PTSD, Complex PTSD, and Attachment Wounds

Trauma can leave lasting impacts long after the event itself has ended. Whether you've experienced a single traumatic event, ongoing childhood trauma/ abuse, difficult relationships, or experiences that left you feeling unsafe, trauma can shape the way you view yourself, others, and the world around you.

Many people who come to therapy know something feels "off," but struggle to explain why. They may feel stuck in patterns they don't understand, constantly on edge, disconnected from others, or overwhelmed by emotions that seem difficult to manage. They may feel they have multiple “parts” of them, but don’t feel like their “whole self”.

Healing is possible. Therapy can help you understand what happened, make sense of your experiences, and build a life that feels safer, more connected, and more fully your own.

What Are PTSD, Complex PTSD, and Attachment Wounds?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms often include intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance, persistent negative thoughts/ emotions (ie, I am shameful, I am not good enough, I should’ve done something, etc), fear of something bad happening, hypervigilance, and feeling constantly on guard.

Complex PTSD (CPTSD) often develops after repeated or long-term experiences of trauma, especially during childhood or within important relationships. In addition to traditional PTSD symptoms, people with CPTSD may struggle with self-worth, emotional regulation, trust, and relationships.

Attachment wounds can develop when our early relationships did not consistently provide the safety, support, or emotional connection we needed. These experiences can affect how we relate to ourselves and others throughout adulthood.

Dissociation is a common response to trauma and can occur when the mind and body become overwhelmed. It may feel like zoning out, feeling disconnected from your emotions or body, losing track of time, or feeling detached from the world around you. While dissociation often develops as a way to cope with difficult experiences, it can continue long after the trauma has ended.

While these experiences can look different for everyone, they often share a common theme: the nervous system learned to adapt in order to survive. Their brain and body did what it knew how in order to get through (fight, flight, freeze, or fawn).

How Trauma Can Affect Everyday Life

Trauma doesn't only show up when you're thinking about what happened. It can affect nearly every area of life.

You may find yourself:

  • Constantly worrying about what could go wrong

  • Feeling emotionally overwhelmed or emotionally numb

  • Struggling to trust others

  • Feeling disconnected in relationships

  • Disconnecting from reality (dissociating) 

  • Becoming highly sensitive to rejection or criticism

  • Having difficulty setting boundaries

  • Experiencing anxiety, panic, or irritability

  • Feeling shame, guilt, or self-blame

  • Avoiding situations that feel vulnerable or unsafe

  • Having difficulty relaxing, even when things are going well

  • Feeling stuck in survival mode

  • Feeling like they a reacting rather than responding

Many people become frustrated with themselves because they believe they "should be over it by now." In reality, trauma responses are not signs of weakness. They are signs that your mind and body adapted to help you survive difficult experiences. It can make the brain have a hard time knowing the difference between past and present, which can make it feel unsafe right now.

What Therapy May Look Like

Healing from trauma is not about forcing yourself to relive painful experiences or "getting over" what happened. Trauma therapy begins with creating safety, understanding, and a foundation for healing.

My approach is grounded in evidence-based, trauma-informed therapies, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Brainspotting, mindfulness-based interventions, and psychoeducation,.

For those who have a hard time feeling regulated, dissociate frequently, or find safety “unsafe”, I may use Finding Solid Ground, a treatment approach designed to help develop stability, coping skills, and self-understanding before engaging in deeper trauma processing.

Together, we may focus on:

  • Understanding how trauma affects the brain, body, and nervous system

  • Learning to recognize trauma responses and triggers

  • Developing coping skills and emotional regulation strategies

  • Building a stronger sense of safety and stability

  • Exploring different parts of yourself with curiosity and compassion

  • Identifying patterns that developed to help you survive difficult experiences

  • Strengthening boundaries and relationships

  • Practicing mindfulness and grounding skills to stay connected to the present

  • Processing traumatic experiences when appropriate and at a pace that feels manageable

  • Rebuilding trust in yourself and your ability to navigate life's challenges

Through psychoeducation, many clients find relief in understanding that their reactions make sense given what they have been through. What may feel like anxiety, emotional numbness, people-pleasing, perfectionism, or difficulty trusting others are often adaptive responses that developed to help them cope.

IFS helps us understand the different parts of ourselves that may carry pain, fear, shame, or protective roles. Rather than judging these parts, we work toward understanding them and creating greater internal connection and self-compassion.

Brainspotting can help access and process experiences that may be difficult to fully express with words alone. By working with the brain and body's natural capacity for healing, Brainspotting can support the resolution of traumatic experiences and reduce the emotional intensity connected to them. With Brainspotting, we don’t even have to talk about the trauma if it doesn’t feel safe!

Throughout therapy, we move at a pace that respects your nervous system and your readiness. The goal is not to erase the past, but to help it have less control over your present life.

How Healing Can Change Your Life

Healing from trauma often creates changes that extend far beyond symptom reduction.

Clients frequently report:

  • Feeling calmer and less reactive

  • Experiencing fewer triggers

  • Improved relationships

  • Increased confidence and self-worth

  • Greater emotional balance

  • Better boundaries

  • More trust in themselves and others

  • Less shame and self-criticism

  • A stronger sense of identity

  • Feeling more present and engaged in daily life

While healing is not always linear, many people discover that they can move from surviving to truly living.

You Can Feel More Like Yourself

If trauma, attachment wounds, or difficult past experiences continue to affect your life, therapy can provide a space to explore, heal, and grow.

You deserve support that honors both what you've been through and the person you want to become (at you and your nervous system’s pace!).

Reach out today to schedule a consultation or learn more about working together!