Therapy for Attachment Wounds and Developmental Trauma
your past experiences don’t need to rule your current relationships any longer
Life taught you that people, relationships, and the world aren’t safe.
You are still living with the weight of those lessons.
When your early relationships taught you to stay vigilant, suppress your needs, or work hard to earn love and acceptance, those patterns can follow you into adulthood. You may understand where they came from and still find yourself anxious, disconnected, overwhelmed, or struggling in relationships. I can help you to understand these patterns, and heal the underlying wounds that keep them in place.
Signs of Developmental Trauma
cyclical relationship struggles
hypervigilance
an inner critic voice in your head
perfectionism
difficulty setting boundaries
fear of intimacy
difficulty regulating emotions
unjustified or extreme anger
avoidance techniques like substance use or overworking
reactions to your partner that feel overblown
feeling disconnected from yourself
often feeling frozen or shutdown in tense moments
You can heal the wounds from childhood and have the close, connected relationships you long for.
How I Help
These may be some of the components of our work together:
tracking your common patterns of reactivity
learning how these patterns are trying to help
developing skills to access a calm, grounded energy
restoring trust with yourself
healing young, vulnerable child parts of you
introducing psychedelic assisted sessions as needed
FAQs
What is developmental trauma?
Developmental trauma refers to the cumulative impact of chronic early experiences like emotional neglect, inconsistent caregiving, or ongoing criticism, rather than a single traumatic event.
How is developmental trauma different from PTSD?
PTSD is often associated with a single traumatic event, while developmental trauma (sometimes called Complex PTSD or C-PTSD) results from prolonged relational or environmental harm, typically in childhood.
What are signs of unresolved childhood trauma in adulthood?
Common signs include chronic self-criticism, anxious or avoidant attachment patterns in relationships, emotional numbness or dysregulation, and difficulty setting boundaries.
Is talk therapy enough to heal developmental trauma?
Talk therapy alone often has limited reach with developmental trauma, since these patterns are frequently stored in the body and subconscious; approaches like IFS, somatic therapies, and psychedelic assisted therapy allows us to reach far beyond what the conscious mind can access.
Can attachment styles be changed in adulthood?
Yes. While attachment patterns form early, therapy that addresses the underlying relational wounds can support movement toward more secure attachment over time.
Is developmental trauma therapy available via telehealth?
Yes. Sessions are available via secure telehealth to adults anywhere in Vermont, as well as in-person in Montpelier.
How long are trauma therapy sessions?
I prefer to meet in 90-minute blocks, since deep trauma and nervous-system work often benefits from more time than a standard 45-minute session allows.
Can ketamine-assisted psychotherapy help with treatment-resistant trauma?
Yes. For clients who reach a plateau with talk therapy alone, KAP can be integrated to help access and process trauma that has felt too overwhelming to approach directly.
What is the connection between childhood neglect and adult relationship problems?
Early relational wounds often shape adult attachment patterns, boundary-setting, and self-worth, showing up later as recurring relationship difficulties even when the original cause isn't consciously remembered.
Do I need a specific diagnosis to start trauma therapy?
No. Many people seek trauma-informed therapy for patterns and symptoms without a formal diagnosis; a diagnosis isn't required to begin treatment.