If something happened, or kept happening, and you haven't felt quite right since, this page is for you.
Trauma changes the way your nervous system works. It can leave you stuck in a state of hypervigilance, always scanning for danger. It can show up as flashbacks, nightmares, or a sense of numbness that makes it hard to feel anything at all. You might avoid certain places, people, or conversations. You might struggle to trust others, or feel unsafe in your own body. These aren't signs that something is wrong with you. They're signs that your system is still trying to protect you from something that already happened.
And trauma isn't only about the events most people think of, like accidents, violence, or combat. Chronic stress, emotional neglect, growing up in an unpredictable household, and difficult relationships can all leave deep marks on your nervous system. If your experiences have shaped the way you move through the world in ways that feel limiting or painful, that matters, and it's worth exploring.
How I Work with Trauma
I use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) as a primary tool for trauma therapy. EMDR is one of the most well-researched and effective treatments for PTSD and trauma. In plain terms, it works by helping your brain reprocess memories that got "stuck." During a traumatic experience, your brain can't fully process what's happening, so the memory gets stored in a way that keeps it feeling present and alive. EMDR uses guided eye movements or bilateral tapping to help your brain move those memories into the past, where they belong. You don't have to relive the experience in detail. You don't have to tell me everything that happened. The process meets you where you are.
I also work somatically, which means I pay close attention to what's happening in your body during our sessions. Trauma is held in the body, not just the mind. You might notice tension, a racing heart, shallow breathing, or a heaviness you can't quite name. Somatic work helps you build awareness of these patterns and gently release what's been stored there. Over time, your body learns that it's safe to let go.
Mindfulness practices are woven throughout this work as well. Trauma often pulls you into the past or keeps you bracing for the future. Mindfulness helps you rebuild a sense of safety in the present moment, one breath at a time.
Safety and Pacing Come First
The most important thing I want you to know is this: you set the pace. We won't go anywhere you're not ready to go. Healing from trauma isn't about pushing through pain or forcing yourself to confront things before you're ready. It's about building enough safety and stability that your system can begin to process what it's been holding. We start with grounding, resourcing, and establishing trust. The deeper work happens only when you feel ready.
How Healing Unfolds
Sessions are 50 minutes, and I typically recommend weekly sessions, especially in the beginning. Consistency helps your nervous system build the safety and trust that trauma work depends on. Some people begin to notice shifts within the first few weeks, like sleeping a little better, feeling less reactive, or noticing moments of calm they haven't felt in a long time. Deeper healing takes time, and we'll move at whatever pace feels right for you.
If you're wondering whether what you've been through "counts" as trauma, or whether therapy could help, I'd encourage you to reach out. You don't need a diagnosis to start. You just need to be ready to take the first step.
Approaches I Use for Trauma
EMDR
Traumatic memories get stored differently than ordinary memories. They can feel like they’re still happening, keeping you stuck in fear, vigilance, or shutdown. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help your brain move those memories into the past, where they belong, without requiring you to relive them in detail.
Somatic Psychology
Trauma is held in the body, not just the mind. You might notice it as chronic tension, a startle response, numbness, or difficulty feeling safe in your own skin. Somatic work helps you build awareness of these patterns and gently release what your nervous system has been holding since the original experience.
Mindfulness
Trauma tends to pull you into the past or keep you bracing for the future. Mindfulness helps rebuild a sense of safety in the present moment, teaching your nervous system that right now, in this moment, you are okay. This becomes the foundation everything else is built on.
Questions About Trauma Therapy
What is trauma therapy?
Trauma therapy is a specialized form of therapy that helps you process and heal from overwhelming experiences. Rather than just talking about what happened, trauma therapy works with your nervous system and body to release the survival responses that got stuck. The goal isn't to forget what happened, but to help those experiences stop running your life.
Do I need to talk about what happened to me?
No. You never have to share more than you're comfortable with. Some approaches, like EMDR and somatic work, can help you process traumatic memories without needing to describe them in detail. You set the pace, and we won't go anywhere you're not ready to go.
What is EMDR and is it effective for trauma?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps your brain reprocess traumatic memories. During EMDR, you follow guided eye movements or tapping while briefly focusing on a difficult memory. This helps your brain move the memory from a place where it feels like it's still happening to a place where it feels like something that happened in the past. Research consistently shows EMDR is one of the most effective treatments for PTSD and trauma.
What is the difference between trauma and PTSD?
Trauma refers to the psychological impact of overwhelming experiences. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a specific clinical diagnosis that develops when trauma symptoms persist and significantly interfere with daily life. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, but many people carry unresolved trauma that affects their wellbeing, relationships, and sense of self. Therapy can help with both.
How to Get Started
You set the pace. Here’s how the process works.
Schedule a Free Call
Book a free 15-minute phone consultation. We’ll talk about what you’re going through and whether working together feels right. No obligation.
First Session
We start with grounding and building trust, not diving into the hardest material. You set the pace. We won’t go anywhere you’re not ready to go.
Ongoing Work
Consistent weekly sessions help your nervous system build the safety that trauma work depends on. We move at whatever pace feels right for you.
What Clients Say
Aaron changed my life. He always had a way of calming me down. A master at breaking things down, he is truly the best of the best.
Peter F. · Portland, OR
Within 90 seconds of meeting Aaron, I knew there was an impalpable connection. He has this incredible way of making me answer my own questions. He really custom tailors each session in a natural way.
Kylie R. · Portland, OR