Trauma is not defined only by what happened, but by how your nervous system experienced it and how that experience continues to live in your body, thoughts, and relationships.
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Some people come to therapy after a specific, identifiable event. Others have lived through many experiences over time that shaped how safe the world feels, how they relate to others, and how their body responds to stress. Both deserve thoughtful, attuned care.
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My approach to trauma therapy is grounded in the belief that healing happens when you feel safe, supported, and in control of the process- not when you’re pushed to relive experiences before your system is ready.
Acute Trauma & PTSD
Acute trauma refers to a specific event or series of events that overwhelm your nervous system’s ability to cope. This might include accidents, medical trauma, assaults, sudden losses, or other frightening or destabilizing experiences.
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Sometimes, even after the event has passed, the nervous system stays “stuck” in survival mode. This can lead to symptoms commonly associated with PTSD, such as:
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intrusive memories or images
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hypervigilance or feeling constantly on edge
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avoidance of reminders
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emotional numbing or shutdown
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strong physical reactions without a clear trigger
Not everyone responds to trauma in the same way. Two people can experience the same event and be impacted very differently. This isn’t about weakness or resilience- it’s about how your nervous system processed threat and safety in that moment.
Complex Trauma & Long-Term Stress
Complex trauma often develops over time through repeated or chronic experiences of stress, threat, emotional neglect, or lack of safety- especially in relationships or environments where escape wasn’t possible.
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This may include:
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chronic childhood stress or instability
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emotional or relational trauma
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repeated experiences of feeling unseen, unsafe, or unsupported
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long-term burnout, overfunctioning, or people-pleasing
Rather than a single memory, complex trauma often shows up as patterns:
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difficulty trusting or relying on others
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feeling constantly responsible or on guard
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emotional overwhelm, shutdown, or numbness
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harsh self-criticism or shame
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difficulty feeling settled or safe in your own body
These patterns make sense when we understand how the brain and nervous system adapt to survive over time.
How I Work with Trauma
Trauma therapy is not about forcing processing before you’re ready. If your nervous system is overwhelmed, depleted, or doesn’t feel safe, asking you to “go back” into traumatic material can be unhelpful and sometimes retraumatizing.
Instead, we start by understanding your nervous system and building capacity first.
Our Work Often Begins With
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mapping how your nervous system responds to stress, threat, and safety
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identifying patterns of activation (fight/flight), shutdown (freeze), or overdrive
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building regulation skills that actually feel supportive for you
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expanding your ability to tolerate emotion without becoming overwhelmed
Importantly, not all grounding or regulation tools work for everyone.
For some people, breath-focused exercises or body awareness can feel activating or unsafe and that’s valuable information, not a problem.
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We treat those reactions as data that helps us choose better starting points.​
Trauma Therapy Modalities I Use
My work is integrative and tailored, not protocol-driven. Depending on your needs and readiness, therapy may include:
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Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
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To gently examine how trauma has shaped beliefs about safety, control, responsibility, and self-worth.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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To address trauma-related thought patterns, avoidance, and behavioral loops that keep symptoms going.
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Parts-Informed Therapy (IFS-informed)
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To work with different parts of you that developed to survive without pathologizing or forcing change.
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Somatic & Nervous System–Based Interventions (Polyvagal-informed)
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To support regulation, safety, and reconnection with your body in ways that feel tolerable and respectful.
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Skills-Based Resourcing & Emotional Regulation (DBT-informed and integrative)
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To help you build practical tools for managing intense emotions, distress, and overwhelm as they arise. These skills support stabilization, increase capacity, and help you feel more grounded and resourced before (or instead of) deeper processing work. Skills are introduced thoughtfully and adapted so they feel usable in your real life, not overwhelming or rigid.
These approaches are used collaboratively, flexibly and paced to your nervous system rather than driven by a single protocol. I don’t believe there is one “right” way to heal trauma, and I don’t follow rigid, step-by-step treatment models.
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That said, I know some clients are specifically seeking a particular approach or protocol, such as EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), or a strictly manualized form of CBT. While I draw from many of these frameworks in an informed way, I do not offer protocol-driven trauma treatment.
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Instead, I focus on understanding how trauma is showing up in your body, thoughts, emotions, and relationships, and we choose interventions together based on what supports safety, capacity, and meaningful change for you.
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If you’re looking for a very specific, single-model treatment, I’m always happy to talk that through during a consultation and help you think about what might be the best fit, whether that’s with me or another provider.
Processing is Optional: You are in Control
Some clients want to eventually process traumatic memories in more depth. Others prefer to focus on:
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how trauma shows up in their body today
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emotional regulation and nervous system stability
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reducing reactivity, numbness, or overwhelm
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improving relationships and daily functioning
Both paths are valid.
You get to decide:
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what we work on
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how fast we move
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whether or not deeper processing feels right
Trauma therapy should feel empowering, not exposing.
A Collaborative, Respectful Process
My role is to help you:
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understand what your system learned in order to survive
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reduce shame and self-blame
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build safety and capacity before asking for change
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move at a pace that honors your nervous system
Healing doesn’t come from pushing harder.
It comes from creating the conditions where your system can finally exhale.
How to Get Started
The best way to begin is with a free 20-minute consultation. This gives us a chance to talk briefly about what you’re experiencing, what you’re hoping for, and whether my approach feels like the right fit for you. Trauma therapy works best when you feel safe and comfortable moving forward, and this conversation allows you to ask questions and decide next steps without any pressure or obligation.