Transforming Trauma

The long shadow of trauma…

You survived – shouldn’t that be enough?

That devastating loss or the loss that nearly happened but didn’t. The past neglect or abuse that haunt your memories.

What happened to you back then was out of your control.

Even though life is now yours to control, it still hurts.

You’ve been able to accomplish a lot despite what you’ve been through, but you still feel so small.

A part of you still struggles to believe you deserve happiness and success.

Guilt and shame are part of your daily experience. You crave closeness with others; but when you get near to it, you push it away.

Something’s definitely wrong. But it feels too complicated and too overwhelming to even go there.

Your body is working to protect you even when it doesn’t need to be. Despite all the things you may think during clear moments, there is no stopping your natural reaction to conflict.

That’s where I come in.

Together, we will pace our work so that you can safely explore your past without reliving it.

Trauma is hard-wired in our brain, and our body responds to it without you making a choice. In our work, you will become empowered to make as many choices as possible. It is your choice when, how, and what you tell me about your experience.

Next, we will develop “escape routes” to safety.

This process will help you retrain your body and brain to be present and secure.

Traumatic experiences are stored in their raw form. When triggered, you feel as if you are experiencing it again in real time. This is why we learn ways to soothe ourselves and return to a baseline of safety so that we can access that security when we find ourselves re-entering overwhelming memories.

The toe into the scary place and then the return to safety is healing in itself. We are integrating the traumatic memory out of its raw form.

We will peel apart what is yours and what is not. We will find what you want to keep and what you’re ready to put away.

Feel safe and engaged in the world.

Our work will help you understand why you protect yourself. You will learn to experience emotions safely, without experiencing a catastrophe.

Make new choices and experience a new sense of freedom.

Call (202) 656-8515 today to schedule a time to chat.