Trauma Recovery

Trauma creates a broken sense of self.

Many clients seeking therapy and trauma support voice the following doubts: “I’m not safe.”

“I’m not enough.” “I’m broken.” “I’m unlovable.” “I’m a failure.”

Many core beliefs develop before acquiring language and become driven by our earliest experiences. Our brains internalize how others previously treated us, what we observed, and our environment as we try to make sense of it.

These beliefs are not conscious at first but develop more as an affective (feeling) network. This network is why we intellectually might understand “we are worthy of good things” but feel like we aren’t.

What is trauma?

When most people think about trauma, they think of an act of violence, sexual abuse, a natural disaster, or an accident. These events are traumatic and can cause distress resulting in symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, which can cause flashbacks, hypervigilance, panic, anxiety, and depression.

Not all traumas are as overt as the abovementioned examples. The accumulation of distressing events also can cause trauma. Some of these events include parents who frequently fought, people yelling at us, or having an explosive caregiver or caregivers often absent emotionally or physically. Divorce, infidelity, and bullying (to name a few) can be equally as debilitating.

Trauma occurs any time a person’s coping ability becomes overwhelmed, disrupting their ability to function daily. These events, the overt and more covert forms of trauma, can shape how a person views the world, their sense of safety, and their core beliefs.

Our beliefs drive our behaviors.

We seek safety above anything else. As a result, we find comfort in numbing behaviors or repeating relationship patterns that cause pain and strife because they feel safe or comforting. Striving to control, perform, and please others based on those beliefs about ourselves convinces us that by doing these things, we will be safe.

Shame can feel pervasive. “It’s my fault” and “I should have done this or that” repeat in your head frequently.

Many trauma survivors find ways to blame themselves for what happened to them. In turn, there is often pressure to control and scapegoat various things about ourselves, such as our appearance or intelligence.

Having trust in yourself can be challenging to attain. There is a fear of judgment because you judge yourself so harshly. “If I can’t accept myself, how could anyone else?”

These experiences can make us feel alone and ashamed.

You are not alone.

Finding relief from the pain, anxiety, and isolation you experienced for so long is possible. While what happened in your past cannot be changed, you can update your beliefs about yourself and the world.

I would love to help you find that relief.

The prospect of addressing historical trauma and beliefs can feel overwhelming and scary. I will be with you every step of the way, helping you cultivate compassion for yourself in the process.

While working with me, you will use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help you reprocess the impact of past traumas.

EMDR is a game-changer for treating trauma.

I have training in EMDR, a therapy specifically designed to help individuals process and release the impact of trauma and self-defeating beliefs.

EMDR is a gentle therapy that does not require talking in detail about your specific trauma but instead guides the brain to resume processing experiences disrupted by distressing events or trauma, leading to healing and relief.

Clients describe feeling more confident, courageous, and energized after working together.

One client described trauma work this way: “Those memories and my beliefs about myself used to feel so intense and suffocating. I feel free from that now. I still remember what happened, but it doesn’t affect me the same way; I can observe it without being sucked back into feeling that way.”

Living with shame, painful memories, and beliefs has taken much strength and energy.

I am here to support you if you are ready to let go of the past and step forward into freedom.

Call today for a free consultation.