Finding Healing After Trauma Leaves Its Mark On Your Life

Trauma has a way of reshaping how you see yourself and the world. For many of my clients, it shows up as a constant sense of being on edge, scanning for danger, or bracing for the next bad thing. For others, it feels like being cut off from themselves, moving through life in a fog, and feeling unable to connect with people they care about. Sometimes it’s anger that comes out fast and hot, or shame that tells you, you should have handled things differently.

These thoughts and feelings are your body’s natural response telling you that you have been through a lot. In trauma therapy, I work with clients to slow things down, restore a sense of safety in your body and mind, and begin to trust yourself again. Whether your trauma comes from one overwhelming event or a series of painful experiences over time, healing is possible when you don’t have to carry it alone.

How Trauma Affects Daily Life

One of the most difficult parts of living with trauma is how it seeps into the present moment. Even when the event itself is long past, its effects can surface in ways that feel unpredictable. Some people describe being pulled back into distressing memories or flashbacks that make it seem as though the trauma is happening all over again. Others notice their body staying on high alert feeling tense, restless, or scanning for danger, even in safe situations.

Trauma can also affect your mood and relationships. Clients often tell me about sudden waves of irritability, exhaustion, or despair that seem to come out of nowhere. Some withdraw and isolate, while others find themselves stuck in cycles of conflict or mistrust with the people closest to them. For many, trauma shows up in the body too with headaches, tightness in the chest, a racing heartbeat, or stomach issues that have no clear medical cause. These are the reactions of a nervous system stuck in fight or flight.

In therapy, we work together to understand your learned patterns, ease their intensity, and help you reclaim a greater sense of steadiness in your daily life. To understand why these patterns develop, it helps to look at the kinds of experiences that can give rise to trauma in the first place.

Types Of Trauma

Some of the experiences I hear most often include:

  • Abuse, whether psychological or physical, from caregivers, partners, or supervisors.
  • Experiences of harassment, bullying, or prejudice that leave lasting scars.
  • Sexual assault, mistreatment or abuse.
  • Repeated neglect by those you depended on – either in your present life or your childhood.
  • Sudden or hostile endings like the loss of a job or a breakup that rocks your world.
  • Overwhelming medical experiences, combat, or sudden accidents and disasters.

Whatever the source, trauma doesn’t stay contained to the past. It can shape how you feel, how you see yourself, and how you move through daily life often in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. That’s why therapy focuses not just on what happened, but on how those experiences continue to show up today. Trauma therapy gives you a space to work with both the past and its impact on your present life so you can find some resolution and peace.

My Approach To Trauma Therapy In Washington, DC

I know trauma therapy has to move at your pace. I don’t push for quick fixes or force you to revisit memories before you’re ready. Instead, I strive to balance encouraging exploration of difficult topics while also providing enough emotional support and coping skills to prevent you from being overwhelmed. My top priority is being attuned to how you’re responding moment-to-moment in sessions.

Together, we might:

  • Slow things down so you stay grounded and not re-traumatized when your triggers are activated.
  • Deconstruct the meaning you have attached to the traumatic events so the weight of your trauma can be fully assessed and realigned with who you are today.
  • Pay attention to both your body and your thoughts respond to triggers, since trauma often lives in both.
  • Explore how past experiences continue to shape your beliefs, emotions, and relationships today.
  • Use evidence-based methods including relational therapy, cognitive-behavioral approaches, and EMDR trauma therapy when they’re appropriate for your goals.

Above all, I see therapy as a collaboration. You bring your lived experience and I bring my perspective and therapeutic tools to the process. Together, we co-create the conditions for healing.

Why Work With Me As Your Trauma Therapist

Just as the result of trauma is a sense of danger in the world, the foundation of trauma treatment is establishing a relationship with a therapist that feels safe and reliable. Clients tell me they value my calm, genuine style and the way I stay engaged, neither distant nor rushed.

Living and practicing in Washington, DC, I know how the constant pressures of achievement, comparison, and visibility can deepen trauma’s impact. My role is to provide you with a space that feels steady enough for you to risk opening up, so you can begin to feel safer in your own skin and in your relationships.

Begin Trauma Therapy In Washington, DC

You don’t have to keep carrying this alone. Trauma therapy can help you reclaim your sense of self, quiet the hypervigilance, and reconnect with life in ways that feel safe and possible again.

If you’re ready to begin, reach out today. Let’s talk about how therapy can help you heal.

Contact: 571-882-1648 | dralexafram@gmail.com
Office: 1701 K Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006
(Above Farragut North at K & 17th ST NW)

Trauma Therapy In Washington, DC FAQs:

How do I know if I need trauma therapy in DC?

If past experiences still affect your daily life, relationships, or sense of safety, therapy may help you find relief. Some signs include:

  • Difficulty trusting others, especially in close relationships.
  • Trouble managing emotions—either feeling flooded or shut down.
  • Feeling detached, like life is happening at a distance.
  • Struggling with concentration and productivity.

Can trauma therapy help if my experiences happened years ago?

Yes. Trauma doesn’t disappear with time, it often lingers in how we think, feel, and react. Therapy can help no matter how long ago the trauma occurred.

Does trauma therapy always involve EMDR?

Not always. EMDR can be very effective, but it’s just one option. Together we’ll decide what feels right for you.

How long does therapy for trauma take?

Healing from trauma is not one-size-fits-all. Some clients begin to feel more stable after a few months while others continue with a longer timeframe to deepen their recovery.

Can I do online trauma therapy in DC?

Yes. I offer both in-person and virtual sessions so therapy is accessible in the way that works best for you. Many clients appreciate that online therapy in DC and PSYPACT states allows them to stay consistent with treatment even when life is unpredictable.

What if I feel too overwhelmed to talk about my trauma?

That’s okay. Trauma therapy starts with building skills for safety and regulation so you don’t get flooded. We will take it step by step.

Is trauma therapy confidential?

Yes. Your sessions are private and confidential within legal and ethical limits.

What if I’m not sure I’m ready?

That’s okay. Reaching out for more information is a first step. We can move at the pace that feels right for you.

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it." - Helen Keller

How does trauma relate to other aspects of my mental health?

Trauma’s emotional impacts are complex and can contribute to a variety of symptoms. Hyper vigilance and difficulties with trust can lead to both heightened anxiety and difficulties managing anger. Trauma can lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression. People who have incurred trauma may sometimes blame themselves for the experience, contributing to issues with self-esteem. In addition to traditional talk therapy, EMDR can be an effective form of treatment for people struggling with trauma.

-Dr. Alex Afram, trauma therapist in Washington, D.C.