Are you struggling with anxiety, phobias, OCD, PTSD, or low self-esteem?
Expert Therapy for Healing Childhood Trauma and Its Effects
Many mental health challenges in adults stem from unresolved childhood experiences. Traumatic or overwhelming events or circumstances during your early developmental years can leave a lasting impact, shaping how you feel and behave as an adult.
Traditional or generic therapy often falls short because it doesn’t address the root causes of these issues. Without identifying and resolving these underlying factors, lasting relief can feel out of reach.
But there is a path to freedom and peace.
At my practice, I offer highly skilled, experiential therapy to help you heal deeply and effectively and become your authentic self!
Trauma-focused treatment for:
- Anxiety
- Phobias
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Eating Disorders
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Complex trauma or Developmental trauma
- Low Self-Esteem and Insecurities
- Inner Critic
- Perfectionism
- Codependence
- Past Personality disorder diagnoses
What if I don’t think I have childhood trauma?
Meet Complex Trauma, also called Developmental Trauma
Understanding Complex Trauma: Causes, Effects, and Healing
What Is Complex Trauma?
Complex trauma refers to a type of psychological trauma that arises from prolonged or repetitive exposure to distressing and emotionally painful experiences, often occurring during childhood or formative years. Unlike single-event trauma (one bad thing that happens one time), complex trauma involves ongoing or repeated incidents, typically linked to interpersonal relationships marked by a lack of safety, stability, or emotional support.
Common Causes of Complex Trauma
Complex trauma often originates in childhood due to:
- Emotional Neglect: A lack of emotional validation, acceptance, or love from caregivers.
- Parental Rejection or Absence: Experiences of rejection, abandonment or unavailability of a primary parental figure. This includes feeling targeted or highly criticized by a caregiver.
- Chronic Adversity: Exposure to long-term abuse, neglect, or dysfunctional family dynamics. Some examples of situations that create dysfunctional family dynamics are: alcoholism, substance addiction, behavioral addiction, a parent with an illness or a mental illness, a parent with personality disorder traits such as narcissistic or borderline traits, a parent with rage, a parent that enables the problem behavior of another adult, and domestic violence.
These early experiences can lead to profound psychological effects for children, that persist into adulthood. As much as we may want to, it’s not possible to just “leave it in the past.”
The Development of a False Self
To survive emotionally distressing environments, individuals may create a “false self.” This survival mechanism helps them navigate relationships and seek safety but often leads to a fragmented sense of identity. Over time, the false self can mask the individual’s true emotions and needs, and hinder personal growth and development.
Emotional Neglect and Its Long-Term Effects
One of the hallmarks of complex trauma is internalized shame. Children who experience emotional neglect may come to believe:
- Their feelings and needs are unworthy of attention
- They are fundamentally flawed or inadequate
These deep-seated beliefs often persist into adulthood, manifesting as low self-esteem, poor self-worth, and difficulty maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships.
Healing from Complex Trauma
Recovery from complex trauma involves addressing these emotional wounds and rediscovering the true self. Key components of healing include:
- Therapeutic Support: Engaging with highly trained trauma-focused therapists to process and heal emotional pain.
- Rebuilding Identity: Understanding and letting go of the false self and embracing one’s authentic identity.
- Self-Compassion: Challenging shame-based beliefs and nurturing a sense of self-worth.
By taking these steps, we can overcome the lasting effects of complex trauma and lead more fulfilling lives.