Couples and Trauma

Being in a relationship requires creating trust and safety. Trauma is a violation of both. If you have experienced any of the following in your past, it may be impacting you now:

• sexual abuse

• sexual assault

• physical violence or neglect as a child or in another relationship

• growing up in a family with substance abuse or mental illness

• experiencing a major loss, separation, or abandonment

• medical trauma

• a life altering event, such as an accident, combat, or natural disaster

Your nervous system, the part that triggers a fight- flight-flee response, may still be on alert, trying to keep you safe from further harm. Your partner’s words or actions might cause you to react, rather than respond, leading to conflict, withdrawal, intimacy issues, feelings of shame, and disconnection—even if you consciously know the other person is not a threat.

It’s hard to go through life without being impacted by trauma in some way. Chances are that your partner may also be acting from old wounds. I can help you and your partner get clear on what’s going on and learn how to work from a place of compassion that will deepen your connection with each other and yourselves.

To learn more about trauma treatment for yourself, please visit my Trauma Therapy page.

To learn more about my Couples Therapy practice, please visit my Couples Therapy page.