Sexual trauma can include experiences such as sexual abuse, assault, harassment, or coercion. These experiences can leave lasting effects on the body, mind, and sense of safety, often shaping beliefs about yourself, trust in others, and your ability to form healthy relationships. Sexual trauma may also trigger feelings of shame, guilt, or self-blame, and it can impact emotional regulation and intimacy. Therapy provides a safe space to process these experiences, work through the emotional and physiological effects, and begin to reclaim a sense of safety and empowerment in your life.

When we are young, we have less capacity to cope with overwhelming experiences, so traumatic events can become “stuck” in our nervous systems. Childhood trauma can include big “T” experiences such as physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or the loss or absence of a parent, as well as “little t” experiences like bullying, frequent moves, discrimination, or difficult family dynamics. These experiences can shape core beliefs about yourself, influence your emotional patterns, and affect how you relate to others. Therapy helps process these early experiences, understand their impact, and develop healthier coping strategies and ways of relating.

Relational or attachment trauma occurs when early relationships with caregivers or trusted people are unsafe, inconsistent, or harmful. Because we rely on these relationships to learn about ourselves and the world, challenges such as emotional neglect, parental over-involvement, harsh or shaming behaviors, or intergenerational patterns of relational difficulties can profoundly affect our sense of security and connection. This trauma can show up in adulthood as difficulties with trust, intimacy, or self-worth. Therapy supports exploring these patterns, processing the emotional wounds, and developing healthier ways of connecting with yourself and others.

PTSD and Complex PTSD result from exposure to traumatic events, either as a single overwhelming experience or as prolonged, repeated trauma. Symptoms can include intrusive memories, hypervigilance, emotional dysregulation, avoidance, and challenges in relationships or daily functioning. Complex PTSD often arises from long-term trauma such as abuse, neglect, or ongoing unsafe environments. Therapy focuses on helping you process these experiences safely, regulate your emotions, integrate the trauma into your narrative, and reclaim a sense of control, stability, and self-compassion in your life.