Trauma Therapy in Bala Cynwyd, PA
You know how to survive.
After all, you’ve had to overcome a lot in your life.
But you don’t want to just survive. You want to feel fulfilled and at peace.
On paper, things may look "fine". Inside, you feel disconnected from yourself—unsure what you want, what you need, or who you are becoming.
You understand how to logically solve your problems. But when it comes to your emotions, everything feels murky.
Your logical side and your emotional side seem to be disconnected.
You find yourself paralyzed at times because you can’t tell what’s fear and what’s your intuition.
You need someone alongside you to help unpack the boxes you’ve carefully put away in your mind.
You don't need to do this alone.
Calm Pathway offers a space to gently unpack the experiences you’ve had, make sense of how they shaped you, and begin reconnecting with the parts of yourself that may have gone quiet in the name of survival.
If you’re searching for a compassionate trauma therapist or want to receive the best care from someone who understands the complexity of trauma, you’re in the right place.
Healing from Trauma on the Main Line and in Philadelphia
What is trauma?
You've been through a lot, to say the least. Images and memories seem to come up out of nowhere. It shows up in your dreams. You avoid people, places, and things that remind you of what happened. You feel like you can't talk about it with anyone because you're afraid they wouldn't understand.
You have struggled to find your sense of direction in life and you are just going through the motions hoping that one day you will achieve your true purpose. You feel lost, overwhelmed, and hopelessly stuck.
Trauma is in the eye of the beholder
Trauma is not defined solely by what happened—it’s defined by how your nervous system experienced what happened.
In a general sense, trauma occurs when an event or series of events overwhelms your ability to cope and leads to lasting changes in how you view yourself, others, or the world. Trauma is subjective. Two people can live through the same experience and be impacted in very different ways.
Trauma can develop from:
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- Trauma from a past relationship
- Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
- Accidents, medical trauma, or natural disasters
- Ongoing relational stress or unsafe environments
Some people meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while others experience trauma-related symptoms without having a PTSD diagnosis. Both are valid.
Clinical criteria for PTSD are outlined in the DSM-5, but many people experience trauma responses that fall outside of this diagnosis and still deserve care and support.
Grief and Trauma Therapy on the Main Line
If I Don’t Have PTSD, Does That Mean I Haven’t Experienced Trauma?
No. Trauma can show up in many ways, including:
- Chronic anxiety or panic
- Depression or emotional numbness
- Low self-esteem or harsh inner criticism
- Difficulty trusting others
- Dissociation or feeling disconnected
- Chronic pain or unexplained physical symptoms
- Identity confusion or feeling lost
Many people seeking therapy for anxiety in Bala Cynwyd later discover that unresolved trauma is playing a role beneath the surface.
What Is Trauma-Informed Therapy?
Trauma-informed therapy recognizes that you may have a history of trauma—whether or not you ever talk about specific events.
Rather than assuming what you’ve been through, trauma-informed therapy prioritizes:
- Emotional and physical safety
- Choice and collaboration
- Transparency and trust
- Respect for your pace and boundaries
A trauma-informed trauma therapist understands that current struggles often make sense in the context of past experiences.
You are not broken. Your nervous system adapted to survive.
Finding the right support can be life-changing.
It can feel overwhelming to begin trauma therapy. It's important to take your time, go slowly, and follow your intuition throughout the process. Together we will slowly begin to unpack and make sense of the metaphorical boxes you have tucked away in your mind. From there, we will develop a plan to help you live the life you have always dreamed of but that felt so far away.
How Trauma Therapy on the Main Line Can Help
Benefits of Effective Trauma Treatment
Benefits of Effective Trauma Treatment
Benefits of Effective Trauma Treatment
While there is no "cure" for trauma, effective trauma therapy can be life-changing. Some of the benefits of compassionate, effective trauma therapy include relief from intense memories and images, improved relationships, and clarity about one's values and purpose in life.
Additional benefits of trauma therapy include:
- Fewer nightmares
- Stress reduction
- Better quality sleep
- Improved self esteem
- Increase in calmness and clarity
- Improved mood and outlook on life
Evidence-Based Approaches I Use
Benefits of Effective Trauma Treatment
Benefits of Effective Trauma Treatment
We help people navigate and heal from their trauma through evidence-based treatments such as:
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Relational therapy
- EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Mindfulness-based therapies
- Somatic-based therapy
- DBT (dialectical behavior therapy)
- Group therapy
Virtual DBT Group: Accepting New Group Members Through March
Mondays 1-2pm held on Zoom
Led by Stella Kimbrough, LCSW