Acute and Complex Trauma Counseling

After something frightening, painful, or overwhelming, your mind and body may stay on alert even after the danger has passed. You may feel jumpy, disconnected, irritable, numb, have trouble sleeping, replay what happened, or find yourself avoiding reminders of the experience.

When these reactions happen soon after a traumatic event, they may be part of acute stress. If they continue and begin interfering with daily life, they may develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

These responses are not signs of weakness. They are ways the nervous system tries to protect you after something has felt unsafe or overwhelming.

In therapy, we can gently work to understand what your system is still holding and help you feel safer in the present. I use trauma-informed approaches, including EMDR, to help clients process traumatic experiences in a way that is paced, collaborative, and respectful of their capacity.

You do not have to force yourself to “move on” from something your mind and body are still trying to make sense of. Healing can begin by creating enough safety to approach what happened without having to face it alone.

If you see yourself in any of this, I’d be glad to hear from you. You do not need to have the right words or know exactly where to begin. We can start with what feels most present for you and see together whether I’m the right person to support you in this work.

This information is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health crisis, call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call/text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.