Our understanding of trauma, based on the latest research, informs the way we provide therapy. From a physiological perspective, trauma is something that overwhelms your autonomic nervous system; something that happens too fast, that you are unable to protect yourself from, and there is a lack of support following the experience. You may have feelings of powerlessness, helplessness and a loss of control. 

When we are faced with a threat, our sympathetic nervous system activates to bring us to safety. If it is successful, the energy activated is discharged and we are less likely to be traumatized. If this activation isn’t enough to bring us to safety, we become overwhelmed and move into the dorsal vagal nervous system state. The unprocessed sympathetic energy gets stuck in the body and we have the experience of trauma.

This is why two people can experience the same thing and it can be traumatic for one and not the other. Trauma is often a contributing factor to emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, perfectionism, people-pleasing, eating disorders, chronic health conditions, and addictions. 

We work with your nervous system to create the conditions it needs to be able to complete the self-protective actions it wasn’t able to at the time and reestablish a sense of safety in your body. Healing happens in relationships where there is safety and the regulated nervous system of another person to offer support.

We will guide you in creating a safe space for yourself including learning how to ground and orient - which help communicate to your body that you are safe in the present moment, and respond to yourself with compassion. These are core tenants in healing from trauma and the needed foundation to heal and thrive. 

While each of our therapists bring their own unique approach, this understanding of trauma underlies the therapeutic approaches we use.

Our Approach to Therapy

The lens we practice from