Healing from Experiences of Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Do you ever feel like painful experiences from your past are still affecting your present? Trauma isn't just the result of big, major life events like car accidents or violence (we sometimes refer to those as "Big T" traumas), but can also be made up of less discrete, more cumulative experiences like rejection, chronic stress, systemic oppression, and feeling unsafe (sometimes referred to as "little t" traumas). At its core, trauma is anything that our body wasn't able to fully process or digest, and any type of trauma can leave a lasting impact on how you see yourself, others, and the world.

Even if it feels like you didn't experience anything "bad" when you were growing up, your struggles are valid, and seeking help is a meaningful step towards healing. At Brown Dog Therapy and Wellness, I provide a safe, compassionate space for adults in Maryland and Virginia to unpack these experiences, honor your resilience, and help you move toward healing.

What does trauma look like?

Trauma can show up in ways that you might not expect, such as:

Feeling “stuck” in patterns or responses you can’t control,
Experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories,
Avoiding certain places, people, or situations that remind you of the past,
Feeling hypervigilant, on edge, or easily startled,
Numbing out emotions or struggling to feel present in your daily life.

Common misconceptions about trauma:
Many people think trauma only "counts" if it’s tied to a major event, but that’s not true. Trauma can stem from chronic stress, difficult family dynamics, systemic oppression, or painful relationships. There is no one way to “look” like you’ve experienced trauma, and no threshold you need to meet to seek support.

Complex trauma and its long-term impact:

When someone goes through ongoing or repeated trauma, especially in close relationships or early in life, it can leave a deep and lasting impact. This kind of trauma, often called Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), can shape how a person sees themselves and the world around them. Over time, it might feel like the trauma becomes part of their identity, affecting how they relate to themselves and others. People who experience complex trauma often struggle with things like:

Regulating their emotions,
Managing close relationships.
Confusion about "who am I?"

How Brown Dog Therapy and Wellness approaches trauma and complex trauma in the therapy space:

At the heart of my practice is a commitment to trauma-informed care, which means recognizing the pervasive impact of trauma and creating a therapeutic environment that prioritizes safety, empowerment, and collaboration. Trauma-informed care is rooted in the understanding that healing happens best when clients feel secure and supported, and when they have agency and choice in their healing journey.

Key principles of trauma-informed care include:

Safety: Creating a physically and emotionally safe space for clients to explore the vulnerable parts of themselves at their own page.
Trustworthiness: Maintaining clear boundaries and consistency that care providers are professional and can "contain" the experience that clients bring into the room.
Collaboration: Working together to empower clients and honor their autonomy, rather than providers acting as the "expert" to be listened to.
Cultural humility: Valuing and respecting clients' unique lived experiences and identity, while also being mindful of my own. I recognize how my background and who I am show up in my work with clients, and I approach therapeutic conversations with openness and curiosity, rather than making assumptions.
Empowerment: Focusing on strengths and fostering self-efficacy, rather than only on a client's shortcomings, deficits, or painful past experiences.

My approach honors your own lived experience and expert knowledge of yourself.

Together, we will:

Uncover and understand your story. Through Narrative Therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), we’ll explore early life experiences, family dynamics, and societal factors that may have shaped your current ways of seeing and behaving in the world. This helps to safely process difficult memories and reframe unhelpful beliefs.
Learn tools for safety and regulation. Using nervous system regulation strategies, such as grounding techniques and mindfulness, we’ll create a sense of stability and safety in your body. These skills will help you navigate triggers and develop a greater sense of self-trust. Increased self-trust will allow us to focus on reconnecting with your strengths, fostering self-compassion, and finding meaning and balance in your life.
Heal through connection. The therapeutic relationship is a powerful space for healing. Using Relational Therapy, we’ll practice healthy boundaries, respect, and trust, allowing you to explore and rewrite attachment patterns with others in your life. This relationship can serve as a blueprint for creating deeper, more fulfilling connections in your life, showing what it feels like to be truly seen and supported.
Reclaim your sense of self. Through approaches like Internal Family Systems (IFS) and parts work, Inner Child work, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we will focus on reconnecting with your strengths, fostering self-compassion, and finding meaning and balance in your life.

How I can help:

My approach to trauma work is collaborative, culturally attuned, and grounded in respect for your unique story. I recognize that trauma doesn't happen in a vacuum- it's often shaped by systemic and social forces, and healing requires understanding those contexts. Together, we'll work at a pace that feels right for you, building tools for relief and pathways towards growth.

Take the first step.

You don't have to be defined by your past experiences, and healing from trauma is possible. I feel hopeful for you to find relief from these painful experiences, and I would be honored to support you on that journey. Schedule a free consultation today.