Trauma Therapy in McKinney, TX

Move on from what happened to you and start living your life.

Is your past keeping you from enjoying your present?

Maybe you just can’t take anymore, or perhaps your symptoms are starting to bleed into other areas of your life. You may be struggling just to get through each day or perhaps you’re doubting if things could ever get better.

You might even wonder if you even have trauma since your experiences aren’t what you typically hear about when you hear trauma. However, things like abandonment, rejection, or betrayal can cause these symptoms too.

Whatever the specific symptoms you have, you’re beginning to notice the impact of this in every facet of your life.

You’re tired of feeling caught in this cycle:

  • Emotional Intensity: Feelings can seem exaggerated, such as heightened irritability or overwhelming sadness.

  • Isolating: Pulling away from friends, family, and activities you once enjoyed.

  • Self-Medicating: Using substances like alcohol or drugs to numb the pain.

  • Sleeping too much or unable to fall asleep even when you’re exhausted

  • Finding yourself irritated at others or yourself quite often

  • Avoidance: Steering clear of places, people, or memories that remind you of past trauma

    Struggling with daily feelings of anxiety, depression, or both

What Unhealed Trauma Feels Like

  • Emotional Turmoil: Experiencing intense feelings of anxiety, panic, fear, anger, or depression.

  • Physical Sensations: Feeling a sense of exhaustion, brain fog, or a physical weight like drowning.

  • Psychological Strain: Battling with feelings of unworthiness, doom, numbness, or dissociation.

  • Feeling on edge or like you can never relax

  • Behavioral Changes: Engaging in perfectionism, overachieving, people-pleasing, or codependency.

What Unhealed Trauma Sounds Like

  • Self-Doubt: Constant inner dialogues that undermine your confidence and abilities.

  • Worrying that the other shoe will drop at any time

  • Catastrophizing: Mentally preparing for the worst outcome in every situation.

  • Defensiveness: Quick to react defensively in conversations, indicating a protective stance over vulnerabilities.

  • Confusion: A frequent sense of disorientation or indecisiveness in daily decisions.

  • Control: A need to control outcomes or details, often to avoid triggering past trauma.

  • Perfectionism: Striving for flawlessness not for success, but to avoid criticism or failure.

  • Comparison: Continually measuring your worth against others, leading to feelings of inadequacy.

  • Procrastination: Delaying or avoiding tasks, sometimes out of a fear of triggering memories or feelings

  • Imposter Syndrome: Feeling like a fraud, as if you’ll be 'found out', despite achievements.

It may feel impossible right now but you can move past what happened to you.

You can feel happier and life can get better. We’ll help you get there.

HOW WE CAN HELP

Trauma therapy will help you to leave the past in the past and truly move on..

Trauma therapy can help with so many things including…

  • Building a relationship with a trained therapist who will understand you and help you to understand yourself

  • Creating safety both in the therapeutic relationship and in your own life and body

  • Understanding your unique set of symptoms and patterns better

  • Effectively coping with your emotions, daily stress, and triggers

  • Loving yourself more and enjoying your life

  • Finally moving on from what happened

We’ll help you through each step of the process, tailoring it to your unique needs, strengths, and circumstances. Our approach to trauma therapy includes using tools that actually work and basing everything we do on who you are as a person. This will help you to feel better about yourself and your life.

You have a better future in front of you.

Imagine If You…

✓ Understood how what you went through is still impacting you today.

We have learned so much in the last 20 years about trauma and how it physiologically impacts people. Trauma therapy can help you to understand how what you went through impacted you and how you are still carrying it today.

✓ Could stop feeling so angry, anxious, or depressed all the time.

Feeling overwhelmed by negative emotions is a common experience for survivors of trauma and can be one of the hardest symptoms to get past. Our specially trained trauma therapists know how to help you start feeling better fast so you can focus on what’s important to you instead of how bad you feel.

✓ Felt happy with yourself and connected to the people you love

Trauma isolates us - not only from those around us but also from ourselves. Trauma therapy can help you to reconnect with the people you love and help you to get in touch with yourself.

We want you to know:

Your past doesn’t have to be your story.

Click below to get matched with one of our awesome trauma therapists today.

What is trauma?

Trauma refers to the emotional, psychological, and physical distress experienced as a result of an overwhelming and upsetting event. It can occur when you witness or directly experience events that exceed your ability to cope, leaving you feeling helpless, frightened, or powerless. 

What is trauma? The author of “The Body Keeps the Score” explains in this video.

