Relational Trauma & Attachment work

Healing Relational Trauma

Relational trauma often comes from long term emotional neglect, inconsistency, or misattunement during childhood or past relationships. These experiences shape how we see ourselves and how safe we feel with others. Many people seek relational trauma therapy when they notice patterns like self doubt, people pleasing, emotional shutdown, or repeating painful relationship dynamics.

If you grew up with unstable caregiving, criticism, parentification, or emotional unpredictability, your nervous system may have learned how to survive by adapting in ways that may be holding you back in present day. These patterns can follow you into adulthood even when you want healthier, more secure relationships.

Attachment Patterns & Family of Origin Wounds

Your attachment system forms through your earliest relationships. When needs for safety, comfort, or consistency weren’t met, you may develop insecure or disorganized attachment patterns as a protective response.

In attachment-focused counselling, we explore how these early experiences shaped your beliefs about connection, your boundaries, your emotional responses, and the type of relationships you’re drawn to today. Many clients come to this work with symptoms related to C-PTSD, childhood emotional neglect, or chronic relational stress.

My Approach

I integrate several evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches to support healing:

  • Attachment based therapy to unpack your relationship patterns and core emotional wounds

  • Trauma informed counselling to help you understand how past experiences shaped your nervous system

  • Somatic therapy to gently track sensations, triggers, and protective responses in the body

  • Parts-informed work to help you understand the younger parts of you that learned to protect, shut down, or over perform

  • Relational repair within the therapeutic relationship so you can experience safety, steadiness, and secure attachment in real time

This combination supports deep healing for those recovering from family of origin trauma, relational wounds, C-PTSD, childhood emotional neglect, parentification, and dynamics related to narcissistic abuse.

Who This work is for

This type of therapy can support you if you:

  • Struggle with trust, vulnerability, or emotional intimacy

  • Repeat the same painful relationship patterns

  • Experience abandonment fears or chronic rejection sensitivity

  • Feel disconnected, numb, or shut down

  • Have a history of people pleasing or over functioning

  • Were parentified or felt responsible for others growing up

  • Have difficulty expressing needs or setting boundaries

  • Carry chronic shame, self blame, or a sense of “not enough”

Many people seek attachment therapy when they want healthier relationships, stronger boundaries, and a more secure sense of self

What To expect in session

In our sessions, we may slow down and gently explore what happens in your body, thoughts, and emotions in the moment. We look at the patterns that developed within your family system and how they show up in your current relationships. Through somatic awareness and attuned, supportive connection, we work toward creating:

  • A regulated nervous system

  • A more secure attachment style

  • Healthier boundaries

  • Emotional safety within yourself

  • More fulfilling, stable relationships

Healing relational trauma isn’t about willpower it’s about creating new experiences of safety, connection, and self trust. You don’t have to keep repeating old patterns. You’re allowed to build relationships that feel steady, reciprocal, and safe.