Trauma and Individual Therapy…

Trauma therapy focuses on helping the nervous system feel safer in the present, especially when past experiences continue to shape how your body and mind respond. Trauma can live not only in memory, but in sensations, emotions, and patterns of protection that once made sense and may no longer be needed.

In trauma therapy, we move carefully and collaboratively.  I am a certified EMDR therapist and also specialize in Somatic Experiencing. The goal is not to relive or force anything, but to create enough safety, choice, and support for your system to process and begin letting go of what it has been holding.

What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a evidence-based therapy approach used to help people process distressing or traumatic experiences that continue to affect them in the present. Sometimes, difficult experiences don’t fully settle in the brain and nervous system. When this happens, memories can feel stuck—easily triggered, emotionally intense, or connected to strong body reactions.

During EMDR, you are guided to briefly focus on parts of a memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements, tapping, or sounds. This process helps the brain do what it naturally knows how to do: integrate and organize experiences so they feel less overwhelming and more distant over time.

Many people notice that memories become less emotionally charged, physical reactions soften, and new perspectives begin to emerge. EMDR does not require you to go into graphic detail about what happened, and the work is done gradually, with careful attention to safety and readiness.

EMDR is a well-researched, evidence-based therapy that has helped many people reduce the lasting impact of trauma and feel more present in their daily lives.

What is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented, trauma-informed therapeutic approach that focuses on the regulation of the nervous system. It is based on the understanding that traumatic stress is often held not just in thoughts or memories, but in physical sensations, tension, and patterns of activation in the body, leading to symptoms such as hyperarousal, shutdown, anxiety, panic, or chronic tension.

Rather than talking in detail about past events, Somatic Experiencing gently brings attention to present-moment body sensations—such as breathing, muscle tension, or subtle shifts in feeling. When stress or trauma has kept the body in patterns of fight, flight, or freeze, this approach works gently to help the nervous system release stored stress and trauma and learn that it is safe to settle again. Over time, many people experience greater regulation, a stronger sense of grounding, and more ease in their bodies and daily lives.

Somatic Experiencing is collaborative and paced to your comfort. The work is gradual and paced, allowing change to happen without forcing or reactivating distress. Over time, this can support more ease in daily life, improved stress response, and a stronger capacity to feel present and connected.

Attachment-based EMDR is a trauma-informed approach that integrates EMDR with an understanding of early relationships and attachment patterns. It recognizes that many difficulties are shaped not only by specific events, but by experiences of connection, safety, and emotional responsiveness over time. This approach pays close attention to how trust, closeness, and protection were learned—and how those patterns continue to influence the present.

Ego state work is often used alongside EMDR. It is based on the idea that we all have different “parts” or states of self that developed to help us cope at different times in our lives. Some parts may carry fear, shame, or pain, while others work hard to manage, protect, or stay in control. These parts are not problems to eliminate—they are adaptive responses that once served an important purpose.

In therapy, we work carefully to build communication, safety, and cooperation among these parts, rather than forcing change. When combined with EMDR, ego state work can help traumatic memories be processed in a way that feels more contained, supported, and relational.

This approach can be especially helpful for developmental trauma, complex PTSD, attachment wounds, and long-standing emotional patterns. Over time, many people experience greater internal cohesion, reduced reactivity, and a stronger sense of stability and self-trust.

IFS-informed therapy is based on the understanding that we all have different parts of ourselves. These parts hold different emotions, beliefs, and roles—some work to protect us, some carry pain or fear, and others try to keep things functioning day to day. This is a natural and human way the mind adapts to life’s experiences.

In IFS-informed therapy, these parts are approached with curiosity and respect, rather than judgment. Symptoms such as anxiety, depression, self-criticism, or emotional overwhelm are understood as signals from parts that are trying, in their own way, to help or protect you.

Therapy focuses on building a compassionate relationship with these parts, while strengthening your capacity for calm, clarity, and self-leadership. As parts feel heard and supported, they often soften, allowing emotional intensity to decrease and internal conflict to ease.

Over time, IFS-informed therapy can help create greater balance, self-understanding, and emotional regulation. Many people experience a deeper sense of inner trust, increased resilience, and a more grounded connection to themselves.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, evidence-based approach that focuses on the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It is based on the understanding that the way we interpret experiences can influence how we feel and how we respond.

In CBT, therapy helps you identify unhelpful thinking patterns and behavioral habits that may be contributing to distress such as anxiety, depression, or overwhelm. Together, we work to develop more balanced ways of thinking and practical coping strategies that support emotional regulation and daily functioning.

CBT is collaborative and goal-oriented. It provides tools that can be used both in and outside of sessions, helping many people feel more empowered and better equipped to manage challenges over time.

Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction (DBGI) describe conditions where the communication between the gut and the nervous system becomes disrupted. This can lead to ongoing digestive symptoms such as pain, bloating, discomfort, nausea, or changes in bowel habits, even when medical testing doesn’t show structural disease. These symptoms are real and can have a significant impact on daily life. Common examples include:

·       Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

·       Functional dyspepsia (upper digestive discomfort)

·       Functional heartburn or reflux sensitivity

·       Functional abdominal pain

·       Functional constipation or diarrhea

Stress, trauma, anxiety, and prolonged activation of the nervous system can all influence how the gut functions. When the body remains in a state of heightened alert, the gut–brain connection can become more sensitive, making symptoms feel unpredictable or hard to control.

Therapy can help by supporting the nervous system in finding greater regulation and safety. In a therapeutic space, we work to understand how stress and emotional patterns may be affecting your body, while also developing coping strategies that reduce overwhelm and support the gut–brain connection. Over time, this can help symptoms become less intense and more manageable, and restore a greater sense of trust in your body. description