Let's approach the impact of the past with curiosity and compassion, creating space for healing, growth, and meaningful change.
What is Complex Trauma?
Complex trauma is relational and attachment trauma that is typically experienced during childhood, though it may also be accompanied by shock trauma, such as a car accident, medical event, natural disaster, or other overwhelming experience.
Complex trauma is considered "complex" because it occurs during the years when we are developing our sense of self and learning how to relate to others. Rather than experiencing the trauma as something that happened to us, we often come to believe it is something about us. This can lead to deep feelings of shame, self-criticism, and disconnection from our bodies and our true selves. Because self-blame is so common, many people don't realize they have experienced complex trauma until they begin their healing journey.
Complex Trauma May Show-Up As:
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Anger, anxiety, or shame that seems to appear automatically
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Longing for connection while simultaneously feeling afraid of it
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Dissociation, numbness, or feeling disconnected from yourself
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Feeling constantly on edge, overwhelmed, or unable to relax
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Persistent self-criticism, self-doubt, or feelings of not being enough
If you recognize yourself in these experiences, it doesn't mean there is something wrong with you. These patterns often developed as intelligent ways of surviving difficult circumstances. Healing is possible.
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.
Together, we explore the survival patterns that developed in response to your experiences, what those patterns have been trying to protect, and how they may be impacting your life today. Through the process, you cultivate greater awareness, agency, connection, and compassion, allowing old patterns to loosen as new possibilities emerge.
Inner-stability, agency, and enjoyable safe connection with others is possible.
