Trauma Treatment

How Trauma Can Show Up in Daily Life

When trauma goes unprocessed, it often shows up in ways we don’t expect.

You might struggle to trust people, feel shut down in relationships, or find yourself overwhelmed by parenting decisions. It may be difficult to open up or even commit to a relationship in the first place. These responses are not a sign of failure — they’re often signs that your system has been doing its best to protect you for a long time.

Trauma can also show up in our parenting. If your child or teen is demonstrating increased anxiety or acting out, you might recognize echoes of your own childhood struggles. When these patterns go unaddressed, they can quietly repeat across generations. But with support, it is possible to interrupt the cycle and create something healthier for you and your family.

Not All Trauma Looks the Same

Many people assume that trauma only applies to extreme or life-threatening events. But trauma can also stem from chronic emotional invalidation, criticism, or situations where you felt powerless.

Even if you had loving parents, you may still carry the emotional weight of how you were treated or what was expected of you. Religious, cultural, and family norms can also leave lasting impressions on how you view yourself and others.

Acknowledging trauma, whether large or small, is an important part of healing. And while opening up can feel vulnerable, having the guidance of a therapist can offer new insight, relief, and clarity.

A Personalized, Trauma-Informed Approach

At MLB Therapy, we tailor your treatment to your needs, goals, and pace. Our therapists work with adults, teens, and families to process unresolved experiences and build strategies for feeling safer, more grounded, and more in control.

You don’t have to rush or revisit anything you’re not ready for. Together, we will build trust and move at a pace that allows healing to happen without overwhelm. As your therapist gets to know your story, they’ll help you explore patterns, connect past and present experiences, and develop tools for emotional regulation and resiliency.

How We Approach Trauma Treatment

Understanding your core beliefs is often the starting point for trauma treatment, as these beliefs can drive long-standing patterns in your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Once those patterns are visible, we can begin to shift them.

Your treatment plan may include:

• Mindfulness techniques to build self-awareness and slow reactivity
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to reframe and respond to distressing thoughts. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), offers an alternative way of relating to our emotions through metaphors, mindfulness, and other techniques.
• Motivational Interviewing to facilitate your motivation for change.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to manage emotional extremes and relationship challenges
• Structural Family Therapy (SFT) for family systems work
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to process stuck memories and restore balance in the nervous system

These approaches are always adapted to your specific needs.

Common Questions About Trauma Therapy