I specialize in working with complex post-traumatic stress (C-PTSD), interpersonal trauma, adult children of parents who struggled with alcohol or other substances, and adults healing from childhood adversity.
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) often develops after long-lasting, repeated trauma—such as emotional neglect, abuse, or growing up in a home shaped by addiction or chaos. It doesn’t just live in your memories; it shows up in your relationships today.
How C-PTSD Can Affect Relationships
C-PTSD can impact the way you connect, trust, and feel safe with others in many ways, including:
Trust issues: It may feel hard to trust people or let your guard down, which can make it difficult to build and maintain healthy, secure relationships.
Avoidance & isolation : You might pull back from social situations or relationships to protect yourself from getting hurt again, which can lead to feeling lonely and disconnected.
Intense emotions :C-PTSD can come with big emotions that feel hard to manage. Small disagreements or comments can trigger strong reactions, creating conflict or misunderstandings.
Difficulty feeling connected :Because of past trauma, it can be challenging to feel truly seen, known, or emotionally close to others—even with people you care about.
Fear of abandonment: A deep fear of being left, rejected, or replaced can lead to clinging, over-explaining, or constantly seeking reassurance in relationships.
Always on high alert : Your nervous system may stay in “survival mode,” always scanning for danger. This can make it hard to relax, feel safe, or believe that someone’s intentions are genuinely good.
Struggles with intimacy: Emotional or physical closeness may feel unsafe, confusing, or overwhelming—especially if past relationships involved betrayal, neglect, or abuse.
Not everyone with C-PTSD experiences all of these, and there is nothing “wrong” with you for coping this way. These are survival responses to what you’ve lived through—not character flaws.
With trauma-informed therapy and support, it is possible to:
Understand how your past is impacting your present
Learn new ways to regulate emotions and feel safer in your body
Build healthier, more secure relationships rooted in respect, boundaries, and mutual care
If you’re ready to begin healing from complex trauma and create more peaceful, connected relationships, I’d be honored to walk that path with you.