Recover from Complex Trauma (CPTSD)

I specialize in treating high-performing, high-achieving adult survivors of complex trauma and complex PTSD. Complex trauma is a consequence of chronic, deep, interpersonal wounding most often resulting from overt and/or covert violations in early attachment relationships. Complex trauma is traditionally viewed as a life sentence or a tragedy that impairs functioning in the survivor’s personal, social, and work lives. However, this is not always the case. In fact, complex trauma can lead to hyper-functioning as well as great achievements and contributions worthy of awe and admiration. These survivors can be passionate professionals, leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives.

I work with individuals who live with this paradox—they thrive outwardly in many ways yet struggle to survive in the psycho-spiritual dimension of their life. These individuals are like the walking wounded. They carry primal wounds that are invisible to those around them and even to themselves. They are masters of their hyper-functioning, orderly, busy, external lives and slaves to their chaotic, unknown, mystical yet mystifying internal lives.

My clients belong to this “Walking Wounded Tribe.” You know you belong to the Walking Wounded Tribe if you have ticked off many boxes on your life check list yet still deal with overwhelm and feelings of being stuck, lost, empty, numb, and unfulfilled. Your trauma has propelled you upward on an ascent of success and achievement in the visible world. All the while you suffer an invisible spiraling descent into the Shadow Underworld. The Walked Wounded need a customized healing process that honors their outward journey of success and their inward journey toward deep healing and transformation. Their unique needs are often overlooked by traditional psychotherapy and even trauma therapies due to their high achieving tendencies.

I offer integrative trauma therapy that includes Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Jungian Psychology for those high functioning adult survivors of complex trauma and CPTSD looking to heal and find their aliveness.

When Trauma Is Stored In The Body

I work with highly intellectual, analytically-minded individuals who feel disconnected from their selves and their bodies as a result of complex trauma. You live from the neck up and forget you have a body much of the time. You intellectualize and analyze everything, dissociate or “numb out” quite easily, and you stay busy and productive. You struggle with being present, still, and at peace. You have a hard time stopping, resting, and listening to your body and inner world. The body does keep the score and often times it is the one who says “no” first. This is especially true when we are unable to set boundaries and show up for our own vulnerability and the wounded parts of our selves yearning to be seen, heard, known, and loved.

Your body can say “no” through various psychosomatic symptoms, autoimmune disorders, gastrointestinal issues, skin problems, brain fog, chronic fatigue, etc. The body becomes a battleground on which the dramas of our unresolved traumas play out. Fortunately, you can heal and your body can become a sacred home to return to. You can release the trauma from your body and discover how to be present, still, and at peace. You can be in profound connection to yourself and others through your body while experiencing your joy and aliveness.

I have trained in various body-oriented trauma therapies including Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, Somatic Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. I am also a certified Yoga teacher and believe the body is a sacred, living, breathing organism that we can honor and learn from as divine beings having a human, biological experience.

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