Online Trauma Therapy in Massachusetts and Vermont

What Is Trauma? Beyond the Stereotypes

Trauma Is More Than a Single Event

Many think of trauma as a single event. But trauma can also come from ongoing stress, medical issues, emotional neglect, unsafe relationships, or having your needs dismissed over time. There doesn’t need to be one dramatic event for your pain to be real.

You might be surprised to learn that things like anxiety, feeling numb, always being on edge, or being really hard on yourself are actually common responses to trauma. If you notice these patterns in yourself, you are not alone—and you are not broken.

Common Trauma Responses

Trauma doesn’t look the same for everyone. Here are some ways it might show up in your life:

Body responses

• Chronic muscle tension and/or pain

• Sleep problems and/or nightmares

• Digestive issues

• fatigue

Emotional responses

• Shame, guilt, and/or persistent self-blame

• Anger and/or irritability

• Feeling emotionally flat and/or disconnected

Behavioral responses

• Overworking

• Difficulty slowing down

• Over-caretaking or people-pleasing

• Withdrawing

• Avoiding

• Shutting down

Who I Help

I help adults who have been through all kinds of hard things—whether it was one overwhelming event or years of stress, tough relationships, medical issues, or growing up in an environment that didn’t feel safe. You might not even call it trauma, but you can still feel its impact in your body, your emotions, and your relationships.

Maybe you’ve always coped by staying busy, taking care of everyone else, or holding yourself to high standards. But now, those old ways just aren’t working anymore. On the outside, things might look fine, but inside, you feel anxious, worn out, or shut down.

Trauma can show up as:

• A relentless inner critic or fear of making mistakes

• Difficulty resting, relaxing, or feeling safe

• Overworking, people-pleasing, or feeling responsible for others’ emotions

• Feeling disconnected from yourself or others despite doing “well.”

• Strong emotional or physical reactions that don’t seem to match the present moment

I also work with people who have lived with long-term or complex trauma—like ongoing stress, emotional neglect, unpredictable or unsafe relationships, chronic illness, or medical experiences that felt out of your control. These experiences can leave a lasting mark, even years later.

You may notice:

• Difficulty trusting or relying on others

• Shame or self-blame that feels hard to name

• Feeling either emotionally overwhelmed or emotionally numb

• A sense that you must stay in control to feel safe

If you are supporting a loved one who has been through trauma, you might feel your own anger, grief, helplessness, or exhaustion. You don’t have to carry it all by yourself. In our work together, you can process your own feelings, understand trauma responses, and learn how to support your loved one without losing yourself in the process.

How I Work With Trauma

Safety, trust, and understanding guide my work as a therapist. In our first sessions, my priority is making sure you feel respected and heard. We move at your pace with no pressure. Therapy is always shaped by your needs and goals.

For example, one trauma-informed treatment approach is EMDR, which includes clear phases to guide your therapy: establishing safety and stability, processing traumatic experiences, and then integrating progress into your daily life. What follows are the main steps of this process.

Stabilization and Safety

At the beginning, we’ll spend time getting to know your story and building tools to help you feel steadier and safer. We’ll make a plan together for what to do if things ever feel too much, including grounding strategies and people you can turn to for support.

Modalities I Use

EMDR Therapy
EMDR helps your brain put painful memories in the past, so they stop taking over your present. It can help with all kinds of trauma, whether it’s one event or many. I have advanced training in EMDR and use it with care and intention.

Somatic and Body-Based Approaches
Somatic therapy is about helping you feel safer and more at home in your body. We use simple tools like noticing sensations, grounding, and gentle movement to help your nervous system settle.

Trauma-Informed CBT
Together, we look at how trauma has shaped the way you see yourself and the world. As you heal, we gently work to shift those old beliefs so you can feel safer and more confident.

Online Trauma Therapy in Massachusetts & Vermont

I offer online trauma therapy for adults in Massachusetts and Vermont. Meeting online can be a powerful way to get support, especially when we plan for privacy and comfort. I’ll help you figure out what works best for you—whether that’s meeting from home, a private space, or even your car. We’ll also talk about ways to stay grounded if strong emotions come up.

We’ll talk through how online therapy fits your needs and revisit this as your therapy evolves.

How We Measure Progress and Protect Your Pace

You Set the Pace
You never have to share more than you want to. I always check in with you about how things are feeling, and we only go as deep as you feel ready for.

Tracking Change Over Time
Progress can look like sleeping better, having fewer panic moments, being less hard on yourself, or feeling more present in your body. As therapy continues, clients often experience increased resilience, improved self-understanding, and more satisfying relationships. We’ll check in together about your goals and what feels different for you—not just about symptoms.

How Long Does Trauma Therapy Take?
Healing doesn’t have a timeline. Many people start to notice changes in the first few months, and deeper healing can keep unfolding as we go.

Who This Approach Is Right For

You’re thoughtful and self-aware, but feel stuck or burned by previous therapy.
You value collaboration and are sensitive to power dynamics.
You want depth without being pushed beyond your system's limits.

We May Not Be the Best Fit If…
You need immediate, higher-level support for active safety concerns.
You’re looking for very brief, surface-level work.

If we’re not the right fit, I’ll help connect you with appropriate resources.

Getting Started

• Book your free 15-minute consultation call now to get started on your healing journey.

• During your consultation, share your goals and concerns so we can determine the best way to support you.

• Take the first step toward support—reach out today, and we'll move forward together, at your pace.

Understanding Trauma and How It Affects You.