Trauma Therapy in Washington, D.C., Virginia & Maryland

Trauma therapy is a type of psychotherapy designed specifically to help people process and heal from distressing events that continue to affect daily life. Unlike general talk therapy, which focuses on understanding thoughts and feelings in the present, trauma therapy uses specialized methods like EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy that work directly with how traumatic memories are stored in the brain and body. These approaches help people move through trauma at a pace that feels manageable, rather than re-living it in ways that can feel overwhelming.

We work with a wide range of trauma experiences, including childhood trauma, complex PTSD (C-PTSD), single-incident trauma such as accidents, medical events, or assault, relational trauma, and developmental trauma that shaped early patterns of thinking or relating. We also work with clients navigating anxiety, burnout, ADHD, and life transitions that have roots in earlier experiences. If you're unsure whether what you've experienced qualifies as "trauma," that uncertainty itself is worth exploring. Many clients find that experiences they minimized have had a lasting impact.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that uses bilateral stimulation, typically guided eye movements or gentle tapping, while a client briefly focuses on a distressing memory. This process helps the brain reprocess stored traumatic memories so they lose their emotional charge. EMDR is one of the most extensively researched trauma treatments available and is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA) for PTSD. Our therapists use it as a primary modality alongside IFS and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.

IFS (Internal Family Systems) is based on the idea that we all have different "parts" inside us, like the perfectionist, the inner critic, or the anxious part, that influence how we think, feel, and act. These parts often mean well but can leave us feeling stuck or overwhelmed. IFS helps you get to know these parts, understand their roles, and heal the deeper wounds they might be protecting. The goal is more self-compassion, emotional balance, and a stronger connection to your authentic self.

The length of therapy depends on your needs and goals. Some people make progress quickly, while others choose longer-term work for deeper, lasting change. Almost every client we've worked with has felt some relief after the first session, whether from feeling truly heard or sensing that change is on the way. We'll regularly check in to make sure our approach is working for you. If you're looking for faster progress, we offer therapy intensives that dive deep and help you break through stuck patterns more quickly.

Trauma therapy can be helpful if you're struggling with things like anxiety, flashbacks, emotional numbness, or a sense of being "off" without knowing why. If you're finding it hard to move past certain memories or if past experiences are affecting your daily life, trauma therapy can help you start processing and healing. Even if you're not sure if you have trauma or if therapy is the right step, we can talk about it together and decide what's best for you.

Yes! We work with clients for whom ADHD and trauma intersect, which is more common than many people realize. Trauma can produce symptoms that closely resemble ADHD, including difficulty concentrating, emotional dysregulation, and impulsivity. Our therapists are experienced in working with this overlap using approaches like IFS and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy that address both nervous system regulation and the relational patterns that often develop alongside ADHD.

Therapy Intensives are extended therapy sessions, typically 3 to 6 hours in a single day or spread across consecutive days, designed to create deeper, faster progress than a standard weekly session allows. They're particularly well-suited for clients who have already done some therapeutic work and want to move through a specific trauma or stuck pattern more efficiently, clients with limited availability for weekly appointments, or clients traveling from outside the DC area. Visit our therapy intensives page to learn more.

Yes! We offer virtual therapy sessions for clients located in Virginia and Maryland, as well as in-person sessions at our Washington, DC office near Dupont Circle. Telehealth sessions use the same evidence-based approaches as in-person therapy, including EMDR and IFS, and many clients find it just as effective.

Getting started is simple. Reach out to us by email or call through our contact page to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. This is a chance for you and your therapist to connect, talk about what you're looking for, and see if we're a good fit. If you decide to move forward, your first session can be either in person at our Dupont Circle office or virtual through a secure platform. We'll get started on your goals from there!