You’ve built a better life than the one you came from. You got your feet under you, maybe a nice career or home, and a few positive relationships.
Yet, a sneaky, constant pattern follows you everywhere.
It shows up as an overblown reaction to a minor email, a sudden feeling of worthlessness in a professional setting, or the same old pattern of push-and-pull in every relationship. You’ve gotten really good at a lot of things, but feeling safe and settled in your own skin isn’t one of them.
This isn’t your fault, and it isn’t a problem with your character. It’s likely the lingering effect of Complex PTSD.
What is C-PTSD?
While classic PTSD is often the result of a single, scary event, C-PTSD comes from long-lasting, repeated trauma—the kind you experience when escape isn’t an option. This could be chronic childhood abuse or neglect, long-term emotional manipulation, or living in a home where safety was a rare luxury. It’s not just a bad memory you have; it’s a way your brain and body learned to live in the world.
The symptoms of C-PTSD are deeply personal, often showing up as problems with:
- Emotional Swings: You might go from calm to completely overwhelmed in a heartbeat, or feel like your emotions are locked away and hard to reach.
- Negative Self-Concept: A constant, nagging feeling of worthlessness or shame, as if you’re fundamentally broken. Other people look to you for leadership, but on the inside, you’re convinced you’re a fake.
- Relationship Challenges: You may struggle with trust, healthy boundaries, or a constant fear of being left alone. You may want close connections, but push people away, before they can hurt you.
This isn’t about fixing something you did wrong; it’s about giving your brain and body the chance to finally process and let go of what they’ve been holding onto for years.
My Approach: EMDR for C-PTSD
I specialize in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, a powerful, proven way to help your brain and body heal from past trauma. We don’t just talk about your past, we give your brain the tools to rethink and re-file the traumatic memories that are keeping you stuck.
By using EMDR, we can:
- Heal at a Deeper Level: We work with the parts of your brain that are stuck in “fight, flight, or freeze” mode and gently process the memories that are keeping you on high alert.
- Restore a Sense of Self: You’ll learn to separate who you are from what happened to you, building a more solid sense of self-worth and identity.
- Find Freedom in Your Relationships: By addressing the past, you’ll be able to build and maintain healthier, more fulfilling connections without the constant fear of being hurt or abandoned.
My work with clients is direct, collaborative, and focused on setting goals and getting results. The goal is to move you beyond just surviving and into a life where you can truly thrive.
Most of my clients start feeling better in a just a couple of sessions, and have long-term breakthroughs within a few months. My goal is to help you graduate from therapy. I love it when we get to the day where you attend less and less often because you’re working the plan on your own!
Out-of-Network Services
My practice operates on an out-of-network basis. This means I can provide you with the specialized, focused care you need right now without the limits and rules of insurance companies. We can focus on your healing, creating a plan just for you. I’ll help you understand your insurance benefits and provide the documents your insurance needs to process your claims.
Clients generally tell me they feel better in days, have improved sense of self in weeks, and improved/new relationships within months. Working intensively makes the process go even faster.
If you’re ready to stop just getting by and start truly living, let’s talk.