Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach originally developed to help people recover from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Over the past several decades, EMDR therapy has also been found helpful for a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, panic, grief, relationship fears, anger management, low self-esteem, and distressing life experiences that continue to affect a p

What Is Relationship Trauma? Relationship trauma refers to painful experiences with important people in your life—where you felt hurt, betrayed, abandoned, neglected, or unsafe. These relationships are often with key figures such as parents, partners, close friends, or caregivers—people you relied on for connection, safety, and emotional support. When these bonds are disrupted or harmful, the impact can shape how you see yourself, others, and relationships moving forward. Thi

When one or both partners in a relationship carry a history of attachment trauma, everyday interactions can sometimes feel like emotional minefields. Past wounds—whether from neglect, loss, abuse, or inconsistent caregiving—can resurface in the form of heightened sensitivity, withdrawal, or conflict. What begins as a small disagreement can quickly escalate, not because of the present moment alone, but because it touches on deep, unhealed hurts. In my work with couples, I he

What is trauma? I define trauma as anything that has had a significantly negative impact on your life. When something is too big, or it happens too fast for your brain and body to make sense of, it can have a traumatic impact on you. The meaning you give to the traumatic event also determines how significantly it will impact you, which is why two people could experience the same event but have two completely different reactions to it. Let’s consider a car accident, for instan