Trauma & PTSD Therapy
Online therapy for individuals and partners across Washington State.
A steady, relational approach to understanding how past wounds shape present reactions, patterns, and connection.
Trauma doesn’t stay neatly in the past.
It shows up in the present — in your reactions, your communication, your nervous system, and the way you reach for (or pull away from) the person you love. You may be functioning on the outside, but inside you’re navigating a constant push‑pull between wanting closeness and needing protection.
Something in your relationship feels harder than it should. Trauma changes how safety is felt, how conflict is interpreted, and how connection is built — structured guidance for navigating your role in relationships.
How Trauma Shows Up in Relationships
Trauma and PTSD often weave themselves into daily life in ways that feel confusing or unpredictable. It can look like:
shutting down during conflict
reacting intensely to small misunderstandings
feeling numb, distant, or disconnected
becoming overwhelmed by emotions that feel “too big”
misreading your partner’s tone or intentions
feeling unsafe even when nothing is “wrong”
struggling to stay present during difficult conversations
These responses aren’t character flaws — they’re survival strategies that once protected you.
What You’ve Been Carrying
Living with trauma often means living with a nervous system that doesn’t get to rest. You may feel like you’re constantly scanning for danger, bracing for impact, or trying to keep everything “normal” so you don’t get overwhelmed.
If you’re the partner supporting someone with trauma, you may feel unsure how to help — wanting to be steady, but also feeling confused, shut out, or emotionally drained.
Both experiences make sense. Both deserve support.
What’s Really Going On Beneath the Reactions
You might look calm on the outside, but inside you’re navigating things like:
“I don’t feel safe, even when nothing is happening.”
“I react before I even know what I’m reacting to.”
“I wish I could just calm down, but my body won’t listen.”
“I’m exhausted from pretending I’m fine.”
old wounds that get activated in present‑day relationships
a nervous system that jumps between shutdown, anxiety, and hypervigilance
survival patterns — avoiding, numbing, overfunctioning — that once protected you
In therapy, we slow down the moments where things get stuck so we can understand what’s happening underneath.
Together, we explore:
how past experiences shape your current reactions
the exact moments where communication breaks down
what your nervous system is trying to protect you from
how trauma impacts your ability to feel safe with your partner
the patterns you both fall into when things escalate
what needs to shift for connection to feel possible again
This is structured, steady work — and I guide the process so neither partner has to navigate it alone.
What We Explore Together
How I Support Each Partner
For the partner carrying trauma: I help you understand your nervous system, your triggers, and the protective strategies you’ve relied on for years. You’ll learn how to regulate in real time, communicate your internal experience, and build safety without abandoning yourself.
For the partner supporting a trauma survivor: You’ll learn how to recognize distress signals, respond without taking reactions personally, and stay grounded without over‑functioning. You’ll gain clarity on what helps, what doesn’t, and how to support without losing yourself.
Both partners have a role in healing — and both deserve tools.
What Healing Will Feel and Sound Like in Your Relationships
Imagine waking up and realizing you didn’t spend the whole night in an emotional state of stress or exhausting thinking spiral. Your body feels a little less tense. You move through your morning without scanning for danger. When something unexpected happens — a loud noise, a sharp tone — you feel the startle, but it doesn’t take over. You come back to yourself more quickly.
Or picture a moment with someone you care about. They say something that would’ve sent you into shutdown before. Instead, you notice the activation rising and stay with yourself. You name what’s happening. You choose a response instead of being swept into an old pattern. The interaction ends with understanding instead of shame.
These are the signs that your nervous system is finally finding room to settle.
When You’re Ready
You don’t have to keep navigating these patterns alone or keep wondering why you react the way you do. We can address the feeling of walking on eggshells or bracing for impact.
When you’re ready, we can map out a path toward steadiness, clarity, and connection — together.
