What is Trauma-Informed Care?

Trauma-informed care is a compassionate approach to therapy that acknowledges the profound impact trauma can have on your mind, body, and relationships. It prioritizes safety, trust, and collaboration to help you heal at a pace that feels right for you.

In my practice, trauma-informed care integrates evidence-based methods like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and somatic therapies to support your unique healing journey.

Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Care

1. Creating a Safe and Supportive Space
   Your safety—physical, emotional, and psychological—is my top priority. I strive to create a space where you feel respected, understood, and empowered to explore your experiences without fear or judgment.
2. Understanding the Mind-Body Connection
   Trauma isn’t just stored in the mind—it lives in the body. Using somatic techniques, we’ll work to gently release the physical imprints of trauma, helping you reconnect with your body and restore a sense of calm and balance.
3. Working with Your Inner World
   Through Internal Family Systems (IFS), we explore the different parts of yourself—your emotions, thoughts, and protective patterns. Together, we’ll help those parts find harmony and heal wounds that may be holding you back.
4. Processing Trauma Safely
   EMDR is a powerful tool for processing and resolving traumatic memories. By accessing the brain’s natural healing processes, EMDR helps reduce the emotional charge of past events, allowing you to move forward with greater clarity and peace.
5. Empowering Your Healing Journey
   You are the expert on your life. I work collaboratively with you to set goals, explore your strengths, and build the resilience needed to thrive. Your voice and choices guide the process, ensuring therapy feels safe and empowering.

A Holistic Approach to Healing

Trauma-informed care is not a one-size-fits-all approach. By integrating EMDR, IFS, and somatic therapies, I tailor each session to meet your specific needs, honoring the interconnectedness of your mind, body, and spirit.

If you’re ready to explore how these approaches can support your healing journey, I invite you to reach out for a consultation. Together, we can create a space where growth and transformation are not only possible but deeply empowering.

Understanding Attachment Theory

Attachment theory provides valuable insights into how our early relationships shape the way we connect with others throughout our lives. Rooted in the work of psychologist John Bowlby and expanded upon by others, this theory explores how the bonds we form in childhood influence our emotions, behaviors, and relationships as adults.

What is Attachment Theory?

At its core, attachment theory examines the emotional bonds between caregivers and children. These early connections establish patterns that impact how we seek comfort, build trust, and navigate intimacy.

Attachment styles generally fall into four categories:

1. Secure Attachment:

• Developed in relationships where caregivers are consistently responsive and nurturing.
• Leads to confidence in seeking support and forming healthy, trusting relationships.

1. Anxious Attachment:

• Emerges when caregivers are inconsistent—sometimes attentive, sometimes unavailable.
• May result in a heightened need for reassurance and fear of abandonment.

1. Avoidant Attachment:

• Formed when caregivers are emotionally distant or dismissive.
• Can lead to discomfort with closeness and a tendency to suppress emotions.

1. Disorganized Attachment:

• Often develops in the context of trauma or unpredictable caregiving.
• Creates confusion and fear in relationships, with mixed desires for connection and self-protection.

How Attachment Theory Shapes Therapy

Attachment patterns are not destiny—they are simply starting points. Therapy provides a space to explore these patterns, understand their origins, and develop healthier ways of relating to yourself and others.

In my practice, I use attachment theory to:

• Understand Your Relationship Patterns: By exploring your early experiences, we can uncover how past attachments influence your current relationships.
• Strengthen Emotional Awareness: Attachment-informed therapy helps you identify emotional needs and learn how to express them effectively.
• Cultivate Secure Connections: Together, we work to create a sense of security within yourself, fostering healthier and more fulfilling relationships.

Healing Through an Attachment Lens

Whether you’re navigating challenges in romantic relationships, friendships, or your connection with yourself, understanding attachment theory can provide profound clarity and healing.

If you’re curious about how attachment-focused therapy can support your growth, I invite you to schedule a consultation. Together, we can explore how your past shapes your present—and how you can create the connections you deserve in the future.

Relational Therapy: Healing Connections, Strengthening Bonds

Relationships are at the heart of our lives, providing love, connection, and support. But when trust is broken, communication falters, or old wounds resurface, even the strongest relationships can struggle. Relational therapy offers a safe and compassionate space to address these challenges, fostering healthier communication, deeper understanding, and lasting connection.

In my practice, I specialize in helping couples and individuals navigate relational challenges, including those shaped by relational trauma. Using evidence-based approaches such as PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and The Gottman Method, I support you in building stronger, more fulfilling relationships.

What is Relational Trauma?

Relational trauma occurs when trust or safety is repeatedly violated in key relationships, often in childhood or intimate partnerships. It can leave lasting imprints on how you connect, communicate, and navigate intimacy.

Symptoms of relational trauma can include:

• Difficulty trusting others.
• Fear of abandonment or rejection.
• Struggles with emotional regulation.
• Patterns of conflict or avoidance in relationships.

Relational therapy helps address these wounds, offering tools and insights to heal and build healthier connections.

Approaches to Relational Therapy

PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy)
PACT integrates neuroscience, attachment theory, and arousal regulation to address relational challenges, including trauma. This approach focuses on:

• Understanding how your brain and body react to relationship stress or triggers.
• Building secure attachment by fostering safety, trust, and attunement.
• Developing tools to regulate emotions and strengthen connection.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
EFT focuses on the emotional bonds between partners, helping you:

• Identify and express vulnerable emotions tied to past or current relational trauma.
• Break free from negative cycles of disconnection or conflict.
• Rebuild a secure, loving connection that fosters healing and resilience.

The Gottman Method
Grounded in decades of research, The Gottman Method offers practical strategies to:

• Improve communication and reduce conflict.
• Repair relational ruptures, including those caused by betrayal or trauma.
• Build a shared sense of meaning, intimacy, and trust.

Healing Relational Trauma Together

Relational therapy is not just about solving surface-level issues; it’s about addressing the deeper patterns and wounds that impact your ability to connect. Whether you’ve experienced betrayal, ongoing conflict, or the ripple effects of past trauma, therapy provides a safe and structured environment to heal together.

Take the Next Step

You don’t have to navigate relational challenges alone. Whether you’re seeking to rebuild trust, recover from relational trauma, or simply enhance your relationship, relational therapy offers a path to understanding, connection, and lasting change.

If you’re ready to explore how relational therapy can support your journey, I invite you to reach out for a consultation. Let’s work together to create a relationship built on healing, trust, and love.