Trauma & Complex Trauma Therapy
Sometimes trauma doesn’t look the way people expect.
Trauma isn’t always one event. Sometimes it’s what you lived with — or what you didn’t get.
Not all trauma involves a single catastrophic event. Many people live with the effects of complex trauma, which can develop over time through chronic stress, repeated relational injuries, or childhood emotional neglect—including growing up without consistent emotional attunement, safety, or support.
You might feel like you can’t point to one “big thing,” yet still notice that your nervous system feels on edge, relationships feel hard, or your inner world is shaped by shame, self-doubt, or a persistent sense that something is off.
Trauma responses are not signs of weakness. They are adaptive nervous system responses to experiences that overwhelmed your ability to cope.
No pressure. Just a brief conversation to see if we’re a good fit.
What We Work On In Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy can involve working on some or all of the following experiences:
childhood emotional neglect / complex trauma
relational trauma / attachment wounds
shame, perfectionism, people-pleasing
triggers, shutdown, hypervigilance
trauma + OCD/anxiety overlap
If you see yourself described in these experiences, trauma therapy might be right for you.
What Trauma Therapy With Me Is Like
Early work is about safety and stability—learning to notice your nervous system cues, reduce overwhelm, and build tools that actually work in real life. As you feel steadier, we gently make sense of patterns, grief, and relationship dynamics, without pushing you faster than your system can handle.”
If this way of working resonates, I invite you to schedule a free, no-pressure consultation to see if we’re a good fit.
Signs of Trauma or Complex Trauma
chronic anxiety, hypervigilance, or feeling “on” all the time
emotional numbness, shutdown, or difficulty identifying feelings
shame, self-criticism, or self-blame that feels hard to explain
feeling unsafe in closeness, or cycling between wanting connection and wanting distance
Trauma and complex trauma can show up in many ways. You might notice:
people-pleasing, perfectionism, or fear of being “too much”
difficulty setting boundaries or knowing what you need
intrusive memories, body-based reactions, or strong triggers
sleep problems, chronic tension, or burnout
spacing out, going numb, losing time, or feeling unreal/detached
Complex Trauma and Childhood Emotional Neglect
Many people with complex trauma grew up in environments where their emotional needs were not consistently met. This doesn’t require overt abuse. Childhood emotional neglect can look like repeated experiences of being minimized, misunderstood, or left alone with big feelings.
From an attachment perspective, as infants and children our nervous systems depend on caregivers for regulation. Even what an adult might consider “small” misattunements—like being told not to cry about a painful social interaction when what you really needed was help naming and managing sadness or rejection—can create nervous system dysregulation when those moments happen frequently enough.
Often the impact isn’t a clear memory. It’s a pattern.
How Early Relationships Shape Adult Relationships
Our earliest relationships become the template for what we expect in relationships later in life—often outside of awareness.
“My needs are too much.”
“I have to handle things alone.”
“Closeness isn’t safe.”
“If I’m truly seen, I’ll be rejected.”
When safety, attunement, or repair were inconsistent, people may learn beliefs like:
These aren’t character flaws. They’re adaptations. And they can be understood and changed.
How Trauma Affects the Nervous System
Trauma lives not only in memory, but in the nervous system. When your system has learned that the world—or relationships—aren’t reliably safe, it may stay in survival mode: fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown.
You can know you’re safe and still feel on edge—because the body learned danger before words.
This can show up as:
feeling constantly tense or scanning for threat
difficulty relaxing or resting
emotional overwhelm or emotional numbness
strong body responses to “small” triggers
stress-related exhaustion and burnout
Trauma therapy focuses on restoring safety, regulation, and choice—
not forcing you to relive experiences before you’re ready.
Trauma-Informed Therapy That Moves At Your Pace
My approach to trauma and complex trauma therapy is gentle, collaborative, and trauma-informed. Therapy is not about reliving painful experiences before you’re ready, and there is no pressure to share details you don’t want to.
Together, we work to:
increase nervous system regulation and emotional safety
understand trauma and neglect responses with compassion
reduce shame, self-blame, and internalized criticism
rebuild self-trust and a sense of agency
develop healthier boundaries and relationships
Therapy is tailored to each person’s needs and pacing, with an emphasis on safety and stabilization.
Identity-Affirming, Inclusive Trauma Care
I provide LGBTQ+-affirming and neurodiversity-affirming trauma therapy, with an understanding of how minority stress, masking, discrimination, and systemic inequities can contribute to chronic trauma responses, including emotional neglect.
Care is grounded in respect for each client’s lived experience and identity.
You Don’t Have To “Prove” Your Trauma
Many people hesitate to seek trauma therapy because they worry their experiences “weren’t bad enough.”
Emotional neglect and chronic relational stress can be deeply impactful, even when no single event stands out.
If something continues to affect how you feel, relate, or function, it deserves care.
Online Therapy for Trauma
Trauma Treatment in NY & PA
I provide secure, telehealth-based trauma therapy for adults anywhere in:
PENNSYLVANIA STATE
NEW YORK STATE
This allows you to access specialized trauma treatment without commuting or navigating waitlists.
Next Steps
If you’re interested in trauma or complex trauma therapy, I invite you to reach out to schedule a consultation. We can talk about what you’re experiencing and whether working together feels like a good fit.