Trauma
Trauma is not defined solely by the event itself but by the impact it leaves on the inner world. It may emerge in the aftermath of a single overwhelming moment - a loss, an accident, an act of violence - or through experiences that accumulate quietly over years. Often, what wounds most deeply is not what occurred, but what failed to occur: the absence of attunement, protection, or emotional responsiveness at times when they were most needed. Traumatic interpersonal experiences, lack of parental response, neglect, are therefore often the theater of intensive trauma in childhood and adolescence.
Over time, these unprocessed experiences leave traces in both mind and body. They can show up as disconnection, difficulty trusting, or persistent shame. The body may express them through anxiety, exhaustion, depression, restlessness, or sudden waves of emotion — its way of remembering what was too overwhelming to integrate at the time. Even when the mind believes it has moved on, the emotional and physiological imprint may remain.
Some of these experiences become dissociated - too difficult to bear and therefore never fully symbolized in language. Living with trauma can feel as though the original wound is still unfolding in the present, shaping self-perception, relationships and one’s sense of safety in the world.
The Healing Process
Working with trauma requires patience, trust and a sense of safety. My approach begins with creating that foundation - helping you feel grounded and supported before touching the painful material itself. From there, we move gently, following your pace, allowing the process to unfold as naturally as possible.
Through this work, you can begin to reconnect with parts of yourself that have felt hidden or cut off and, gradually, build a sense of inner stability. Healing isn’t about erasing the past; it’s about integrating it so that it no longer defines you.
EMDR
While much of trauma healing grows out of reflection, relationship and the slow reclaiming of inner space, some experiences remain deeply embedded in the body and nervous system. These “stuck” memories continue to interfere in daily life, stopping us from living. Outside the normal flow of memory, unintegrated, they have a life of their own.
EMDR helps unlock these frozen memories, allowing them to be reprocessed and integrated into a healthier, more adaptive system.
In EMDR therapy, the focus is on memory and memory networks — including the sensations, emotions and beliefs connected to past events. Through gentle bilateral stimulation such as eye movements or tapping, the brain’s information-processing system is re-activated, enabling it to do the healing work it was designed to do.
As the memory is reprocessed, its emotional charge lessens and the nervous system finds resolution. The result is a shift from reacting to life through the lens of trauma to responding from a place of calm and balance.
EMDR integrates other healing elements - self-regulation, mindfulness, medication, or body-based work — to support lasting recovery.
