Trauma-informed therapy prioritizes safety, choice, and collaboration, recognizing how past experiences can shape emotional and nervous-system responses. This approach supports healing by honoring your lived experiences while building resilience, regulation, and a sense of control.

Trauma therapy is a broad term for therapeutic approaches that help people process overwhelming or threatening experiences that exceeded their ability to cope at the time. These experiences might include abuse, neglect, accidents, medical trauma, violence, loss, or chronic emotional stress.

The goal isn’t to “erase” memories, but to:

• Reduce the emotional and physical charge attached to them

• Restore a sense of safety, agency, and connection

• Help the nervous system move out of survival mode

• Integrate the experience into a coherent life story rather than reliving it

Effective trauma therapy is paced, relational, and safety-focused. Stabilization and trust come before deep processing.

Common symptoms of trauma

Trauma can show up in many ways, often long after the original events.

Emotional & psychological

• Anxiety, panic, or chronic fear

• Shame, guilt, or harsh self-criticism

• Emotional numbness or shutdown

• Mood swings or irritability

• Feeling “too much” or “not enough”

Cognitive

• Intrusive memories or flashbacks

• Difficulty concentrating or remembering

• Negative beliefs about self (“I’m unsafe,” “I’m broken”)

• Hypervigilance or constant scanning for threat

Physical & nervous system

• Sleep disturbances

• Tension, pain, or unexplained physical symptoms

• Startle responses

• Chronic exhaustion

Relational

• Difficulty trusting others

• Fear of closeness or abandonment

• People-pleasing or withdrawal

• Re-enacting familiar but painful relational patterns

Trauma lives in the nervous system, the body, and the meaning we make of our experiences. Healing happens through safety, compassion, and integration.

My work is grounded in an integrative, trauma-informed approach that recognizes healing as both a relational and nervous-system process. I draw from Compassion-Focused Therapy to help clients cultivate safety, self-kindness, and relief from shame; EMDR to support the processing of traumatic memories; and somatic approaches to help clients reconnect with their bodies and develop greater regulation and resilience. Together, these approaches allow therapy to move at a pace that feels safe, embodied, and deeply respectful of each person’s lived experience.

• Compassion-Focused Therapy → builds safety, reduces shame, and strengthens the inner relational system

• EMDR → helps process and integrate traumatic memories so they lose their emotional charge

• Somatic approaches → reconnect clients to their bodies and nervous systems, supporting regulation and agency

Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) as a way forward:

CFT addresses trauma through the lens of shame, threat, and self-criticism.

• Helps clients understand that many trauma responses are biologically learned survival strategies, not personal failures

• Strengthens the soothing and affiliative system of the nervous system

• Cultivates self-compassion, warmth, and inner safety

• Reduces shame and self-blame that often accompany trauma

CFT is especially helpful for people who feel stuck in harsh self-judgment or who struggle to feel deserving of care.

Rather than asking you to simply talk through painful experiences, I’ll guide you through exercises that help your nervous system shift out of survival mode. I prioritize the following:

• Safety and stabilization first

• Respect for the nervous system

• Non-pathologizing, compassionate understanding

• Emphasis on integration rather than avoidance

Body image–focused therapy recognizes how body image concerns can impact self-esteem, identity, and overall well-being. This work supports developing a more compassionate relationship with the body, while gently addressing internalized beliefs, shame, and societal pressures. The goal is to help you understand and reclaim your personal body image story, your values, and how you want to live in and care for your body.

Addressing other appearance related concerns such as body dysmorphia hold some overlapping features of body image disturbance though is different in many ways. Unlike body image distress, body dysmorphia occurs when an individual is struggling with an over-emphasis on a specific body part as opposed to someone who is unhappy with his or her body size or shape. Body image refers to how people see themselves whereas individuals with BDD fixate on a body part repeatedly to the point where it interferes with their social, emotional, educational, and occupational welfare.

My approach includes addressing shame through use of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

EMDR for Body Shame & Appearance-Focused Concerns

Body shame and appearance-related distress often develop from early experiences of being judged, criticized, compared, or made to feel unsafe in one’s body. These experiences can become “stuck” in the nervous system, shaping how you see yourself long after the original moments have passed.

The lasting impacts of trauma-induced body shame can lead to various ways of coping:

Eating Disorders:Conditions like anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder:Body dysmorphia is much more than having low self-esteem or poor body image; it is a debilitating disorder that is characterized by being overly preoccupied with imagined flaws or true minor flaws in their appearance to the extent that individuals spend hours each day obsessively thinking about this flaw. To manage anxiety, shame, and fear of negative evaluation regarding their appearance, safety strategies are used. These may include:

• Mirror Checking and Avoidance

• Excessive Grooming

• Comparing Appearance

• pursuing cosmetic or dental procedures to fix the flaw

• Camouflaging

• Skin-picking

• Avoidance Behaviours

Dissociation and disconnection: Feeling out of the body or numbness a a defense against painful sensations.

Internalization of abuse:

Victims may blame themselves for the abuse, leading to internalized shame. 

EMDR is a powerful therapy in addressing body shame. Negative emotions and beliefs tied to body shame and appearance related concerns can be replaced with more adaptive, self-compassionate ones.

EMDR is a trauma-informed therapy that helps the brain and body process these experiences at their root. Rather than focusing only on changing thoughts or behaviors, EMDR works directly with the memories, emotions, and body sensations that maintain shame and self-criticism.

