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Frequently Asked Questions - Trauma Therapy

What is polyvagal-informed therapy?

Polyvagal-informed therapy is based on the science of the nervous system. It helps you understand why you may:

• shut down or numb out

• freeze or feel paralyzed

• become overwhelmed or panicked

• people-please for safety

• feel “too sensitive” or “too much”
  

Polyvagal therapy focuses on cues of safety, breath, posture, connection, and body awareness to help shift the nervous system from survival mode into regulated, grounded presence. This is especially helpful when talking alone is not enough.

What is EMDR-informed therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based trauma therapy approach that helps the brain and nervous system process experiences that feel “stuck.”
Rather than retelling every detail, EMDR works by engaging the brain’s natural healing processes while you remain grounded and supported. Many clients appreciate that EMDR does not require deep analysis to create relief. EMDR supports reducing distress connected to painful memories and softening triggers and emotional overwhelm. This can decrease negative self-beliefs like “I am weak” or “It was my fault” and increase feelings of safety, confidence, and calm.

Do you offer online trauma therapy in Ontario and Newfoundland?

Yes. I provide secure online trauma therapy to adults located in Ontario and Newfoundland. Virtual therapy allows access for people who prefer privacy, have limited mobility, live rurally, or feel safer at home, which can be especially important during trauma recovery.

Can trauma therapy help with narcissistic abuse or emotional neglect?

Yes. Trauma from narcissistic abuse, gaslighting, and emotional manipulation often does not look like “traditional trauma,” yet it can deeply affect self-worth and trust.
Therapy can help you untangle guilt, self-doubt, and confusion. This helps rebuild a sense of self and strengthen boundaries. Trauma therapy helps you heal from chronic fawning or over-functioning and reconnect with your needs and voice. You are not dramatic, weak, or oversensitive, your nervous system adapted to survive.

Is there something "wrong" with me because I still feel affected by the past?

No. Trauma lives in the nervous system, not in willpower. Your responses, such as anxiety, numbness, shutdown, reactivity, caretaking, were ways your body learned to protect you. Therapy helps you update the system so it realizes you are safer now. There is nothing broken in you, there is something overloaded that deserves care.

What approaches do you use in trauma therapy?

I integrate a variety of evidence-backed approaches to support healing, including polyvagal-informed work, principles from EMDR, parts work, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness and self-compassion, and trauma-informed narrative therapy. Therapy with me is collaborative; we work together every step of the way.

What is trauma therapy?

Trauma therapy supports people who have experienced overwhelming or painful events, whether they were single incidents (accidents, medical events, loss) or chronic experiences (neglect, emotional abuse, narcissistic abuse, childhood trauma, relational trauma). Therapy helps your nervous system feel safer, process memories in a gentler way, and reduce symptoms like anxiety, shutdown, nightmares, emotional flooding, and self-blame. The goal is not to erase the past, but to help you feel more regulated, connected, and present in your life again.

How do I know if trauma therapy might help me?

People often seek trauma therapy when they notice:

• feeling “on edge” or easily startled

• emotional numbness or shutdown

• people-pleasing or over-functioning to stay safe

• difficulty trusting or relaxing with others

• intrusive thoughts or recurring memories

• shame, self-criticism, or feeling “broken”

• chronic stress or burnout that will not lift

• patterns of unhealthy relationships

If you recognize yourself in any of these, you do not have to go through it alone. Trauma therapy can help your body and mind feel steadier and safer.

What happens in trauma therapy sessions?

Sessions move at your pace. We do not rush into painful memories or force retelling. Instead, we focus on:

• building emotional and nervous-system safety

• learning grounding and regulation tools

• gently processing stored experiences

• strengthening self-compassion and boundaries

• reconnecting with values, identity, and meaning

You are in control of the process, you can pause, slow down, or redirect at any time.

How does EMDR-informed therapy actually work?

EMDR uses forms of bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements or alternating taps) while we focus on small pieces of memory or body sensation at a time. This helps the brain move experiences from “raw survival memory” into “processed story”. This helps to reduce the emotional charge of triggers and integrate new, more compassionate beliefs. You remain fully conscious and in control the entire time. You do not relive trauma, you process it with support.

Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?

No. You never need to describe anything you do not want to. Many people heal without recounting events. We can work with nervous system responses, emotions and beliefs, current triggers, and body sensations. Your story belongs to you. Therapy is about relief, not exposure.

How long does trauma therapy take?

Healing does not follow a timeline. Some people feel noticeable relief within weeks, while others prefer longer-term work focused on deeper integration, identity, and relationships. We will decide together what feels right for your goals and nervous system.