine
Trauma is the imprint of the pain, fear, even horror of traumatizing events (van der Kolk). It can be present as anxieties, hypervigilance, struggles in relationships, depressive feelings, and even self-hatred in your day-to-day life on an ongoing basis.
With trauma, you can feel robbed of your own well-being and hopeless after many unsuccessful attempts to do something about it.
The truth is, though, that you are not alone in this, and you can change. With the proper help, it is possible to change how you feel and to experience life differently.
Treating Trauma from the Top Down & the Ground Up
– Top-down –
A relational psychodynamic approach that builds upon a close therapeutic relationship. This leads to practical self-knowledge, greater vitality, and fullness of experience.
– Ground-up –
Neuroscience-based approaches including EMDR, somatic-motor therapy, and mindful practices. These address the physiological dimensions of traumatic memories and their effects, leveraging your brain’s natural capacity for healing. They can lead to greater calm and control in all realms of functioning: physical, cognitive, and emotional.
EMDR
“Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing” is a well-researched technique that helps many people to effectively reprocess traumatizing memories. It is a more gentle way of treating trauma than traditional methods, and it engages the brain’s natural and adaptive means of laying down memories.
Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
Therapeutic explorations grounded in a relationship of collaboration and trust. We come to see how past experience impacts you in the present, often by generating self-defeating patterns in thought, feeling, self-perception, and relationship. Unravelling these effects of the past gives you a greater sense of freedom — the freedom to rediscover and recreate yourself and find more fulfilling ways of relating.
Transcend the Effects of Traumatic Experience.
Painful events in your past need not define you or dominate your life. But they can if left unprocessed. Personalized therapy sessions can help you work through your pain, reconnect with the present and with yourself, and rediscover a sense of peace and vitality.
Traumatic experiences create anxiety, struggles in relationships, depression, invasive thoughts, emotional deadness, and self-loathing in your day-to-day life on an ongoing basis. These symptoms are signs that your body and nervous system still carry old burdens. With interactive talk therapy, and somatic and neurologically focused techniques such as EMDR and neurofeedback, we’ll help your mind and body find relief. Additionally, mindful practices can help you to regulate painful emotion and cultivate focus and a sense of presence.
Even long after the storm has passed, trauma can leave its mark—on your thoughts, your relationships, your body. But healing is possible. Together, we’ll create a space where
Frequently asked questions
What can I expect in a trauma therapy session?
In our first session, we’ll talk about what’s bringing you in and what you hope to change. You’ll have time to ask questions and get a sense of how I work. I’ll introduce options like EMDR and mindfulness, but we’ll always move at a pace that feels right for you.
What is EMDR, and how does it help?
Do I have to do EMDR to work with you?
Not at all. I use a range of therapeutic tools, and we’ll choose together what best supports your goals. Some people benefit from EMDR, while others prefer traditional talk therapy or mindfulness-based approaches.
Do you take insurance?
I’m an out-of-network provider. You’ll pay me directly and receive a detailed invoice you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement.
