Our responses to stress are individual, cultural, and complex, and can sometimes manifest in different mental health diagnoses, like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and dissociative disorders, among others. I specialize in treating a range of mental health diagnoses associated with trauma. My focus on “complex trauma” means that in addition to these, I specialize in treating post-traumatic symptoms that may not fit neatly in a box, but are the result of chronic, entrenched patterns that can profoundly disrupt survivors’ lives. This “complex trauma” typically occurs when trauma is chronic, happens throughout childhood, and/or is sustained in the context of intimate relationships and systemic oppression.

You may find yourself unable to do things that you want to do, unable to create the life you want, even if it’s safe to. It may be difficult to regulate your emotions, and some survivors may feel stuck under the weight of anxiety, depression, anger, shame, or a pervasive sense of disconnection and numbness. Survivors may have difficulty focusing, and may experience flashbacks, an inability to stop thinking about upsetting things, and dissociation. You may re-experience elements of the trauma as if it was happening again. You might sometimes feel that the world around you is unreal or dreamlike, you might feel disconnected from yourself, like you are not in your body, or like you are not real. Survivors may also have difficulty forming stable and supportive relationships.

You may feel suspicious of others, isolate yourself from others, or make yourself indiscriminately vulnerable and “attach” a little too easily. Your relationships may feel chaotic, uncertain, and painful. You might find it’s difficult to trust your own judgement and feel unsure of who you are. In addition, survivors may struggle with other core symptoms of PTSD, such difficulty maintaining a sleep schedule, nightmares, and a constant sense of being "on edge."

I have extensive experience treating and studying traumatic stress. My experience leads me to ground every treatment in empathy, humility and respect for my client. In therapy, I tailor my approach to your needs and work to create a secure space where you can be empowered to engage on your own terms. I might explore how your symptoms connect to the ways you’ve had to adapt to abuse or adversity: how these adaptations may protect you and your loved ones, and how they may also hurt you. Often, I find survivors have been taught to blame themselves, both for what happened and their reactions to it. Many survivors are left questioning whether they could be valued for who they truly are. I value all parts of you; my work will be to help you reclaim your ability to create joy, security and fulfillment in life.