EMDR can be especially helpful for concerns such as:

• Chronic body shame or self-disgust

• Preoccupation with perceived physical “flaws”

• Appearance-based anxiety or avoidance

• Distress related to weight, shape, skin, or facial features

• Internalized messages from bullying, teasing, medical trauma, or cultural pressure

Through EMDR, clients can safely reprocess experiences that taught them their body was “wrong,” “unsafe,” or “unacceptable.” As these memories are integrated, many people notice a decrease in emotional reactivity, a softening of harsh self-judgments, and an increased sense of neutrality or compassion toward their body.

EMDR does not require reliving events in detail or forcing positive body image. Instead, it supports a more grounded, regulated relationship with your body — one that feels less driven by shame and more rooted in choice, safety, and self-trust.

Because body shame lives in the nervous system, EMDR is often combined with gentle awareness of body sensations, helping clients feel more present, regulated, and connected to themselves during the healing process.

Positive embodiment perspectives in body image therapy focus on helping individuals experience their bodies as sources of safety, agency, and connection rather than objects to be judged. The emphasis is on attuning to internal sensations, emotions, and needs; cultivating respect and care for the body’s functions; and supporting a compassionate, non-objectifying relationship with the body. Through practices that enhance bodily awareness, self-trust, and choice, clients are encouraged to feel “at home” in their bodies and to engage with the world from a place of presence and embodied well-being.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured psychotherapy designed to alleviate distress from traumatic memories. EMDR is a powerful, evidence-based therapy that helps you process and heal from trauma. Using guided eye movements allows your brain to reprocess distressing memories, reducing emotional pain and empowering you to reclaim control of your life with less emotional burden.

EMDR tends to be a good fit if you:

• Have trauma (single-event like an accident, or complex/ongoing experiences such as relational trauma during childhood).

• Get strong emotional or physical reactions that feel “stuck” (flashbacks, panic, shame, freezing).

• Know logically that “it’s over / I’m safe,” but your body doesn’t agree.

• Feel like talk therapy helps you understand things, but doesn’t fully change how you feel.

• Prefer something less focused on detailed storytelling every session.

It can help with:

• PTSD / complex PTSD

• Childhood emotional neglect or abuse

• Anxiety and panic tied to past experiences

• Some forms of depression (especially trauma-linked)

• Performance blocks, intense shame, or negative core beliefs (“I’m not safe,” “I’m not enough”)

Reasons why EMDR is effective online:

1. The core mechanism doesn’t require physical presence

EMDR’s effectiveness comes from bilateral stimulation (left–right eye movements, tapping, or sounds), not from being in the same room. Online, therapists can:

• Use onscreen visual trackers

• Guide alternating taps (self-tapping or using objects)

• Use alternating audio tones through headphones

Your brain still gets the left–right stimulation it needs to process memories.

2. The brain processes trauma the same way on a screen

Trauma processing happens internally, in the brain and nervous system. Whether the therapist is physically present or on video, the memory networks, emotions, and body sensations activate and reprocess in the same way.

3. Being at home can increase safety and regulation

Many clients actually feel more relaxed and in control at home:

• Familiar environment

• Easier access to grounding tools (blankets, pets, tea, music)

• Less anxiety than traveling to an office

Feeling safe helps the nervous system stay within the “window of tolerance,” which makes EMDR more effective.

4. Strong therapeutic alliance still forms online

Research shows that therapeutic connection translates well via video. Eye contact, tone, pacing, and attunement still happen. EMDR relies heavily on the therapist’s guidance and responsiveness—not physical proximity.

5. Flexibility and consistency improve outcomes

Online EMDR often leads to:

• Fewer missed sessions

• Easier scheduling

• Better continuity of care

Consistency matters a lot in trauma treatment.

6. Clients maintain a sense of control

Online EMDR can feel less overwhelming:

• You control your space

• You can pause more easily

• You’re not “stuck” in an office after intense processing

That sense of autonomy is especially important for trauma survivors.

Support is offered for individuals experiencing chronic stress and anxiety, with a focus on building sustainable tools for regulation, resilience, and emotional balance. Sessions combine practical strategies with attention to the underlying patterns that keep anxiety stuck.

Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that is particularly effective for managing anxiety and stress because it targets the underlying emotional regulation systems that drive threat and self-criticism. Many people experiencing anxiety operate in a heightened “threat mode,” characterized by fear, worry, rumination, and harsh self-judgment. CFT helps individuals understand how these responses are shaped by how their brains have evolved, past experiences, and the brain’s natural survival mechanisms—reducing shame and self-blame.

A core component of CFT is the development of self-compassion, which activates the brain’s soothing and affiliative system. Through practices such as compassionate imagery, mindfulness, and compassionate self-talk, clients learn to respond to distress with warmth, understanding, and reassurance rather than criticism or avoidance. This shift helps calm the nervous system, lowering physiological stress responses and increasing emotional safety.

By strengthening compassion for oneself and others, CFT improves emotional regulation, resilience, and tolerance of difficult feelings. For anxiety and stress, this means individuals become better able to face challenges without becoming overwhelmed, reduce chronic worry and self-criticism, and cultivate a more balanced and supportive inner dialogue. Over time, this compassionate stance promotes greater psychological flexibility, well-being, and a more sustainable sense of calm.