Healing From Complex Trauma
Trauma leaves an imprint—not just on the mind but on the body, emotions, and sense of self. Whether you’ve experienced a single overwhelming event or endured ongoing stress and harm, healing from trauma is possible. I specialize in working with trauma, complex trauma, and CPTSD (Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), helping you untangle its impact and move toward a life that feels safer, freer, and more aligned with who you are.
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“Early relational trauma results from the fact that we are often given more to experience in this life than we can bear to experience consciously." ―Donald Kalsched |
What Is Complex Trauma and CPTSD?
Complex trauma (C-PTSD) occurs when someone endures repeated or ongoing traumatic experiences, often in relational contexts where escape feels impossible. This might include childhood abuse, intimate partner violence, or systemic oppression.
CPTSD shares symptoms with PTSD, such as flashbacks and hypervigilance, but it also includes:
-Emotional Dysregulation: Difficulty managing intense emotions or feeling numb.
-Negative Self-Concept: Persistent feelings of shame, guilt, or worthlessness.
-Relational Challenges: Struggles with trust, intimacy, or avoiding relationships altogether.
-Complex trauma can leave you feeling stuck in survival mode, but healing is possible with the right tools and support.
My Approach to Trauma Healing
Healing from trauma is not about “getting over it” but about learning to live in the present, reconnect with yourself, and feel safe in your own body. My approach is trauma-informed, client-centered, and deeply compassionate, drawing onmodalities like:
Relational Therapy: For many, trauma occurs in relationships, making healing within a trusting therapeutic relationship essential.
Parts Work: Trauma often fragments the self into “parts” that hold different emotions or roles. Together, we’ll explore these parts with curiosity and compassion, fostering integration and self-acceptance.
Depth Psychotherapy: Trauma often leaves deep imprints on your unconscious beliefs and inner world. Depth psychotherapy involves exploring these layers to uncover hidden wounds, fears, or patterns that influence your life today. This process fosters insight, self-awareness, and transformation at a profound level.
Narrative Therapy: Trauma can take over your personal story, defining who you are and how you see yourself. In narrative therapy, we work together to rewrite those stories, shifting the narrative from one of pain and powerlessness to one of resilience, strength, and agency
Trauma in LGBTQIA+ Communities
For queer and trans individuals, trauma is often compounded by systemic oppression, discrimination, and rejection. Minority stress, family estrangement, and navigating unsafe environments can deepen the impact of trauma. I offer a queer-affirming space where your identity is respected, celebrated, and central to our work together.
What Does Healing Look Like?
Healing from trauma is deeply personal and non-linear. It’s about moving from survival mode to a life where you feel grounded, connected, and in control. Some outcomes of trauma therapy include:
-Feeling safer in your body and emotions.
-Reducing triggers, flashbacks, or intrusive memories.
-Building healthy relationships and boundaries.
-Cultivating self-compassion and self-trust.
Taking the Next Step
You don’t have to face trauma alone. Therapy offers a space to process your experiences, find relief, and rediscover your sense of self. If you’re ready to begin your healing journey, I’m here to support you with care, compassion, and respect.
Offering in person therapy in Berkeley, CA and virtual / telehealth therapy to residents of California.
