Trauma & Addiction: Understanding the Connection
Many people don’t realize how closely trauma and addiction are linked. What may look on the surface like self-destruction is often a form of survival—an attempt to numb pain, calm the nervous system, or find relief from unbearable experiences.
Addiction isn’t about weakness or lack of willpower. It’s about coping. And trauma isn't only about what happened to you—it's also about what you had to carry alone.
Whether your trauma stems from childhood experiences, relationships, loss, systemic oppression, or events that felt overwhelming and out of your control, the impact often lives on in the body and mind long after the moment has passed. You might feel stuck in cycles of anxiety, shame, or disconnection—and substances or other behaviors may have helped you manage those feelings, at least for a while.
In therapy, we honor these coping strategies for what they are: adaptations that helped you survive. And then, together, we gently begin the work of healing—reconnecting with safety, trust, and the parts of you that have always been worthy of care.
My Approach
I use a trauma-informed, compassionate lens in all my work, combining evidence-based tools with the deeply human need for connection and meaning. We’ll move at your pace. Sometimes that means working with the nervous system, learning new ways to self-soothe. Other times it means making space for your story—your grief, your joy, your complexity.
My goal isn’t just symptom relief—it’s helping you feel more fully alive, aligned, and connected to your truth.
