Trauma happens when something distressing, overwhelming, or frightening shakes your sense of safety. These events may include abuse, neglect, violence, loss, combat, displacement, exposure to something distressing, and more. Trauma impacts how your body and brain respond to the world, which can leave you feeling on edge, disconnected, or stuck in painful patterns. You might also experience flashbacks, intense anxiety, difficulty in trusting others, or feeling emotionally numb, to such an extent that it disrupts your daily life and general functioning. Living with trauma can feel exhausting and isolating, but it’s important to know you’re not alone.

Healing from trauma is a journey, not a quick fix. Though it can feel permanent, trauma’s impact can soften over time. It IS possible to reconnect with your body, regulate overwhelming emotions, and reclaim your sense of safety and control, to live in a way that is removed from the impacts of trauma. You have survived so much already and with care and patience, you can find a path toward greater peace, resilience, and enthusiasm for the future.

Sometimes, people turn to alcohol, drugs, or other substances as a coping mechanism. With continued use, disconnection from self and others, physical or emotional issues, or difficulties in functioning may occur. Addiction restructures how our brains work, particularly through cravings, withdrawal, and impulsive patterns, to keep us feeling trapped in cycles. Change is possible, and therapy may help you honor your motivations to quit, cope in ways more conducive to your needs and goals, and live a life not dominated by substances.

Grief can show up in so many ways: sadness, anger, numbness, guilt, even moments of relief or confusion. Whether you've lost a loved one, a relationship, a sense of identity, or something else meaningful, grief can shake your whole world. It’s not something to get over, but it is something we learn to carry in our own time and in our own way. Your grief process is natural and authentic, and you don’t have to navigate them alone. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting, it means finding a way to live with loss while staying connected to what matters most.

Navigating life as a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community can come with its own unique challenges. Many people experience conflicts around their gender identity or sexual orientation, like questions about who they are, fears about acceptance, feelings of guilt or shame, or pressure to fit into societal expectations. Additionally, discrimination, rejection, and misunderstanding from family, friends, or society can form painful wounds and impacts to well-being. It’s important to recognize that your identity is valid, your experiences are real, and it is okay to be who you want to be. Therapy can be a safe, affirming space to work through conflicts, explore complex feelings, and build up confidence and comfort in your own skin.

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, tension, or unease, even when nothing may seem wrong on the outside. Some symptoms include panic, racing thoughts, trouble with sleeping, poor focus or concentration, tension, or restlessness. It may be tied to specific fears, or social situations, or maybe it’s just always there. Anxiety can be helpful in responding to stress or danger, but too much can lead to adverse mental and physical effects. Reducing anxiety involves reteaching your body and mind calmness, safety, and how to respond differently moving forward.

Depression can feel like a heavy weight that makes it hard to find joy, motivation, or energy in your world. It might show up as poor mood, loss of interest in things you used to care about, fatigue, changes in sleep or appetite, feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or suicidal thinking. Our usual responsibilities and commitments may feel overwhelming, and it’s common to feel stuck in our sadness. Though it can feel all-consuming, depression can lift through patience, compassion, grace, and reconnecting with a sense of hope.

Bipolar disorders involve shifts in mood that can feel intense and unpredictable. A person may experience very high energy or increased risky behaviors in one episode, then deep sadness or loss of pleasure in another episode. Cycling between these episodes can happen within days for some, and for others it may be weeks or even months. This can make it hard for us to feel in control, but it is still possible to find a balance within ourselves and develop new ways of living that make these shifts feel more manageable.

Whether with a partner, family member, or friend, relationship conflicts can bring up intense feelings and distress, and these struggles can feel confusing and draining. Sometimes past wounds, misunderstandings, or experiences of abuse make it hard to connect or communicate clearly. You may find yourself unsure of how to move forward or find peace within your relationships, but it is still possible to heal old wounds, improve communication, and build healthier connections that feel safer and more fulfilling.

Sex and intimacy are important parts of many people’s lives, but they can also bring up feelings of vulnerability, confusion, or pain. Past trauma or relationship challenges may affect your ability to feel safe, connected, or fully present in intimate moments. These difficulties are common and nothing to be ashamed of, and working to resolve them can be such an empowering experience. With time and support, it’s possible to rebuild trust in yourself and others, and experience intimacy in new, protective, and meaningful ways.

Struggles with self-esteem and identity can make you question your worth or who you really are. Do you ever feel unsure, not good enough, or disconnected from your true self? These feelings can come from past experiences, trauma, or ongoing challenges, and they can impact how you relate to yourself and others. It’s normal to carry harsh inner critics or feel like you have to hide parts of yourself to be accepted. But you can learn to embrace your true self and build a sense of worth that feels authentic and steadfast.

Personality disorders can show up as patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating to others that feel intense, confusing, or hard to manage. These ways of being often develop as adaptations and survival mechanisms to early trauma, neglect, or disruptions in childhood. While they can create challenges in relationships and daily life, they reflect your strength and resiliency in the face of hardship at the same time. Therapy may help to guide these adaptations to be more flexible, more fulfilling, and aligned with your current circumstances.

Stress is a natural response to life’s challenges, but our minds and bodies can only take so much of it, especially when it feels constant or overwhelming. Everyone experiences stress differently: sometimes it shows up as tension, irritability, or trouble concentrating. Learning healthy coping skills, both to keep you regulated in stressful periods and decompress outside of them, can help you regulate stress more effectively and make it easier to navigate difficult moments with a regained sense of control.