Trauma in the Body & Mind
Understanding Trauma, Its Effects, and the Path Toward Healing
Trauma is more common than many people realize and its effects can linger long after the event has passed. More than half of adults in the United States experience at least one significant traumatic stressor in their lifetime. Trauma isn’t defined by how “severe” something looks from the outside, but by how overwhelming it felt to your nervous system and ability to cope at the time.
Understanding how trauma develops and how it shows up in the body and mind is an important first step toward healing.
Trauma occurs when an experience overwhelms your ability to cope, leaving your nervous system stuck in a state of survival. You may experience traumatic stress in one or more of the following ways:
Directly experiencing a traumatic event
(such as abuse, assault, accidents, medical trauma, or violence)Witnessing a traumatic event in person
(seeing harm happen to someone else)Learning that a traumatic event happened to a close family member or friend
Repeated or ongoing exposure to distressing details
(such as first responders, caregivers, or individuals exposed to chronic family conflict or abuse)
Trauma can result from a single event or from repeated experiences over time, including childhood abuse, neglect, emotional harm, or generational trauma within families.
What Causes Trauma?
Trauma affects both the mind and body, often in ways that don’t immediately feel connected to the past. These reactions are not personal flaws, they are survival responses your nervous system learned to protect you.
You may notice trauma showing up as:
Anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or constant worry
Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in relationships
People-pleasing, boundary struggles, or self-doubt
Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected
Feeling constantly on edge or easily triggered
Physical tension, fatigue, headaches, digestive discomfort, or sleep issues
There’s no single way trauma looks. Some patterns are subtle, while others feel heavy. Understanding these responses isn’t about labeling yourself it’s about listening to your body and creating space for healing.
How Does Trauma Show Up?
Trauma therapy focuses on more than just talking about what happened, it helps your nervous system learn safety, regulation, and connection again. I offer trauma-informed, compassionate care tailored to your experiences, identity, and goals.
Depression Support
Guidance to help you navigate low mood, emotional numbness, and loss of motivation while building sustainable coping tools.Anxiety Support
Tools and techniques to reduce chronic stress, calm the nervous system, and manage anxiety rooted in trauma.Trauma Healing
Specialized trauma-informed therapy to help process abuse, generational trauma, and complex life experiences, at a pace that feels safe and empowering.
You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone
Healing from trauma is possible with the right support. If you’re ready to better understand your experiences and begin your healing journey, I invite you to take the next step.