Therapy for Childhood Trauma in Asheville, NC
Trauma experienced in childhood can manifest in many different forms, some more apparent than others. Emotional, physical, psychological, or sexual abuse, whether it happened once or many times over, can leave a deep and lasting imprint on how we relate to ourselves and others throughout life. Unlike single-event or shock trauma experienced in adulthood, which might lead to more recognizable symptoms of PTSD, childhood trauma tends to embed itself quietly and persistently into the most elemental parts of ourselves. It often shapes our core beliefs about safety, trust, love, and self-worth, sometimes without our conscious awareness.
The wounds of early trauma are often carried silently within, influencing how we engage in relationships, cope with emotions, and respond to stress. These early experiences can affect everything from how we handle conflict, to how close we allow ourselves to get to others, to how safe we feel in our own skin. Many adults with unresolved childhood trauma find themselves stuck in painful cycles through patterns of self-sabotage, difficulty setting boundaries, or feeling chronically numb or overwhelmed. At times, this inner turmoil may lead to struggles with addiction, disordered eating, or self-harming behaviors- all attempts to manage emotional pain that feels unbearable.
Childhood Trauma Therapies Explore the Root of Your Struggle
In our work together, we will gently and collaboratively explore the roots of these struggles. Together, we look at how early experiences may still be shaping your present-day feelings, relationships, and sense of self, often in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. Rather than focusing solely on surface-level symptoms, this approach invites curiosity about the deeper emotional patterns and internal conflicts that may have developed in response to painful experiences in childhood.
Through the safety of a trusting therapeutic relationship, you’ll have space to reflect on and process these past experiences at a pace that feels right for you. This isn’t about reliving trauma or even placing blame. It’s about giving voice to what may have gone unspoken, making sense of confusing or painful feelings, and beginning to reconnect with the parts of yourself that had to go into hiding in order to survive.
Childhood Trauma Treatment Creates Room for New Ways of Being
In my work with survivors of childhood trauma, I recognize that many of the patterns you struggle with today were once adaptive. By understanding the origins of these patterns, we create room for new ways of being. Over time, therapy can help you understand yourself more completely, develop greater emotional resilience, adopt a more compassionate relationship with yourself, and increase your capacity to form deeper, more secure connections with others.