Meet Brittany Vera, LCSW
Hi, I’m Brittany
I’m a psychotherapist who specializes in trauma and complex trauma — the kind that happens in relationships, whether in childhood or adulthood. This can include all forms of abuse: emotional, physical, and sexual, and different types of neglect: emotional or physical. I work with adults and adolescents, using a warm, collaborative, body-based approach.
Many people who’ve experienced trauma don’t often realize it, because it was just how they were raised. It can be subtle:
Difficulty trusting others — or trusting your own judgment
Saying yes when you mean no, and losing yourself in other people's needs
A harsh inner critic that's quick to blame you and slow to let you rest
Struggling to set boundaries without guilt,
Feeling unsure what you actually feel or need
Pushing others away before they can push you away
Regardless of your experience, therapy is a place to make sense of your experiences and understand how they’re showing up in your life now.
How I work
My approach is somatic and parts-based: I work with how trauma lives in the body and nervous system, not just in your thoughts. Talk therapy alone often isn't enough to change patterns that got wired in before words could make sense of them.
So alongside talking, we pay attention to your breath, posture, the urge to brace or shut down. That tells us more than your thoughts do. If you've talked through a lot in therapy and still feel stuck, this is often why. Our bodies tell the story of our experiences.
I also work from the framework that we all have different parts to ourselves — angry parts, frightened parts, and parts that shut down. Our parts sometimes do things that confuse or frighten us: ending a relationship or reaching for an old coping strategy. None of these parts are the enemy. Instead, we focus on befriending these parts of us.
Maybe you approach therapy with a dose of skepticism. Many people arrive uncertain, or without words for what they're feeling — we honor what is true for you. We'll find what works for your system together, at your pace. I aim to create safety you can feel in your body, not just talk about. You're in the driver's seat; I'm here as your guide— you can read more about the values I hold that shape how I work.
Outside the therapy room
When I'm not in the office, I'm spending time with family and friends, riding horses, and practicing yoga. You can also find me trying to get through a reading list that only grows, never shrinks, and one of my favorite spots in DC is Nationals Park — go Nats!
Taking the first step
Let's begin, at your pace. Reaching out is often the hardest step. If any of this resonates, I'd be honored to walk alongside you. Click below to schedule a free consultation and see if we're a good fit.
