Holistic Therapy
Currently Serving all of California via Telehealth
Therapy for Complex Trauma
Let's gently heal relational wounding from the past, in order to positively influence your experience of the present.
What is Complex Trauma?
Complex trauma is relational/attachment trauma that is typically experienced in childhood, that may or may not also be accompanied by shock trauma (non-relational trauma such as a shooting or car accident). Relational trauma is considered complex because children create their sense-of-self in response to the trauma, which often leads to increased experiences of shame. Complex trauma also effects the development of self-soothing capacity, as well as one's ability to be embodied (connected to their body and/or emotions).
Great question! Due to the complexity of CPTSD (Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), there are many different symptoms and a variety of ways in which the symptoms effect each individual.
What are the symptoms of Complex Trauma?
Some examples of how CPTSD may show up are below:
Do you find yourself having knee-jerk reactions of anger?
Do you experience strong waves of emotions that feel out of proportion to the situation?
Do you struggle with intimacy, even though you desire it?
Do you dissociate often? Is it hard to stay in the present moment?
Do you find yourself going to food or substances to feel better?
Do you find it challenging to relax?
These experiences can be painful and can feel crazy-making. You are not crazy. Through our therapy we will slowly and gently heal the wounding to find you relief from the CPTSD.
My Approach
I work with Complex Trauma through a therapy modality known as NARM (the NeuroAffective Relational Model), which is a therapeutic approach created explicitly for helping people heal CPTSD. NARM is a technique that integrates relational therapy, somatic therapy, and mindfulness as a means of integrating the healing. When working with NARM, we focus on the present moment and what you are wanting for yourself in the here-and-now. This differs greatly from traditional psychoanalytic modalities where the depth of exploration in on the past. What I find is that when we stay present to the here-and-now, what needs to be healed from the past will inevitability make itself known; the healing happens from the perspective of how it is impacting you in the present moment, leading to greater clarity, agency, and connection.