To me, being trauma-informed means adapting therapy to fit your unique needs because everyone experiences trauma differently. You don’t have to talk about your trauma to heal from it—and we’ll move at your pace, not mine. The focus is on making sure you feel safe, comfortable, and in control of your healing journey. Together, we’ll work towards healing in a way that feels right for you, honoring your speed and your process.

When we’re working together—whether I’m asking questions or conducting an assessment—you’re always free to set the boundaries. You decide when and if you want to bring up your trauma. The focus is on creating a space where you feel safe and comfortable.

Trauma treatment generally unfolds in three stages.

1. Stabilization: This phase often takes the most time, and while it might be tempting to rush into “the trauma work,” stabilization is crucial. It’s about laying the groundwork so you’re ready when the next stage comes. During stabilization, we work on:

• Building a trusting relationship between us.
• Identifying and naming what you’re experiencing.
• Strengthening other support systems in your life.
• Developing a safety plan.
• Understanding your window of tolerance and learning self-regulation techniques.
• Recognizing the early signs of trauma responses, like hypo- or hyperarousal.
• Practicing techniques to manage symptoms and expand your window of tolerance.
• Learning to handle intense emotions.
• Improving aspects of your daily life, such as sleep, diet, organization, and exercise.
• Cultivating mindfulness and present-moment awareness.
• Setting and maintaining healthy boundaries.

2. Reprocessing: Once you’re stable and comfortable with emotional regulation, we can begin reprocessing the trauma. This stage often involves exposure to traumatic memories, but in a controlled and safe way that avoids overwhelming you. Reprocessing might include:

• Imaginal exposure, like thinking about the memory in a focused way (the main technique used in styles like EMDR or Brainspotting).
• Writing about the memory with specific prompts.
• Choosing whether or not to share the memory with someone else, like with me or someone else in your life.

3. Integration: Integration is typically the shortest stage, and it often happens naturally. This is where you start to reintroduce parts of your life that you may have avoided due to trauma responses. We might revisit stabilization skills as new challenges arise or continue reprocessing any areas that need more attention.

Healing is a journey, and these stages help ensure that you move through it with care and intention. No matter where you are in the process, remember that your healing is uniquely yours—paced by your comfort, guided by your needs, and always supported with compassion and understanding.