Trauma Isn’t the Story—It’s the Impact That Lingers
Sometimes people come to therapy thinking they’re broken—or that they’ve failed because they “should be over it by now.” But trauma isn’t a flaw or a weakness. It’s a natural, embodied response to experiences that overwhelmed your capacity to cope. It’s your nervous system response what was most available to you at the time of the traumatic event and lives on as trauma in the body afterward because it did what your nervous system prioritized: it kept you alive.
In my therapy work with clients in Washington, DC, I don’t start with labels or pathology. I start with deep respect for your experience and what your nervous system is asking for.
Maybe you learned to dissociate, to overachieve, to go numb, to overfunction. Those are strategies that helped you survive. The fact that they no longer serve you doesn’t mean they were wrong. It means your body is ready for something different.
Trauma can look like a single overwhelming event—but it’s often more complex than that. Many people carry what’s known as complex trauma: layers of stress and harm that built up over time. These wounds can stem from:
Trauma from internalized systemic oppression, such as queerphobia, transphobia, homophobia, racism, ableism, fatphobia, or anti-polyamory and anti-ENM stigma—forms of societal violence that send the message that who you are is too much, or not enough
Attachment wounds and early childhood trauma, like emotional neglect, inconsistent care, or being shamed for having needs
Family of origin issues, such as growing up in a home with abuse, instability, or substance use
Domestic violence in the family, whether experienced directly or witnessed as a child
Relationship trauma, including betrayal, emotional abuse, or experiences of being unseen or invalidated
Workplace trauma and vicarious trauma, especially for those in helping professions exposed to others’ suffering
Medical trauma, like being ignored, gaslit, or harmed in healthcare settings or medical procedure that were invasive even if done right
Whatever the source, the impact can linger in your nervous system long after the moment has passed.
Gestalt therapy invites us to stay present with what’s happening in the now—the tightening in your jaw, the ache in your chest, the impulse to withdraw or fawn. We don’t rush to analyze it. We feel it. We bring compassionate attention to the parts of you that had to freeze or shut down to stay safe.
Using somatic and polyvagal-informed approaches, we’ll listen closely to your nervous system instead of overriding it. You don’t need to retell every detail of what happened. The story lives in your body—and we can gently follow its wisdom. That might mean noticing your breath shift, or exploring what changes when you stand taller, or when you allow yourself to rest.
This work is slow. Intentional. Respectful. It doesn’t force transformation—it makes space for it.
And it’s not just about healing from trauma. It’s about reconnecting with the parts of you that still know how to feel joy, desire, connection, and possibility.
I offer trauma-focused psychotherapy in DC that affirms queer, trans, neurodivergent, kink, poly/enm, and BIPOC identities. This is a space where we name systemic harm without making it your fault. A space where your sensitivity, your shutdowns, your bigness, your grief—all have a place.
If you’re ready to come home to yourself at your own pace, I’d love to walk with you.
You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me to see if psychotherapy in Washington, DC feels like a good fit.
Email me at Glen@GestaltGlen.com, call me at 202-922-5747, or visit GestaltGlen.com to schedule your call today.
Learn more about Trauma-Focused Therapy with Glen here.
