Trauma Therapy

In-person therapy in Charlotte, NC
Online therapy throughout NC, SC, and CO

Trauma recovery therapist offering compassionate counseling services, helping clients heal and recover from past trauma in a supportive environment.

Understanding Trauma

At Resilient Roots Counseling & Consulting, we understand that trauma can have a lasting impact on your emotional and mental well-being, affecting how you think, feel, and interact with others.

Whether caused by a single event or ongoing stress, trauma can disrupt your sense of safety and stability. We provide a compassionate, nonjudgmental space to help you process and heal at your own pace. We are here to guide you toward recovery, helping you rebuild resilience, regain control, and rediscover a sense of peace and strength.

Some common symptoms of trauma include:

  • Intrusive memories or flashbacks of the traumatic event

  • Persistent avoidance of reminders related to the trauma

  • Nightmares or disturbed sleep patterns

  • Heightened startle response or being easily startled

  • Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from others

  • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

  • Persistent negative beliefs about yourself or the world

  • Irritability, anger outbursts, or aggression

  • Physical symptoms like headaches, digestive issues, or chronic pain

  • Hypervigilance - feeling constantly "on guard" or unable to relax

A woman wearing glasses and a dark jacket holding a coffee cup sitting by a large window with a cityscape view.

Therapy Can Help

Trauma can shape your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in ways that make it difficult to feel safe or in control.

Here at Resilient Roots, we utilize trauma-informed approaches to create a safe environment for you to process your experiences at your own pace. Using evidence-based therapies like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we work with you to release the hold trauma has on your life, rebuild your sense of safety, and develop healthy coping strategies.

Our Approach to Trauma Therapy

Therapist Natalie Thomas in a gray long sleeve shirt and necklace looking at the camera

Natalie Thomas, LCSW, LISW-CP, ACS
Founder of Resilient Roots Counseling & Consulting

I understand that trauma can have a lasting impact on your emotional and mental well-being, affecting how you think, feel, and interact with others.

Whether caused by a single event or ongoing stress, trauma can disrupt your sense of safety and stability in profound ways.

I've been treating trauma since 2021. I enjoy learning about my clients and building rapport to help them move past traumatic experiences that have been bothering them whether they were able to pinpoint it or not. It is such a collaborative process.

We utilize evidence-based therapies specifically designed for trauma recovery, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). These approaches help release the hold trauma has on your life, rebuild your sense of safety, and develop healthy coping strategies.

I've completed numerous trainings on trauma impact and how it affects the body. I'm certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and have completed a 7-month Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies through the Trauma Research Foundation (Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk). This allows me to provide comprehensive trauma support that addresses both the mental and physical aspects of your healing journey.

Begin Your Healing Journey Today.

What to Expect in Our Therapy Sessions

A woman sitting on a gray sofa, wearing a white button-up shirt and jeans, with her hands gesturing as if explaining something.

When working with us on trauma recovery, you can expect a direct, compassionate approach that honors your pace and boundaries. My role is to create a safe space where you can process experiences without judgment or pressure.

In our sessions, we'll work on:

  • Safety building - Establishing a foundation of physical and emotional safety before diving into trauma processing

  • Understanding how trauma has affected your mind, body, and relationships

  • Developing grounding techniques to help manage trauma responses and flashbacks

  • Processing traumatic experiences using evidence-based approaches like EMDR or TF-CBT

  • Reconnecting with your strengths and building resilience against future challenges

  • Integrating your experiences in a way that allows you to move forward without being defined by trauma

Through our work together, you'll not only address specific traumatic experiences but also develop a toolkit for managing their impact in your daily life. Many clients report feeling a renewed sense of control, peace, and hope as we progress through treatment.

Client Success Story

“I came to therapy hoping to work towards healing my trauma and work on my anxiety issues using CBT. I also had a goal of learning how to set boundaries for myself and enforce them. Natalie taught me some techniques in order to identify when a boundary needs to be set and recognizing the difficult emotions that can come along with that process. This was very helpful. I have actively been practicing this and it has improved my life. I also felt that I did work towards healing my trauma by learning acceptance and the options I have to react to a situation instead of trying to change things I don't have control over.

My anxiety is a work in progress still, but Natalie provided me with many tools to help me cope with situations where I'm anxious, including setting boundaries and body scans. I specifically liked that Natalie made me feel that parts of myself that are often criticized by others or that I doubt myself are actually ok. I don't need to change certain things to please others and I shouldn't feel guilty for who I am. That was also a tremendous revelation for me during therapy and gave me more confidence thanks to her.

Overall, the work I did with Natalie was very beneficial for my mental health and I improved a lot over the months I worked with her. Thank you Natalie!”

— Previous Client

“

A woman waving to her computer screen as she begins an online therapy session for anxiety

Freedom from the past begins now.

Imagine living without trauma's constant shadow over your life. Our evidence-based trauma therapy can help you reclaim your sense of safety and peace.

Frequently Asked
Questions

About Trauma Therapy

  • Trauma responses vary widely between individuals. You might experience flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, emotional numbness, relationship difficulties, or unexplained physical symptoms. Even if you're unsure whether your experiences "count" as trauma, I can help you explore how past events may be impacting your current well-being.

  • I work with various forms of trauma, including:

    • Childhood adversity,

    • Physical or sexual abuse

    • Accidents

    • Loss

    • Medical trauma

    • Military experiences

    • Religious trauma, and more.

    Whether your trauma resulted from a single incident or occurred over time (complex trauma), we can develop an appropriate treatment approach together.

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can be very effective for processing traumatic memories, but it isn't the right fit for everyone. During our initial sessions, we'll discuss your specific needs and determine whether EMDR or another evidence-based approach would be most beneficial for you. My training in multiple trauma therapies allows us to choose the best approach for your specific situation.

  • This is a common concern. While processing trauma can temporarily bring up difficult emotions, I prioritize creating safety and ensuring you have proper coping skills before we address challenging material. We'll move at your pace, and I'll teach you techniques to manage distress both in and between sessions. Many clients find that even the initial stages of trauma therapy bring relief as they develop new understanding and skills.

Start Your Path to Freedom from Trauma.