Trauma‑Informed Therapy for Veterans
Trauma‑informed support for those who served
If you are exploring this website today, you are probably ready to take the courageous step to get help. As a military veteran, you chose to serve with all the inherent risks that come with that commitment. It took courage to serve no matter what your MOS/AFSC/Rating was or where you were deployed or stationed. The attitude of courage is what I would like to encourage you to adopt as you respond to the call to heal from the stress and trauma you have experienced. Moving toward what causes you pain is hard, but it often results in healing and growth.
Many veterans carry experiences that shaped them in ways few others can fully understand. Combat exposure, military sexual trauma, moral injury, repeated deployments, loss of comrades, the intense training and duties, and the strain of transitioning back to civilian life can leave lasting impacts on the nervous system, relationships, and sense of self.
Trauma‑informed therapy for veterans begins with respect; respect for what you’ve lived through, how you adapted to survive, and the strength it took to get here.
What trauma can look like for veterans
Trauma doesn’t always show up as obvious memories or flashbacks. For many veterans, it appears in quieter, more insidious ways:
- Constant alertness or difficulty relaxing
- Anger, irritability, or emotional shutdown
- Guilt, shame, or moral conflict about actions taken or things witnessed
- Sleep disturbances, nightmares, or night sweats
- Difficulty trusting others or feeling close to loved ones
- Feeling disconnected from civilian life or your own sense of purpose
- Physical symptoms with no clear medical explanation
These responses are not personal failures or weaknesses. They are your nervous system’s survival strategies developed from experiences that required strength, vigilance, and sacrifice.
In my practice veterans work on issues such as:
- PTSD and complex trauma
- Moral injury
- Military sexual trauma (MST)
- Anxiety, depression, or emotional numbness
- Addictions
- Relationship and family challenges
- Identity shifts after leaving the military
- Grief and survivor’s guilt
- Difficulty adjusting to civilian work or life
- Loss of meaning and purpose
A relational approach to healing
Healing from trauma happens in relationship. Many veterans learned to rely on only themselves or their battle buddies, which results in being overly guarded and mistrustful of others. The therapeutic relationship between you and I will be built at a pace comfortable to you. It won’t happen immediately. We will work on your timetable. We will build the therapeutic relationship on respect, honesty, and authenticity so that you have the trust and safety you need to process through your trauma and adversity.
We pay attention not only to what happened in the past, but to what’s happening right now, in your body, your emotions, and our shared space. Over time, this can help restore a sense of trust, agency, and connection that trauma may have disrupted.
You won’t be rushed. You won’t be judged. And you won’t be expected to carry this alone.
Therapy approaches offered
Healing looks different for each veteran. I use several trauma‑informed, evidence‑based modalities and thoughtfully integrate them based on your needs, preferences, and readiness.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR helps the nervous system reprocess traumatic experiences that remain stuck, so they no longer feel as immediate, overwhelming, or intrusive. For veterans, EMDR can reduce the intensity of combat memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional reactivity without requiring you to relive events in detail.
We move collaboratively and at your pace, ensuring you have tools for grounding and stability before any trauma processing begins. Many veterans appreciate EMDR because it works with the brain and body’s natural healing systems, rather than relying only on talking things through.
IFS recognizes that we all have different “parts” of ourselves; protective parts that learned to stay alert, numb emotions, control situations, or push forward no matter the cost. These parts often developed during military service for very good reasons.
In IFS therapy, we approach these parts with curiosity, compassion, and respect. This approach is especially supportive for veterans experiencing inner conflict, shame, moral injury, or a sense of being divided inside.
Ketamine‑Assisted Psychotherapy (if you are interested and when appropriate)
Ketamine‑assisted EMDR Therapy and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can offer a powerful adjunct to trauma work for some veterans, particularly those experiencing treatment‑resistant PTSD, moral injury, depression, anxiety, and addictions.
Used intentionally within a therapeutic framework, ketamine may help soften rigid patterns, reduce fear responses, and create space for new perspectives. Preparation and integration sessions are essential parts of this work, ensuring experiences are grounded, meaningful, and supportive of long‑term healing.
Ketamine‑assisted therapy is always optional and carefully assessed for safety, readiness, and alignment with your goals.
A space where you don’t have to be the strong one
Seeking therapy is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it’s an act of courage and self‑respect. If you’re a veteran who feels worn down, disconnected, or burdened by experiences that won’t fully settle, trauma‑informed therapy can offer a path toward relief and reconnection.
In this space, you don’t have to:
- Hold it together
- Have the right words
- Take care of the therapist
- Justify why something affected you
You are allowed to arrive exactly as you are—tired, uncertain, grieving, hopeful, or all of the above.
Invitation
I see clients in person and via telehealth. My office is located in West Seattle.
You’ve carried enough alone. I would consider it an honor to partner with you as you work toward regaining your joy, increasing your health, and finding more peace. Please use the contact form below to reach out.