Feeling Overwhelmed But Don’t Know Why?

Are you a high performer who struggles with anxiety, perfectionism, relationship conflict, or other behaviors that you can’t seem to get under control? Is it possible that a traumatic experience from your past is at the core of your symptoms? And do you wish the past had less influence over the present?

My clients often come to therapy feeling discouraged and confused about why they can’t seem to get a handle on their mental, emotional, and relational health. Whether their performance, relationships, or daily life is being affected by an inability to cope, they’re burnt out and overwhelmed—often turning to overworking, alcohol, or other distractions to keep them from facing their emotions head-on. They also frequently experience symptoms like nightmares, “spacing out,” angry outbursts, and low self-esteem, keeping them trapped in a draining, disruptive cycle.

Without initially realizing it, many people have an underlying experience—maybe an instance of bullying, betrayal, attachment injury, or another form of trauma—that is contributing to their symptoms.

Despite these events typically taking place in their childhood, they’ve learned counterproductive coping strategies and stress responses, creating problems in just about every area of their lives today. As an experienced psychologist and trauma-informed clinician, I understand the effect that unresolved trauma can have on achieving a healthy, fulfilling existence. Yet, healing is possible. In treatment for symptoms of trauma and PTSD at Psych Fitness Therapy, you can take control of your present and future by healing the past.

What Is Trauma?

Culturally speaking, we usually discuss trauma in terms of assault, violence, accidents, and disasters. However, there is a wide range of widespread human experiences that can trigger a traumatic response. Common yet less recognized traumas can include breakups, the death of a loved one, infidelity, and job loss. 

Childhood trauma is also typical among many of my clients, including those who experienced early neglect or abuse, abandonment, divorce, or witnessing high conflict between their parents. School bullying is common among high performers, motivating them to gain power and status while continuing to struggle with feelings of inadequacy and low self-worth. And secondary trauma can occur in critical professions, including First Responders, medical professionals, and therapists. 

Any experience that compromises our sense of physical or emotional safety has the potential to be traumatic. As such, all forms of abuse, manipulation, or neglect—whether physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal—can result in long-term mental health symptoms if left unaddressed.  

Marginalized Groups Are at Higher Risk Of PTSD 

I often work with people whose lives are shaped by intergenerational and systemic traumas. For instance, clients who are first-generation or come from immigrant families often have to contend with balancing intersecting cultures and identities, managing high expectations for performance, and experiencing racism and xenophobia alongside their parents. Yet, due to a pervasive mental health stigma and the fact that these clients often don’t characterize their upbringing as being “traumatic,” they’re often unaware that their anxiety, relationship conflict, and high-achieving tendencies may have roots in trauma.  

I take a culturally competent approach to trauma treatment, acknowledging the varied and painful ways that trauma can show up throughout our lives. Working together in therapy, we will trace your symptoms back to core experiences and build a toolbox for coping that will allow you to meaningfully combat the effects of trauma. 

Therapy Through Psych Fitness Treats the Cause, Not Just the Symptom 

The high-performing professionals, teens, and college students I work with often initially search for a “quick fix” to their anxiety, inadequacy, substance use, and high-stress relationships. However, through therapy—conveniently done online to accommodate busy work schedules—they are able to see that as they sort through harmful narratives and beliefs, a deeper trauma needs to be addressed.  

Using a combination of proven insight-oriented psychodynamic and solution-focused therapeutic methods, I approach trauma from all angles, guiding clients in exploring, understanding, and rewriting their stories. Digging into their issues and pulling them from the roots paves the way for long-term healing and relief.  

My Approach 

Before we get into the “weeds,” I’ll make sure you have the coping skills you need for here and now. Using solution-focused behavioral methods, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), I will teach you how to increase your window of tolerance and regulate the nervous system. With those strategies in place, we will be ready to explore the core experiences, patterns, and relationship dynamics that continue to have a negative impact on your life.  

There are many distractions and outlets that can distract you from the pain of your trauma, but therapy is the most effective way to acknowledge your pain and overcome it. As you build your emotional resources and awareness in counseling, you can move from surviving your trauma to growing from it.  

Still Not Sure If Therapy For Trauma Is Right For You?

I don’t see my experiences as being traumatic, so why am I feeling this way?

Our culture often perpetuates the narrative that trauma only applies to life-or-death situations. But trauma can be any experience threatening our sense of safety, even if our lives aren’t in danger. Underneath your symptoms, you’ve likely experienced a time when you felt defeated, rejected, or a series of events where your life felt like it was turned upside down. Without realizing it, your body can hang onto this threat response indefinitely, creating negative beliefs about yourself and the world around you. This explains why you might feel anxious, physically uncomfortable, and untrusting of others.

Fortunately, therapy is a remedy to the long-term effects of trauma. Working together, we can identify the experiences at the core of your distress so you can adjust your emotional response.

I’ve already stuffed down my experiences of childhood bullying and/or abuse— won’t discussing them just make me feel worse?

I understand that it can be painful to discuss early trauma, but therapy is designed to make you feel better, not worse. Stuffing down painful emotions and experiences only gives those uncomfortable thoughts and feelings more power, allowing them to surface unexpectedly, and keeping you from fully living life.

As a trauma-informed psychologist, I know how to guide you in gently and safely uncovering your trauma so you can be better aware of its impact on your life right now. And because our first step will be getting you resourced with helpful emotional and stress management techniques, you will have a coping toolkit to draw from any time you feel triggered.

How do I know that trauma treatment will be worth the commitment?

As both a solution-focused and psychodynamic psychologist, my approach to trauma treatment offers strategies for coping with trauma, whether it’s showing up in your mind, body, or relationships. We will use our early counseling sessions to establish goals for trauma treatment, and I will customize the process to your unique needs and experience.

Most of my clients find therapy to be extremely effective in addressing ongoing symptoms of trauma and PTSD. More often than not, they get the results they’re looking for and their quality of life improves.

There Is A Reason Behind Your Struggles

Online trauma therapy can be the key to gently untangling your mental health symptoms and healing core wounds. Find out if I’m a good match as your therapist by scheduling a free, 15-minute consultation with me today. I am available to work with clients throughout Connecticut, New York, and Florida.