“Trauma is not what happens to you, it’s what happens inside of you as a result of what happened to you.”
– Gabor Mate
What is trauma?
Trauma is different from stress. Stressful situations may be unpleasant, but once they end, they’re over. Trauma, however, lingers—your body continues to relive the experience even after it has passed. It’s not just about what happened, but also what didn’t happen, such as unmet basic needs. Trauma alters how our nervous system functions, keeping the survival part of our brain on high alert and making us feel unsafe, even when no real danger is present. It can disconnect us from ourselves and others, create shame, numb joy, fuel anger, and shape how we see the world. When trauma takes over, fear—not our true needs—guides our choices, keeping us stuck.
Is healing possible?
Healing is absolutely possible. While we can’t change the past, we can change how it lives within us. Trauma isn’t just what happened—it’s the meaning we made from those experiences, and that can be transformed. It’s a wound that can heal, and it doesn’t have to define your life.
I use EMDR, the Flash Technique, Trauma-Informed CBT, and Internal Family Systems therapy—proven, evidence-based approaches that I’ve successfully used for years to help clients heal, grow, and reclaim their lives.