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Trauma Therapy
IN-PERSON IN PLANO + ONLINE ACROSS TEXAS
Is Something From Your Past Still Affecting You?
Maybe you’ve been through something that changed you.
It could have been the loss of someone you loved, abuse, an accident, a frightening experience, betrayal, a difficult childhood, or witnessing something you still can’t seem to forget. Sometimes there is one experience you can clearly point to. Other times, it’s years of experiences that slowly shaped the way you see yourself, your relationships, or the world around you.
You may find yourself wondering, Why is this still affecting me?
You might notice:
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​Memories or thoughts that seem to come up when you don’t want them to
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Feeling constantly on edge or easily startled
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Difficulty concentrating or feeling mentally foggy
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Irritability or anger that feels bigger than the situation
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Shutting down, withdrawing, or feeling numb
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Avoiding certain people, places, conversations, or memories
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Difficulty sleeping or truly relaxing
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Feeling overwhelmed more easily than you used to
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Physical reactions like a racing heart, tightness in your chest, nausea, or tension
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Feeling disconnected from yourself or the people you love
Sometimes you know exactly where these reactions come from. Other times, you don’t.
Sometimes the Experience Is Over, but Your Body Hasn’t Gotten the Message
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Trauma doesn’t always look the way we expect. Sometimes it comes from one overwhelming experience, such as abuse, loss, an accident, violence, betrayal, a frightening medical experience, or something you witnessed. Other times, it develops through years of instability, criticism, conflict, or not feeling safe or supported. Whatever the experience, you may know logically that you’re safe now, while your body reacts as though the danger is still happening.
A sound, smell, conversation, conflict, or seemingly ordinary moment might leave you on edge, angry, shut down, or wanting to escape. You may even find yourself thinking, I know I’m okay.
Why does this still affect me? You don’t have to decide whether what happened was “bad enough.” What matters is how it affected you and whether you’re still carrying it today.
Trauma therapy can help you understand these responses and begin processing experiences that continue to carry distress.
​​How Can Trauma Therapy Help?
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Therapy gives you a space to understand not only what happened, but also what happened inside of you because of it. Together, we can explore the patterns, beliefs, emotions, and physical responses that developed around your experiences.
That may include understanding why certain situations trigger such a strong reaction, recognizing when your nervous system shifts into fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown, developing ways to feel grounded in the present, and processing experiences that continue to carry distress.
The goal isn't to erase your past. It's to help your past feel more like something that happened rather than something your mind and body are still having to survive.
EMDR Therapy
One approach I use in trauma therapy is EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Sometimes we can understand an experience logically and still have a strong emotional or physical reaction to it. You may tell yourself, I know I’m safe now. I know it wasn’t my fault. I know that relationship is over. And yet, your body reacts differently.
EMDR is designed to help the brain process distressing memories and experiences that may continue to feel emotionally “stuck.” Rather than requiring you to repeatedly retell every detail of what happened, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation while working with specific memories, emotions, beliefs, and physical sensations. Over time, the goal is for the memory to remain part of your story without carrying the same level of emotional or physical distress. You don’t forget what happened; it just doesn’t have to feel as though it’s still happening.
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What Would Therapy Look Like?
We don’t have to begin with the hardest thing that has ever happened to you. Trauma therapy can move at a pace that feels manageable. We may first spend time understanding what you’re experiencing now, identifying patterns and triggers, building coping and grounding skills, and helping you better understand your nervous system.
If EMDR is appropriate for you, we can then work together to identify experiences or memories that may be connected to what you’re experiencing today. Therapy is collaborative. You don’t have to arrive knowing exactly what you need to work on or even know how to explain everything you’ve experienced. We can start with what you know right now.
You May Be Wondering...
Do I have to talk about everything that happened?
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No. You are in control of what you choose to share. Trauma therapy does not mean that you have to immediately tell your therapist every detail of your experience. We can work at a pace that feels appropriate for you.
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What if I don't know whether what happened to me was “traumatic enough”?
You don't need to meet a certain threshold to talk about something that affected you. If an experience continues to influence how you feel, respond, relate to others, or see yourself, it is worth understanding.
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What if I barely remember what happened?
That's okay. You don't need a perfectly organized story or complete memory of an experience to begin therapy. We can start with what you notice now — your emotions, reactions, patterns, beliefs, or physical responses.
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Will EMDR make me relive what happened?
EMDR does involve connecting with distressing memories, but the goal isn't to make you relive an experience or remain overwhelmed by it. Preparation, pacing, and helping you stay connected to the present are important parts of the process.