Heal From Relational Trauma

starting with the relationship you have with yourself

Relationships can deeply connect us, but they can also cause significant trauma, pain and suffering.

Relational trauma can be understood as a deep emotional wound that occurs when you have a painful experience with someone you trusted to protect and take care of you.

These experiences often involve subtle, repeated, behaviors that undermine your confidence and distort your sense of reality. It can leave you questioning your own judgment and worth, and often occurs in relationships where you expect to feel safe and valued– such as a parent, caregiver or a romantic partner. Over time, this wears down your ability to trust and connect with others, leaving lasting emotional scars.

It ultimately makes you you feel that you’re unworthy of love and connection. This creates anxiety about your relationships and you may worry about being abandoned or rejected which makes it hard to get close to others. As much as you crave connection, you’ve learned that intimacy will just lead to pain and disappointment.

 

Does this sound familiar? Every interaction leaves you with a pit in your stomach as the anxiety starts:

“Are they happy with me?” “Did they have a good time?”

“Why haven't they replied to my message?” “Did I do something wrong?"

"They seemed distant today” “Maybe they don’t really care about me."

"I need to do more to keep them happy, or they might leave.”

"Why don’t they care about me as much as I care about them" .

This loops over and over until you land back at the same place as you always do…..

“Am I ever going to be enough”?

Then you’re filled with gut wrenching sadness, disappointment and resentment.

You beat yourself up for feeling this way.

There is a deep, overwhelming, discomfort with yourself and who you are – it’s the push and pull of feeling too much and not enough, all at the same time.

What if I told you it didn’t have to feel this way?

That, instead, relationships could be a source of safety, connection and fulfillment? I know, you probably wouldn't believe me because they’ve never felt this way for you. But just for a moment,  let yourself imagine this: a life where you're deeply connected with yourself and others, where trust, respect, and healthy boundaries define your relationships, and where your world is full of joy and authentic connections. 


Let’s create the space you need to:

  • Grieve your past deeply, process it, and gain clarity.

  • Understand your attachment style.

  • Heal the relationship with yourself as a foundation for building more meaningful connections with others.

  • Establish inner safety to fully experience your emotions while equipping yourself with tools for self-soothing and managing them.

  • Approach yourself with kindness and compassion, reshaping the way you view and treat yourself.

  • Embrace healthy boundaries and learn assertive communication. 

  • Stay present and mindful, navigating life with increased awareness.

  • Allow yourself to experience transformative healing.

  • Rewire your relationship expectations, developing healthier, more flexible beliefs about yourself, others, and the world around you. 

The relationship you have with yourself is the only constant in life.

Are you ready to truly meet yourself?

TRAUMA THAT OCCURS WITHIN A RELATIONSHIP MUST ALSO BE HEALED WITHIN A RELATIONSHIP

questions you may have

  • It’s normal to question if you are ready to start therapy. It is helpful if you are open-minded and curious about understanding yourself better, and feel a spark of motivation to make positive changes in your life. The rest, we will figure out together!

  • Sessions can occur weekly or biweekly depending on your needs so that we can establish a strong working relationship and build meaningful momentum. After 8-10 sessions, this is usually when symptom relief can be felt and we can revisit the frequency to find a cadence that works for your goals.

  • You might find yourself resonating with the content on this page, but still find yourself wondering if what you’ve been through is relational trauma. This is a very common experience because of how nuanced and complex this experience can be. I encourage you to trust in the small part of you that connects to this curiosity and sign up for a free consult so that we can figure it out together.

  • I believe that, when our early wounds take place in the context of relationships, it’s through relationships – specifically, a healthy, attuned, deeply caring relationship – that the most profound healing takes place. That’s why I put effort and value into building this kind of relationship with my clients. I see it as my honor to be the kind of therapist that enters into the trenches with you, to support, empower and cheer you on along your journey.

If you have a question that I haven’t answered yet, please reach out!