TRAUMA THERAPY IN NEW YORK, NY
Begin the work of deep healing & reclaim control over your life. Online sessions available across NY & UT.
Life has moved on, but a younger version of yourself still hasn’t.
We don’t always recognize how much our childhood affected us until we grow up. When you were raised in a home where criticism, verbal abuse, neglect, or instability were “normal” or part of daily life, making sense of those experiences for the first time can feel confusing and complicated.
Growing up may have looked like:
Being expected to handle responsibilities far beyond your age
Acting as the mediator or problem-solver in your family
Having your emotions and feelings minimized or overlooked
Hearing criticism much more often than encouragement or validation
Now, as an adult, those early experiences are disrupting your life. And this pain—whether you call it “trauma” or not—doesn’t just stay in your mind. Your body feels it too—often with tension, racing thoughts, or a tightness in your chest.
WHAT IS TRAUMA?
Trauma is the lasting impact an overwhelming or distressing experience has on your nervous system. It’s not only about what happened to you—it’s what has stayed inside your nervous system as a result.
When something overwhelming occurs—especially in childhood—the brain and body store it in a way that can continue to affect how you think, feel, and react years down the road. Even when you logically know the situation is over, your nervous system may still respond as if the threat is happening right now.
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Waiting for something to go wrong even when a relationship is going well.
Feeling abandoned when someone doesn’t text back or cancels plans.
Getting overwhelmed or shutting down after small things—a comment at work or a change in plans.
Being triggered into panic, anger, or emotions that feel bigger than the situation.
Always feeling “stuck” in painful memories or things from the past.
Saying yes even when you don’t want to because saying no feels impossible.
Taking care of everyone else while neglecting yourself.
YOUR PAIN AND SUFFERING DO NOT HAVE TO LAST FOREVER.
HOW I CAN HELP
Many people worry that trauma therapy will feel overwhelming or chaotic. This is understandable, especially when you’ve been living in survival mode for such a long time. Even though some things we work through can be uncomfortable, please know that your safety and stability are always my highest priorities. Healing does not have to be an emotional roller coaster. It can (and should) be a steady and supported process.
I AM HERE WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
My work centers on trauma-informed care using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) as the foundation. EMDR helps the brain and nervous system process unresolved experiences so they no longer carry the same emotional intensity. I also integrate different approaches that may be helpful, like Internal Family Systems (IFS), DBT, and CBT, to support self-awareness, managing emotions, and practical coping tools throughout the process.
In our work together, I focus on:
Careful pacing. We only move forward when your nervous system is ready. Therapy moves at a pace that feels productive, but not overwhelming.
Collaborative focus. Together, we identify what feels most important to work on, in a way that aligns with your nervous system. The goal is not to push into what’s most painful, but to approach the work in a way that feels manageable, steady, and supportive.
Knowing when to pause. A major part of my role is paying close attention to how your nervous system is responding. We will never push past what feels manageable. When something needs space, we pause, breathe, and then recalibrate.
Trauma therapy can help you experience…
Relief from constant anxiety
Freedom from the past
Confidence in yourself
Calm in your nervous system
Trust in your relationships
Peace in your own mind
YOU DIDN’T CHOOSE WHAT YOU INHERITED, BUT YOU can CHOOSE WHAT CONTINUES WITH YOU.
FAQs
COMMON QUESTIONS
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Many people question whether their experiences “count.” Trauma isn’t defined only by extreme events. It can be related to ongoing criticism, emotional neglect, or instability. The feeling of being unsafe while growing up can also have lasting effects. If earlier experiences still affect your life right now, how you see yourself, how safe you feel with others, or how your body responds to stress, they are important and worth addressing in therapy.
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I specialize in treating trauma and have extensive training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an evidence-based approach for treating trauma and PTSD. EMDR has been a core part of my work since 2019, and I integrate it with approaches such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), DBT, and CBT to support each client’s unique needs. My work focuses specifically on helping adults process childhood and complex trauma in a way that feels structured, safe, and manageable. I’m also a member of EMDRIA (EMDR International Association) and stay committed to new and evolving trauma education. Learn more about the way I work here.
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No. Trauma therapy doesn’t require you to share every detail of your past, and I won’t force you to talk about specific things unless you’d like to. EMDR helps the nervous system process experiences at a pace that feels manageable and without having to rehash or revisit traumatic experiences. Many clients find that healing happens even when they don’t discuss every detail out loud.
You can learn more about how I use EMDR here.
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This is something many trauma survivors experience. When your nervous system has spent years staying alert, it can be difficult to relax even when things are safe or “feeling fine.” Part of trauma therapy is helping your nervous system learn that it no longer has to stay in survival mode and providing you with the tools to help with what’s been happening as a result of the trauma—like anxiety, stress, fatigue, OCD tendencies, and other ways you’ve coped. Over time, many clients begin to experience more calm, stability, and trust in their daily lives. You can learn more about my approach to anxiety here.
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Yes. Many Asian and Asian American clients grow up with strong expectations around responsibility, achievement, and family loyalty. In many families, emotions or personal struggles aren’t talked about openly, which can make it harder to process difficult experiences or ask for support.
As someone who understands these cultural dynamics and speaks Mandarin, I often work with clients navigating these pressures. You don’t have to explain or justify your experiences here—I get it. We can explore them together while helping you build a healthier relationship with yourself.