Therapy for Trauma
Trauma Therapy with Harmony Psychotherapy
Do you wonder if what you went through counts as trauma? Whether it was something from childhood, a relationship, or something more recent — if it's still affecting you, it's worth exploring.
Trauma doesn't stay in the past. It shows up in your relationships, your body, your sense of safety — even years later
When beginning therapy for trauma, it’s important that therapy is “trauma-informed” and follows three phases of treatment. Diving right into the hardest parts of trauma can be overwhelming and often make symptoms worse. Trauma therapy should start by making things more manageable in the present moment.
Our approach is collaborative and paced to you. We don't start by digging into what happened. We start by helping you feel steady in your life right now.
Therapy shouldn't retraumatize you. It should feel manageable — even when it's hard.
We also don't believe healing requires retelling every painful memory in detail. That can make things worse. Instead, we work with your body and your patterns, not just your story, so the past stops running the show.
Phase 1:
Safety and stabilization
Building the internal and external resources that make it possible to face what happened. This phase focuses on grounding, nervous system regulation, and reestablishing a sense of safety in your body and your life. The resources and skills developed are used as treatment continues, and this phase can be revisited at any point.
Phase 2:
Processing
Processing begins once you're able to self-soothe with your therapist's support. Together, we gently explore the impact of trauma — through specific memories where accessible, or through the emotions, triggers, and patterns that surface daily when they're not — separating who you are from what was done to you, easing symptoms, and grieving what was lost along the way. The goal: these memories become part of your past, not your present.
Phase 3:
Reconnection and Integration.
Once the weight starts to lift, we turn toward what's next. This might include increasing self-awareness and confidence, identifying patterns that limit emotional or relational well-being, or cultivating a fulfilling life that aligns with your values.
This final phase is about reconnecting with yourself and building a life that feels like yours.
Who We Work With
We work with teens (16+) and adults navigating:
PTSD and complex trauma
Attachment wounds
Abuse — physical, sexual, or emotional
Childhood neglect
Domestic or intimate partner violence
Grief tied to trauma
Identity, trust, and self-esteem struggles
We're an LGBTQIA+ affirming practice and we recognize the harm that many individuals, especially BIPOC individuals have experienced in Western models of therapy. To learn more about our values, click here. Even if you don’t think you’ve experienced trauma, a phase-oriented approach to treatment can still be beneficial in your therapy. Our therapists are available to talk through what this may look like for your needs. Our office is in Vienna, Virginia, and we see clients in person from Vienna, Oakton, Fairfax, Tyson’s, Great Falls, and the surrounding area — plus virtual sessions anywhere in Virginia.
Start with a Free Consultation
If you're ready to start, or just curious what this could look like for you, reach out for a free 20- minute consultation. No pressure, just a conversation to see what resonates with you.
