Sometimes Things Happen in Childhood That Leave a Mark
Trauma-Informed Therapy for Adults in New York, New Jersey & Massachusetts
Maybe your parents weren't there for you emotionally. Maybe you felt ignored, dismissed, or like your feelings didn't matter. Maybe you grew up in a house where there was constant arguing—or one where everything looked calm on the surface, but the tension was always there.
Those early experiences shaped how you see yourself and how you show up in relationships today. They can lead to feeling "not enough," struggling with self-esteem, people-pleasing until you're exhausted, or finding it hard to feel secure with partners or friends.
Here's the good news: therapy can help you unpack those experiences, understand where the patterns come from, and start building healthier, more fulfilling connections—with others and with yourself.
How Childhood Trauma Shows Up in Adulthood
Trauma doesn't always look the way people expect. You might not have experienced obvious abuse. Sometimes it's what didn't happen—the emotional support that wasn't there, the validation you never received, the safety you didn't feel.
You might recognize yourself if you:
Grew up with emotionally unavailable or dismissive caregivers
Felt like you had to be the "good kid" or take care of others' emotions
Were made to feel like your needs or feelings were too much
Experienced constant arguing, tension, or unpredictability at home
Felt ignored, abandoned, or like you didn't matter
Had to walk on eggshells to keep the peace
Were told to "get over it" or that your emotions were wrong
And now, as an adult, you struggle with:
Relationship difficulties—feeling insecure, anxious, or unable to trust
Low self-esteem and constant self-doubt
Chronic people-pleasing—saying yes when you mean no, putting everyone else first
Difficulty expressing your needs or setting boundaries
Feeling "not enough" no matter what you accomplish
Fear of abandonment or being too much
Perfectionism and never feeling like you're doing it right
Anxiety in relationships or difficulty feeling emotionally close to others
These aren't character flaws. They're patterns you learned to survive. And they can be unlearned.
How Trauma Therapy Can Help You Heal
Trauma therapy isn't about dwelling on the past forever. It's about understanding how your early experiences shaped you, processing what wasn't processed then, and building new patterns that actually serve you.
Understand Where the Patterns Come From
We'll explore your childhood experiences—not to blame your parents or relive pain, but to make sense of why you feel and react the way you do. Understanding the "why" is the first step to change.
Process What Wasn't Processed
Emotions you weren't allowed to feel as a child don't just disappear. Therapy creates a safe space to finally acknowledge, feel, and release what's been buried.
Rebuild Trust and Connection
Healing means learning to trust yourself and others again. We'll work on building secure relationships—with partners, friends, and most importantly, with yourself.
Unlearn Survival Patterns
People-pleasing, overworking, staying silent, shutting down—these were ways you learned to survive. I'll help you gently start unlearning them so you can show up authentically.
Reconnect With Your Sense of Safety and Self-Worth
You'll learn grounding techniques to calm your body when anxiety or fear show up. You'll rebuild your sense of worth from the inside out. And you'll start to feel safe just being you.
Is Trauma Therapy Right for You?
Trauma therapy is designed for adults who experienced childhood trauma, emotional neglect, or emotionally unavailable caregivers—and are now struggling with the impact in their adult lives.
You might be a good fit if you:
✓ Grew up feeling emotionally unsupported, dismissed, or like you didn't matter
✓ Struggle with relationship difficulties or insecurity in connections
✓ Battle low self-esteem, self-doubt, or feeling "not enough"
✓ Find yourself people-pleasing, saying yes when you mean no
✓ Have difficulty expressing your needs or setting boundaries
✓ Experience anxiety in relationships or fear of abandonment
✓ Want to understand where your patterns come from and heal at the root
✓ Are ready to do the deeper work, not just manage symptoms
You don't need to have experienced "severe" trauma to benefit from trauma therapy. Emotional neglect and unavailable caregivers leave lasting impacts that are just as valid and deserve healing.
What to Expect in Trauma Therapy
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We'll talk briefly about what you're experiencing and whether we're a good fit. No pressure, no commitment—just a conversation to see if this feels right.
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We'll start by building safety and trust. I'll learn about your story, what you're struggling with now, and what you hope to change. We move at your pace—you're never pushed to share more than you're ready to.
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As therapy progresses, we'll explore your childhood experiences and how they've shaped your relationships, self-esteem, and patterns. This isn't about blaming anyone—it's about understanding yourself with compassion.
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You'll learn grounding techniques, challenge old beliefs, practice setting boundaries, and develop healthier ways of relating to yourself and others. Change happens gradually, through insight and practice.
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Over time, you'll notice shifts. You'll feel more grounded. Less anxious in relationships. More confident expressing your needs. You'll start to trust yourself—and trust that you're worthy of love and connection.
Compassionate, Experienced Trauma Therapy
I have over 20 years in social work helping people heal from trauma, manage hard family and partner relationships, and recover from emotional neglect or unavailable caregivers.
Specialty: Childhood trauma — I often treat people who grew up with emotionally unavailable parents, neglect, or instability and now face relationship problems, low self-worth, or chronic people-pleasing.
Safe, nonjudgmental space — You can bring your real, painful feelings without pressure to be “okay.”
Trauma-informed and relational — Healing happens through connection; the therapy relationship is meant to help you feel seen and valued.
Practical, evidence-based tools — I use CBT, mindfulness, and psychodynamic approaches to process the past and build skills for now.
Experience in tough settings — I’ve worked in hospital psych units, substance-use clinics, and private practice, bringing compassion and expertise.
Virtual sessions available in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
Common Questions About Trauma Therapy
Do I need to have experienced "severe" trauma to benefit from therapy?
No. Emotional neglect, dismissive caregivers, and emotionally unavailable parents leave lasting impacts that are just as real and deserve healing. You don't need to have experienced obvious abuse to benefit from trauma therapy.
Will I have to relive painful memories?
Not in a retraumatizing way. We'll process your experiences at a pace that feels safe for you. The goal is healing, not retraumatizing.
How long does trauma therapy take?
It varies by person. Some clients work with me for several months, while others benefit from longer-term therapy. Healing happens at your pace, and we'll regularly check in on progress.
What if I don't remember much from my childhood?
That's okay. We can still work with what you do remember and how you're feeling now. Trauma therapy doesn't require perfect memory—it works with your current patterns and emotions.
Can therapy really change patterns I've had my whole life?
Yes. These patterns were learned, which means they can be unlearned. It takes time and consistent work, but change is absolutely possible.
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes! All sessions are conducted online via a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. Virtual therapy is just as effective as in-person and allows you to access support from home.
Do you accept insurance?
Yes, we accept most major insurance plans for clients in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. We also offer private pay and sliding scale options for those with financial need.
You Don't Have to Carry Old Wounds Anymore
Trauma may be part of your story—but it doesn't have to define you.
You became who you are because of what you lived through, but that doesn't mean you're stuck there. If you've always felt like you have to hold everything together, please everyone, or stay quiet to keep the peace, that's not your fault. Those patterns were ways you learned to survive.
Therapy helps you start unlearning them so you can finally feel safe just being you.
You deserve to feel grounded, empowered, and free from the weight of old wounds. You deserve relationships where you feel seen and valued. You deserve to trust yourself.
Let's start there.