What is Trauma?

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Trauma is a response to a deeply distressing or overwhelming event that can have a long-lasting effect on your mental and physical health. It can be caused by a single event, such as a car accident or violent crime, or by repeated exposure to stressful situations, such as abuse or neglect.

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Trauma symptoms are the ways that your mind and body cope with what happened. Symptoms can vary depending on the person and the type of trauma they experienced. Some common symptoms include:

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• Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts or memories

• Avoidance of people, places, or activities that remind you of the trauma

• Negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself, others, or the world

• Emotions such as guilt, shame, anger, fear, or distrust

• Hyperarousal, or feeling constantly on edge, nervous, or alert

• Hypoarousal, or feeling numb, detached, or disconnected from yourself and others

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering things, or making decisions

• Changes in appetite, sleep, mood, energy, or behavior

• Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, muscle tension, or pain

Neurodivergent people are even more likely to experience trauma symptoms due to factors such as discrimination, bullying, abuse, sensory sensitivities, communication challenges, and difficulty regulating emotions. Whether you're neurodivergent or neurotypical, trauma symptoms can interfere with your daily functioning and well-being. They can make it hard to work, study, socialize, and enjoy life. They can also affect your relationships with yourself and others.

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How I Can Help

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I understand, recognize, and respond to the effects of trauma in a supportive and empowering way. I use a variety of evidence-based approaches, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), somatic therapies, and parts work. I also incorporate mindfulness and other coping skills into therapy. Together, we'll work to:

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• Understand your trauma symptoms and how they're impacting your life

• Develop coping skills to manage your symptoms

• Process your traumatic experiences in a safe and supportive environment

• Build resilience and self-compassion

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If you’re interested in working with me or want to know more, please send me a message!