Why I love working with trauma

When I first began my path toward becoming a therapist, I believed I wanted to work with couples. I wanted to help strengthen relationships and bring partners back together. However, after graduating from grad school, most of the jobs I found involved working with children. As a recent graduate, a job is a job — so I began working with foster children.

I quickly realized I had been thrust into a world I had never intended to enter. I had no prior experience working with children, and certainly none working with trauma. What do I do with a 3-year-old who has experienced significant, horrific abuse? Or a 5-year-old who hides in the closet and draws pictures of his family on fire? Or an aggressive 7-year-old who repeats the same play scenario every week?

It was a sink-or-swim situation. I was the “expert” these families depended on, so I had to learn quickly. During my first year or two, I did my best, though at times I felt like I was floundering. Then I was placed in a trauma program where I was trained in TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). I learned how to address trauma in a structured, sequential way. It finally clicked — I felt I had the tools to truly help my clients and their families.

I witnessed children who had once displayed PTSD symptoms become happy, carefree kids again. I saw that change and healing are possible. That’s when my passion for trauma work truly began. What once felt overwhelming became a challenge I felt equipped and wanted to meet. I dove headfirst into trainings that expanded my knowledge and strengthened my ability to support trauma survivors.

Over time, I’ve heard MANY difficult stories—stories of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, loss, betrayal, and accidents—from both children and adults. While hearing these experiences can be heavy, I hold onto the understanding that these events are in the past. My role is to help clients process what happened so they can live more fully in the present, without carrying the weight of those experiences.

As I listen, I’m not only offering empathy and compassion to the brave person in front of me — I’m also piecing things together. I’m making connections that help me understand their current experience and what they need to move forward. I carry deep hope for my clients. I don’t see a victim; I see potential.

When working with trauma, a therapist cannot get stuck in the heaviness of a client’s experience. We must come prepared — with tools, knowledge, and a clear path forward. Because I’ve come to love this work, I continue to learn and grow. I have training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing; nearly certified) and IFS (Internal Family Systems; Level 1 certified), along with other modalities and habits that deepen my understanding of trauma and healing - the healing power of food, exercise, nature, and spiritual faith.

I bring my clinical tools, but also myself — my intuition, my calm presence, and my energy. I bring hope, and even a sense of excitement for what’s possible.

If you’re dealing with the effects of trauma or chronic stress, please know this does not define who you are, nor does it have to be your lifelong reality. The mind and body are designed to heal.

With the right support and approach, it’s possible to move from a state of survival into a state of thriving. You don’t have to do this alone. I’m here to help and would be honored to be part of your healing journey.

With love and health in mind,

Melissa