Trauma and Nervous System Therapy

Compassionate therapy for trauma, anxiety, depression, burnout, and nervous system overwhelm

When you have lived through trauma, difficult relationships, or chronic stress, your nervous system can feel like it is always “on.” You may find yourself anxious, shut down, exhausted, people-pleasing, irritable, or looping in self-criticism. Trauma therapy can help you understand why this happens and gently shift your system toward safety, connection, and relief.

My approach integrates polyvagal-informed therapy, parts work, and EMDR-informed practices to help your mind and body work together in healing. You do not have to retell every detail of what happened. We will go at your pace, with care and consent, focusing on feeling steadier in the present—not just revisiting the past.

My goal is to help you feel calmer, more grounded, and more at home in yourself.

What trauma therapy can help with

Trauma and nervous system therapy can support you if you experience:

• anxiety, hypervigilance, or constant “on edge” feelings

• shutdown, depression, numbness, or difficulty feeling present

• people-pleasing, self-doubt, or loss of identity

• complex or childhood trauma

• relational trauma or emotional neglect

• panic, dissociation, or overwhelm

• chronic stress or burnout

• difficulty relaxing, sleeping, or feeling safe in your body

You do not need a specific diagnosis to benefit. If your nervous system feels tired, overloaded, or stuck, therapy can help.

How therapy supports nervous system healing

Instead of focusing only on thoughts, we also pay attention to the body’s stress response. We will:

• map how your nervous system responds to stress

• understand “fight, flight, freeze, fawn” patterns without shame

• build regulation skills that feel doable in real life

• process stored trauma safely and gently

• reconnect with a sense of choice, agency, and self-trust

Healing is not about “getting over it.” It is about not having to fight with yourself every day.

Polyvagal-informed therapy

Polyvagal theory helps us understand why your body reacts the way it does. You may notice:

• sudden shutdown

• activation or panic

• difficulty relaxing even when nothing is wrong

• feeling unsafe in safe situations

Through polyvagal-informed therapy, you will learn:

• how to recognize nervous system states

• how to support your body back into regulation

• how safety, connection, and compassion change the brain

• practical exercises you can use between sessions

This is gentle work. We move slowly, with respect for what your body has had to do to survive.

Learn More About Polyvagal Theory in Practice

EMDR-informed approaches

EMDR-informed therapy focuses on unlocking stuck trauma responses so they can be processed rather than relived.

It can help with:

• intrusive memories

• emotional triggers

• trauma that feels “unfinished”

• negative core beliefs (“I am not enough,” “It was my fault”)

EMDR-informed care does not require reliving trauma in detail. It emphasizes:

• resourcing and stabilization first

• your consent and control throughout

• working in manageable pieces

• integrating new beliefs that feel real in your body

The goal is for the past to feel less loud so you can live more fully in the present.

Learn more about EMDR for Trauma

What sessions are like

Sessions are collaborative and paced around your window of tolerance. You can expect:

• warmth, validation, and no pressure to “perform” therapy

• a mix of reflection and practical nervous system tools

• support for both insight and real-world relief

• space for parts of you that feel scared, angry, or numb

You do not need to show up “regulated” or “put together.” You can arrive exactly as you are.

Is my trauma "enough" for therapy?

Many people minimize what they went through. Trauma therapy is not only for:

• major events

• emergencies

• “obvious trauma”

It is also for:

• loneliness

• emotional neglect

• being parentified

• being criticized or controlled

• relationships that slowly eroded your sense of self

If your nervous system learned to survive instead of relax, your experience matters.

Online Trauma Therapy in Ontario & Newfoundland

I offer secure online trauma therapy for adults located in Ontario and Newfoundland. This allows you to access trauma-informed care from home, even if local options are limited!

If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, shut down, or disconnected from yourself, you do not need to manage it alone. Trauma and nervous system therapy can help you feel safer in your body and more confident in your life.

FAQ: Trauma & Nervous System Therapy

Resources: Trauma & Nervous System Therapy