Mistakes and Magnification: A CPTSD Love Story
A few weeks ago, I left one job to take on a new full-time job, which didn’t work out. Simultaneously, I finished a series of graduate education courses I’d been taking. This combination of events abruptly left a gaping hole in my usually full schedule. I...
Why Trauma-Informed Care Needs Widespread Practice
I recently gave a keynote talk at the 6th Annual Medical Symposium on Human Trafficking, a combined effort by the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and ImPACT Virginia, a nonprofit that helps victims of human trafficking. The purpose of the symposium...
The Easter Season
Easter is one of the most important celebrations of the Christian faith and other faiths celebrate their own traditions and celebrations during this time too. If you are a Christian, Easter isn’t just a long weekend of special days but a season of religious...
The Courage of Finding Your Voice after Trauma
Finding the courage and strength to be heard is a huge step in the journey of healing from trauma As a trauma therapist, I am humbled and privileged to bear witness to my client’s stories in every session. In this space, I recognize the immense courage it takes...
What an Outer Appearance May Not Show
Books in elementary school… remember, or did your elementary school have a book day? Buying books that would arrive in a big box that the teacher would distribute to the purchasers/students, class. I used to buy them for the fancy covers, the sense of ownership of a...
How Does Noticing Shame Make You a Real Adult?
Even Warthogs Feel Shame One of the first things that pops into my head when I hear the word “shame” is Pumbaa from The Lion King lamenting, “Oh the shame! Thought of changin’ my name!” A lot of us who carry deep shame from childhood trauma have probably also...
Exploring Anger Within CPTSD
My name is Elizabeth and I am a survivor of trauma and sexual abuse. My younger, most impressionable years were far from anything resembling a childhood, and yet I’m still here to talk about my experiences of a fragmented life. I survived in an environment where...
Rediscovering Truth and Transcending Limiting Core Beliefs
Returning to the Source: The process of somatic healing and nervous system restoration involves a courageous return to the source—the origins of our limiting core beliefs. As we explore the sensitivities within our nervous system and sensations held within our bodies,...