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Therapy for Trauma & Chronic Stress

In Wellesley & Virtually Across Massachusetts & Connecticut

Empowering & Effective Therapy to Help You:

  • Identify present day problems and recent triggers you’d like to work on

  • Explore negative beliefs stemming from trauma that are holding you back

  • Target and reprocess past memories that have been keeping you stuck in survival mode

  • Use bilateral stimulation to make past memories feel more distant and less consuming

  • Identify how you’d prefer to navigate future triggers

  • Build confidence that you can remain in control, feel safe in your body, and trust yourself to navigate daily stressors

Trauma Therapy in Wellesley

For Childhood, Complex, Relational, Sexual or Medical Trauma

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  • Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured, brain-based therapy that helps you reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer hold emotional charge. It’s effective for those impacted by single event trauma, complex trauma, early childhood trauma, dissociation, sexual trauma, racial trauma, anxiety, irritability or aggression, depressive symptoms including distressing negative beliefs that are rooted in trauma.

    Personalized EMDR Intensives are available as single or multi-day programs designed for your unique goals and clinical needs. This format helps you to journey deeper and save you months or years in your recovery after trauma. EMDR Intensives are provided in-person in Wellesley MA or virtually for those living in MA or CT.

  • Our somatic approach to trauma therapy, informed by Polyvagal Theory, supports your ability to understand what your nervous system is needing to feel safe again. In our conversations, we’ll integrate mindfulness and other body-based strategies so you feel empowered and less distress between sessions.

  • You may relate to the pain that shows up when people make assumptions about you or claim to know your story.

    We understand that we are all multi-storied and complex individuals who deserve to be met with curiosity and respect. Our approach to trauma therapy is careful to center all of the stories that are otherwise untold, so you feel empowered to know yourself and be known more authentically.

    This non-pathologizing and relational approach will help you feel empowered to take a stand against the harmful and inaccurate stories trauma and oppression taught you to believe about yourself. Narrative Therapy emphasizes that people are not defined by their problems, but rather are the authors of their own stories and capable of re-authoring negative narratives to more empowering ones.

Go Deeper & Find Relief from:

  • Persistent nervousness or fear when you “should” feel safe

  • Periods of high activation followed by an emotional crash or shut down

  • Emotional numbness that has you feeling disconnected

  • Feeling stuck in the past or reliving trauma

  • Feeling unable to control irritability, reactivity, or other emotional distress

  • A need to stay constantly busy to avoid feeling difficult emotions

  • Overwhelming shame or guilt

  • Early attachment wounds that are hurting your current relationships

  • Negative beliefs about yourself or feelings of worthlessness

  • Chronic stress & burn out

  • Dissociation or fragmented memories

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. In a careful effort to avoid re-traumatization, EMDR, Somatic and Narrative Therapy can be used effectively without reliving every detail of your trauma story.

    After working to establish a safe and trusting relationship with your therapist and after learning useful coping techniques, you may be asked to recall aspects of distressing memories. When reprocessing these memories, you are not required to say much out loud about what you remember, feel, or think. Your internal experience of reprocessing is entirely your own. You’re able to share as little or as much as you’d like.

  • Yes. We offer EMDR online using secure platforms and adaptations that maintain effectiveness and safety.

    As a clinician, I prefer meeting my clients in-person, but the standard of care and efficacy of EMDR is the same for virtual and in-person clients.

  • I am not contracted with insurance companies. As an Out of Network (OON) Provider, I submit your claims for you and you are only required to pay a copay after your OON deductible has been met, similar to in-network services.

    Click here to learn more.

  • We believe that you’re ready for trauma therapy if you’re motivated to establish a trusting relationship with a provider who prioritizes your safety, goals and preferred pace throughout treatment. It’s important to know that throughout trauma treatment, you are 100% in control.

    Shared Stories Counseling is committed to making sure trauma-focused therapy is accessible and stays at a pace that feels safe for you.

    It is very common to have hesitation when trying to decide if you’re ready to begin trauma-focused therapy. Our bodies and minds often protect us by telling us not to “go there” in our memories. However, we know that present day anxiety attacks, irritability, flashbacks, nightmares, dissociative amnesia, and negative beliefs are often caused by insufficiently processed or blocked memories.

Start your Healing Journey Today

We can appreciate that you are carrying stories that deserve to be witnessed, honored, and rewritten in your preferred ways. Whether you’re ready to explore EMDR, Somatic Therapy, Narrative Therapy or just want to feel heard, we’re here to support you.

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation

In-person in Wellesley or Online throughout Massachusetts

Call us at 339-201-6994 | Email us at vk@sharedstoriescounseling.com