Trauma is often used to describe a singular event or a series of events that have a profound and lasting impact on our nervous system, as well as on the way we perceive the world around us. These experiences can manifest in various forms, such as attachment trauma, dissociation, derealization, depression, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, despair, lack of trust, and negative self-beliefs, among others. The effects of trauma can be far-reaching, influencing not only mental and emotional well-being but also how individuals navigate their daily lives and relationships. Erica is currently undergoing specialized training to become a complex trauma and dissociation specialist. She is studying under the guidance of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), an organization dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of trauma and dissociation.

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Erica works with clients to help them understand the impact of both developmental trauma, experienced early in life, and more recent traumatic events. Her goal is to increase her clients’ ability to cope effectively with these experiences and incorporate them in a healthier, more adaptive way into their everyday lives. By integrating psychodynamic principles into her therapeutic approach, Erica helps clients explore the root causes of their challenges, fostering deep self-awareness, leading to long-lasting transformation and healing. Her work follows the three-phase approach to treating complex trauma, which paces treatment to each client’s capacity rather than moving too quickly into painful memories. In the first phase, Erica focuses on safety, stabilization, and skill-building, helping clients strengthen emotional regulation, manage triggers and dissociation, and build a trusting therapeutic relationship. In the second phase, once clients have enough internal resources, she supports them in processing traumatic memories and experiences in a gradual, carefully paced way so that the past loses its power to intrude on the present. In the third phase, the focus shifts to integration and reconnection, as clients consolidate their gains, deepen their relationships, and build a life guided by meaning and purpose rather than survival. Healing is rarely linear, so clients may move between phases as needed, and Erica always adapts to each person’s pace while prioritizing safety and choice.