Frequently asked questions.

Trauma is an emotional response to a distressing or life-threatening event. It might result from a single incident—like an accident or assault—or from ongoing stress, such as childhood neglect or experiences in high-risk professions. People respond to trauma in different ways. Some recover quickly, while others experience lingering emotional or physical symptoms.

Anyone can experience trauma. It’s not limited to certain professions or life events. Trauma can occur in childhood or adulthood, in relationships, in the workplace, or in unexpected moments. What matters most is how an experience affected you—not whether someone else would see it as traumatic.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing trauma. Common symptoms include:

• Intrusive memories or nightmares

• Avoiding reminders of the event

• Feeling on edge, irritable, or easily startled

• Changes in mood, thoughts, or self-esteem

Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, and the symptoms don’t always look the same. If you’re struggling with the effects of something painful or overwhelming, therapy can help clarify what’s going on and what can be done about it.

Yes—PTSD is highly treatable, and many people see real improvement with the right approach. I specialize in therapies like Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE), which are research-supported treatments for processing trauma and reducing its impact. You don’t have to stay stuck in survival mode.

I don’t offer EMDR in my practice. While it’s a helpful option for many, I specialize in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE)—both of which are considered gold-standard treatments for PTSD by the American Psychological Association.

→ Learn more about the therapies I use here.

Therapy can bring up difficult emotions at times—especially when you’re working through painful experiences. That’s a normal part of the process, and it doesn’t mean things are getting worse. We’ll go at a pace that feels manageable and supportive, and I’ll help you build skills to navigate whatever comes up along the way.

Absolutely. While trauma may be a part of your story, it’s common to have other concerns too—like anxiety, relationship stress, or big life transitions. Therapy is a space to explore whatever feels important to you.

The first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and for me to understand more about what’s bringing you in. I’ll ask some questions about your background, current concerns, and what you hope to get out of therapy. You don’t need to prepare anything or know exactly what to say—we’ll take it one step at a time.

Reaching out is often the hardest part, so I try to keep the process simple. If you’re considering getting started, schedule a free consultation call with me to talk through your needs and see if we are a good fit. If we decide to go forward, we will schedule our first session.

Schedule a free consultation call