Complex Trauma Therapy in Texas
Did you grow up never quite knowing what you’d walk into at home?
Maybe there was yelling, drinking, or a parent whose mood set the tone for everyone. Maybe things were scary or unpredictable, and you were the one holding it all together. You got through it. But now, years later, your body still acts like it’s bracing for something, even when you’re safe.
That’s what complex trauma can look like. Not one bad day, but growing up somewhere that didn’t feel safe, over and over, for years.
What is complex trauma, exactly?
Complex trauma is different from a single traumatic event, like an accident or an assault. It’s what happens when a child grows up in an environment that’s chronically unpredictable, frightening, or unsafe, over and over, for years.
It can come from living with a parent who drank, raged, or was hard to predict; from ongoing emotional or physical abuse; or from a home full of conflict. What these have in common is that they happened again and again, and you didn’t have a safe place to go with it.
When you grow up like that, your body learns to stay on alert. That made sense then. The trouble is, it doesn’t always know the danger is over.
If your experience was less about what happened and more about what was missing, you may relate more to emotional neglect. Learn about emotional neglect therapy here.
What are the signs complex trauma is still affecting you?
If you struggle with the following, this might be exactly what’s going on underneath:
You’re always on alert, scanning for what might go wrong
You startle easily, or your body reacts before your mind catches up
Certain tones of voice, looks, or situations send you right back
It’s hard to relax or rest, even when nothing is wrong
You go numb, shut down, or feel far away when things get to be too much
You have a hard time trusting people, even the ones who’ve earned it
Conflict feels dangerous, so you avoid it or try to keep everyone happy
You have trouble sleeping, or you wake up already on edge
You’re really hard on yourself, and shame shows up fast
None of this means something is wrong with you. It means your mind and body adapted to get through. What once helped you survive may now be getting in the way of the life you actually want, and that can change.
How therapy for complex trauma works
Healing from complex trauma isn’t just about talking through what happened. It’s about helping your body learn that you’re safe now. I use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) alongside talk therapy, so we can work with the parts of you that still react to old danger, not just the parts that can explain it.
Together, we’ll work to:
Understand how what you went through still shows up in your body and relationships
Feel safer in your body, not just in your head
Work through hard memories at a pace that feels manageable
Let go of old ways of coping that no longer help
Trust yourself and others again
Feel more grounded and more like yourself
We’ll go at a pace that feels safe, and I’ll be with you the whole way.
Why work with me on this specifically
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with specialized training in EMDR and years of experience helping people heal from trauma. I know how much what happened back then can still shape how you feel today, and I bring that into every session as a practical guide, not just theory.
I also bring warmth and directness to our work together. I won’t just nod along — I’ll be honest with you, ask the questions that matter, and celebrate the moments when something shifts. You deserve a therapist who is fully present with you, and that’s what I aim to be.
What becomes possible
With this work, you can begin to:
Trust your own perceptions and feelings again
Feel safe in your body, not just your mind
Set boundaries without guilt or fear
Build relationships that feel secure and mutual
Recognize your worth apart from what you produce or provide
Respond to stress without getting hijacked by old patterns
Rest without needing to earn it
Feel like yourself — maybe for the first time
Not sure where to start? Get in touch.