Complex trauma can develop when a person experiences ongoing stress, emotional hurt, neglect, or difficult relationships over time—especially during childhood. Rather than resulting from a single event, it stems from repeated experiences that leave a person feeling unsafe, unseen, unsupported, or unable to be themselves.

Complex trauma can affect how you view yourself, manage emotions, and connect with others. Common effects include anxiety, low self-esteem, people-pleasing, difficulty trusting others, feeling emotionally overwhelmed, or feeling disconnected from yourself.

Childhood emotional neglect happens when a child’s emotional needs aren’t consistently seen, understood, or supported by caregivers.

It’s often less about what happened and more about what was missing—like comfort, emotional attention, or feeling understood.

As an adult, it can show up as difficulty identifying your feelings or needs, people-pleasing, low self-worth, or feeling emotionally disconnected.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. PTSD can affect how a person thinks, feels, and responds to reminders of the event, even long after the danger has passed.

Common symptoms include unwanted memories or nightmares, feeling constantly on edge, avoiding reminders of the trauma, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and feeling disconnected from others or yourself.

PTSD is not a sign of weakness—it is a natural response to overwhelming experiences.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain heal from distressing or traumatic experiences. Using guided eye movements, tapping, or other forms of bilateral stimulation, EMDR helps reduce the emotional impact of painful memories, so they no longer feel as overwhelming in daily life.

No. You do not have to share every detail of what happened in order for EMDR to help.

You may briefly identify the memory and simply share what you notice coming up—such as images, emotions, body sensations, or thoughts.

You are always in control of what you share, and we go at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you.

The length of EMDR therapy varies from person to person. Some individuals experience significant relief in a few months, while others with more complex or longstanding concerns may benefit from longer-term treatment. The timeline depends on factors such as your treatment goals, current symptoms, history, and the amount of time needed for assessment, preparation, and stabilization before memory reprocessing begins.

We work with adults ages 18+ only.

We accept Aetna, BlueCross/BlueShield, CareFirst, Cigna, Johns Hopkins EHP, and UnitedHealthCare. Please note that we do not accept any form of Medicaid/Medical Assistance.

Evening and weekend appointments are not available at this time. Daytime appointments are typically available between the hours of 9:30 am and 4:30 pm.