What happened to you doesn’t have to keep hurting you.
Have you tried to move on from a traumatic event, only to find it showing up in ways you didn’t expect? Something small, like a smell, a tone of voice, a place, or a memory, can suddenly send your body into panic before you know it. Sometimes it’s waking from nightmares you can’t shake, feeling flooded by images or thoughts you never asked for, or having big reactions to reminders of the past even when you know you’re safe.
On the outside, you look like you’re managing well; but inside, you’re exhausted from living in protection mode all the time — scanning for danger, preparing for the worst, trying to stay one step ahead of anything that could hurt you again.
As much as you want to relax, your body won’t let you.
You might catch yourself questioning your own judgment, wondering if you should have “seen it coming,” or blaming yourself for things that were never your fault. Trusting others feels hard after what you’ve been through, and trusting yourself might feel even harder.
Your nervous system has decided it must never let you go through that kind of pain again, and being on high alert is its way of trying to protect you — yet those reactions often keep you stuck in the very hurt you’re trying to escape.
You’ve survived so much. Now it’s time to heal.
Trauma is your body’s response when something deeply overwhelming leaves you with a lingering sense of danger and loss of safety. It can come from a single event, like an assault, accident, or natural disaster, or from ongoing experiences such as childhood abuse, abusive relationships, or repeated exposure to others’ trauma as a helping professional.
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Whatever your trauma looks like, we want you to hear this clearly: this isn’t about something being wrong with you. It’s about something that happened to you — something your mind and body were never meant to handle alone. That experience created an emotional wound, and like any wound, it deserves care and healing.
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In therapy, we’ll help your nervous system find safety again, gently lowering the intensity of the fears, memories, and reactions that keep you stuck in survival mode. As your system begins to settle, the symptoms you’ve been carrying start to loosen their grip. Daily life feels more manageable, with more presence, steadiness, and peace.
The power of EMDR
Helping your mind and body process what they’ve been holding
Our approach blends trauma-informed care with an understanding of how trauma affects the nervous system, relationships, and your sense of safety in the world. For many clients, EMDR is a powerful part of this process. EMDR helps your brain reprocess memories that still feel “stuck,” so they become less overwhelming and less charged. You don’t have to relive the details or tell the full story for EMDR to work — it’s designed to help your mind and body release what they’ve been holding, at a pace that feels safe, helping your body settle, your mind feel clearer, and your system learn that you are no longer in danger.
Therapy for trauma & PTSD can help you:
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Decrease the frequency and intensity of nightmares, so you can rest more easily and wake with more energy.
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Recondition your brain to recognize that “here-and-now” is not “there-and-then,” helping your body feel safer when reminders of the trauma show up.
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Loosen the grip of self-blame and begin treating yourself with more kindness instead of criticism.
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Reduce intrusive thoughts, images, or flashbacks, so they no longer feel like they’re taking over your day.
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Build trust in your ability to protect yourself, making decisions from a place of strength rather than fear.
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Recognize that safe people exist — and learn how to choose whom to trust at your own pace and on your own terms.
We can help you heal from trauma related to:
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Childhood abuse or neglect
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Abusive or controlling relationships
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Sexual assault or sexual trauma
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Spiritual or religious abuse
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Violent crimes
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Serious automobile accidents
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Natural disasters
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Medical trauma or traumatic health events
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Workplace or first responder trauma
Frequently Asked Questions about therapy for Trauma & PTSD
Do I have to talk about the details of my trauma?
No. You are always in control of what you share and when. Our first priority is helping your body feel safer and more regulated in the present. Once you have the stability and skills to stay grounded, then we gently work through what your nervous system is holding onto — at your pace, not ours. And for many clients, healing begins long before they talk about the specifics of what happened.
How do I know if what I went through “counts” as trauma?
If something was overwhelming, frightening, or left you feeling unsafe, it matters. Trauma isn’t defined only by the event; it’s defined by your body’s response to what happened. Many people minimize their experiences (“It wasn’t that bad,” “Other people have been through worse”), but your reactions are valid. If your past still affects your sleep, mood, relationships, or sense of safety, therapy can help — regardless of what the event was.
Can therapy make my symptoms worse before they get better?
It’s normal to worry about this, but trauma therapy doesn’t mean diving into the deep end right away. We focus on stabilization first — helping your nervous system feel grounded and supported before processing anything painful. Some emotions may surface as you begin paying attention to your inner world, but you won’t face them alone. We go slowly, intentionally, and always with tools to help you stay regulated. Our goal is for you to feel more supported during therapy — not overwhelmed.
How long does trauma therapy take?
It depends on a few things — the type of trauma, how long you’ve been carrying it, and how it’s affecting your daily life. Some clients notice shifts within a few months; others benefit from longer-term support. What we can promise is this: We’ll move at a pace that feels safe for you, and we’ll discuss what’s working, how you’re feeling, and what you need along the way. Healing isn’t linear — but it is absolutely possible.
Is EMDR right for me?
EMDR is a powerful trauma therapy that helps your brain process memories that still feel “stuck.” Many clients who haven’t found relief through talk therapy alone find EMDR especially helpful. EMDR works by helping your brain and body reconnect with a sense of safety while reducing the emotional intensity of the memories. We’ve seen the results with clients, and that’s why all of our therapists get trained to use it. It’s also completely okay if EMDR isn’t the right fit for you — we use trauma-informed talk therapy approaches as well and will help you find what feels best.
What if I don’t remember everything that happened?
You don’t need a complete or clear memory for trauma therapy to be effective.
Trauma often impacts memory, and it’s common to have gaps, foggy details, or only certain sensory pieces of what happened. We won’t force your mind to recall anything it’s not ready to. Instead, we work with what is showing up — sensations, emotions, patterns, beliefs, or reactions in your body. Healing doesn’t require a full narrative. It only requires a safe space, support, and tools that help your nervous system let go of what it’s been holding.
What if new traumatic memories pop up for me during therapy?
Sometimes, when your body finally feels safer, memories or pieces of memories that were previously “blocked off” can surface. This isn’t a sign that something is going wrong — it’s a sign that your system trusts you enough to start releasing things it couldn’t process before.
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If this happens, we slow down, stay grounded, and help you make sense of what’s coming up at a pace that feels manageable. You are never expected to face anything alone or before you’re ready. Our goal is always to help you feel supported, not overwhelmed.
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It’s also important to know that not everything that comes up in therapy is a literal memory. Sometimes your mind brings forward images, impressions, or themes — similar to the way a dream can reflect feelings rather than facts. These can be your brain’s way of processing emotions, not evidence of something that “must have happened.”
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In trauma therapy, we never assume an image is a memory. We focus on how it feels, what it represents, and what your nervous system is trying to communicate — not whether it’s a precise historical event. Therapy isn’t about forcing memories to return. It’s about helping your body and mind feel safer, less reactive, and less controlled by the past.
Can trauma therapy help if the trauma is still happening, or might continue?
Yes. If you’re still in contact with a harmful person, navigating ongoing stress, or healing from something recent, therapy can help you stabilize, make decisions from a grounded place, and get the support you need. First, we help you increase safety, reduce overwhelm, and strengthen your internal resources. Processing the trauma comes later.
Will I ever feel “normal” again?
Trauma can make it feel like life will always be this way — but healing is absolutely possible. Many clients reach a point where they sleep more easily, react less intensely to reminders of the past, feel more present with loved ones, and move through the world with a sense of safety they never thought possible. You may not go back to who you were before; but with healing, you can become someone who feels more grounded, whole, and empowered.