Trauma & PTSD Therapy
Some experiences don’t stay in the past just because they’re over.
Maybe you’ve spent years putting everyone else’s needs before your own, keeping the peace, or feeling like you always have to hold everything together. Maybe you’ve been through things that changed how you see yourself, your relationships, or the world around you.
Or maybe you’re not even sure if what happened “counts” as trauma. You just know that some things are still affecting you, and you’re trying to make sense of why.
Trauma can show up in all kinds of ways, from how you handle stress and emotions to how you connect with others and view yourself.
Therapy can be a place to slow down, talk through what’s going on, and get curious about how those experiences may still be affecting you.
I offer virtual trauma therapy for folks 13+ throughout Florida.
What Is Trauma?
Trauma can come from one overwhelming experience, like an accident, assault, medical emergency, or sudden loss. But it can also come from things that happened over and over again, especially growing up or in relationships where you were supposed to feel safe.
PTSD is one possible response to trauma, but not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. And you don’t need a diagnosis to take what you’ve been through seriously.
Some experiences that can contribute to trauma include
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Accidents, assaults, or medical emergencies
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Repeated or ongoing harmful experiences
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Growing up in an unpredictable or emotionally unsafe home
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Childhood emotional neglect
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Emotional abuse, manipulation, or controlling relationships
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Difficult attachment or relationship experiences
And if you’ve ever thought, “Well, other people had it worse,” you’re definitely not the only one.
Someone else’s experiences don’t make yours any less important.
How Trauma Can Show Up
Trauma doesn’t always look like flashbacks or nightmares, though those can absolutely be part of it. Sometimes it shows up in everyday things that you might not even connect to what you’ve been through.
Some things you might recognize
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Feeling on edge, easily startled, or always waiting for something to go wrong
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Overthinking conversations and second-guessing your decisions
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Avoiding certain people, places, or situations
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Feeling disconnected from your emotions, your body, or other people
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Having emotional reactions that catch you off guard
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Struggling with guilt, shame, or feeling like everything is somehow your fault
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Finding it hard to trust yourself or other people
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Noticing the same painful patterns showing up in relationships
Sometimes these patterns developed because they helped you cope with difficult experiences. But something that helped you get through things back then might not be quite so helpful now.
And that’s worth taking a closer look at.
How Can Trauma Therapy Help?
Are you wanting to take steps toward building confidence, trusting yourself, setting boundaries, or getting a little more comfortable with the “I don’t knows”?
Maybe you’re ready to explore what self-love and acceptance could look like for you. Or maybe you just need somewhere to sit with the heaviness, process what you’ve been through, and make sense of things without feeling pressured to have all the answers.
Some things you might want to explore in therapy include
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Understanding how past experiences may still be affecting you
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Exploring practical ways to manage stress and overwhelming emotions
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Making sense of childhood experiences or difficult relationships
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Understanding guilt, shame, and the expectations you place on yourself
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Taking steps toward building confidence, boundaries, and self-trust
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Exploring self-love, acceptance, and what matters to you
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Getting more comfortable with uncertainty and difficult emotions
My goal is to listen, get curious, and help you make sense of things at your own pace. I don’t believe therapy should be one-size-fits-all, and your experiences, needs, and goals are an important part of our work.
Trauma, Shame & Trusting Yourself Again
Sometimes difficult experiences can leave you questioning yourself long after they’re over.
Maybe you’ve gotten really good at keeping the peace, reading other people’s moods, or putting your own needs on the back burner. And now, even when you know you’re allowed to set boundaries or make your own decisions, that lovely little feeling of guilt still shows up.
You might find yourself wondering
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Am I overreacting?
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Why do I feel guilty when I haven’t done anything wrong?
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Why is it so hard to trust my own decisions?
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Why do I keep finding myself in the same kinds of relationships?
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What do I actually want, outside of everyone else’s expectations?
And here’s the frustrating part. You can understand exactly why you do something and still struggle to do it differently.
Therapy can be a place to explore those patterns, get curious about where they came from, and consider what you might want to do differently moving forward.
What to Expect from Therapy with Me
My approach is collaborative, person-centered, trauma-informed, and tailored to your unique experiences and needs.
I believe therapy should be a place where you can talk about the hard stuff without worrying about saying the right thing. I’m not here to tell you how you should feel, what decisions you should make, or who you’re supposed to become.
I’m a big fan of curiosity, thoughtful questions, and figuring out what might actually be helpful for you. Depending on your needs and goals, I may draw from approaches like CBT, DBT, somatic techniques, and other evidence-based practices.
And while therapy can involve some pretty heavy conversations, I also believe there’s room for humor along the way. If sarcasm, dark humor, or the occasional swear word (or a lot of them) are part of your vocabulary, you’ll be in good company.
You’re the expert on your life. My role is to bring clinical knowledge, curiosity, and support while keeping your voice at the center of our work.
Trauma Therapy in Florida
I offer virtual therapy for folks 13+ throughout Florida navigating trauma, PTSD, complex trauma, emotional neglect, and difficult relationship experiences.
Sessions take place online, so you can attend from a private, comfortable space without having to travel to an office.