What sets trauma apart is its lasting imprint. The intense emotions and memories associated with the traumatic event can persist long after the experience itself. And if trauma is left unprocessed and untreated, it can, over time, become stuck in your nervous system and develop into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Big T vs. Little t Trauma:

Big T Trauma

Big T Trauma refers to significant, life-threatening events that cause extreme distress. These are the types of trauma that often result in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or severe emotional and physical reactions. Examples of Big T trauma include:

  • Natural disasters

  • Physical or sexual assault

  • Combat or war experiences

  • Severe accidents

  • Life-threatening illnesses

These events tend to have an immediate and noticeable impact, often leaving a person feeling unsafe, overwhelmed, and disconnected.

Little t Trauma

Little t Trauma involves less dramatic but still distressing experiences. These might not seem as "big" as major traumatic events, but they can still significantly impact your emotional well-being over time. Examples of Little t trauma include:

  • Chronic criticism or emotional neglect from parents or caregivers, which can gradually impact self-esteem and create feelings of worthlessness.

  • Workplace stress or harassment, especially when ongoing, can lead to feelings of anxiety, powerlessness, or burnout.

  • Frequent moves or instability during childhood, causing disruption in friendships, routines, and a sense of security.

  • Enduring relational conflicts in long-term relationships, such as marital tension, controlling behavior, or emotional abuse that may not seem "severe" but builds up over time.

  • Bullying or social rejection in school or social settings, leading to a sense of isolation or fear of not belonging.

  • Financial stress or ongoing poverty, creating a constant sense of insecurity or fear about the future.

  • Medical issues that aren't life-threatening but are chronic, like dealing with a long-term illness or recurring health problems.

Little t traumas can lead to PTSD or other trauma-related symptoms, although this is less common than with Big T traumas. While Little t traumas may not be as immediately overwhelming, when they occur repeatedly or in combination, they can accumulate and have a profound impact on a person's emotional and psychological health. This is especially true if the individual already has a vulnerability, such as a history of trauma or a lack of support.

For instance, ongoing emotional neglect, bullying, or relational conflicts might not seem as life-threatening as a major accident or assault, but over time, they can erode a person’s sense of safety, self-worth, and emotional resilience. In some cases, this accumulation can lead to symptoms of Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) or other anxiety disorders, particularly when there’s no space for processing or healing.

So while Little t traumas are less likely to result in PTSD immediately, they still hold the potential to cause significant distress, especially if left unaddressed.

Understanding the Effects of Trauma

Trauma isn’t limited to major events like accidents or loss; it can stem from prolonged stress or ongoing negative experiences. For many individuals, untreated trauma can lead to anxiety, depression, and even physical symptoms like chronic pain or fatigue. If you're feeling disconnected or overwhelmed, your trauma may be at the root of these challenges.

We offer compassionate, individualized care to help you process these experiences and move toward healing, whether you’re attending therapy in-person in McKinney or virtually from anywhere in Texas.

Trauma Treatment Options in McKinney and Online

Our approach to trauma therapy is evidence-based and tailored to meet your personal needs. Whether you prefer one-on-one counseling sessions in our McKinney office or online therapy in the comfort of your home, we’re here to support you. We use a variety of proven methods to address trauma, including talk therapy, mindfulness practices, and body-centered techniques.

EMDR Therapy: A Proven Approach for Trauma Healing

One of the most effective treatments for trauma and PTSD is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR therapy helps you reprocess traumatic memories in a way that reduces the emotional charge they carry. By guiding you through your traumatic experiences with a trained therapist, EMDR can help you release the negative beliefs and emotions connected to those memories.

At our practice in McKinney, Texas, we specialize in EMDR therapy both in person and online. Many clients have found EMDR to be transformative, experiencing relief from symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Whether you're seeking help with childhood trauma, complex PTSD, or recent traumatic events, EMDR can be a critical part of your recovery process.

Serving Texas Residents: In-Person and Online Therapy

Whether you’re looking for in-person trauma therapy in McKinney, Texas, or prefer the flexibility of online trauma counseling for individuals in Texas, we’re ready to help. Healing is possible, and with the right support, you can overcome trauma and regain control over your life.

Ready to Heal from Trauma?

Whether you’re struggling with ongoing stress, relational conflicts, or unresolved issues from childhood, therapy can help. Our trauma-informed approach, including EMDR therapy, is designed to help you work through both Big T and Little t traumas. We offer in-person sessions in McKinney, Texas, and online counseling for all Texas residents.

Take the first step towards healing. Schedule a consultation today and learn more about how EMDR can support your journey to recovery.