Trauma therapy in Seattle and throughout Washington & Oregon
Trauma & PTSD
Complex Trauma · Religious Trauma · Family of Origin Wounds
Does any of this sound familiar?
You second (third, fourth...) guess yourself regularly, even when others trust or agree with you.
You feel overwhelming guilt or shame that you can't seem to pinpoint or doesn't match your current belief system, and try as you might, you can't talk yourself out of it.
You constantly feel like you're somehow both too much and not enough.
You spend copious amounts of time making sure everyone else is happy and may get praise for it...but you don't really know who you are outside of this role.
You live in fear of being rejected by others or "found out."
You feel disconnected from your body or like you have no control over it.
You know you need to set boundaries, but you can't seem to do it when the time comes.
Sometimes the pain we carry starts early—challenging family dynamics, bullying, or feeling unseen or unsafe at home. Other times, it stems from internalized fear-based messages or hurt at the hands of a faith community that once brought comfort and joy.
Our work together can help you understand how those transformational experiences shaped your nervous system, beliefs, and relationships, then begin to shift them with compassion and intention.
Immigration Trauma
Immigration can be a profound and often painful transition, especially when it involves separation from loved ones, loss of community, experiences of discrimination, and/or physical danger or harm along the way. Even after resettling, the body and mind may carry the weight of these challenges, leaving you feeling anxious, disconnected, or on constant alert. These responses are your nervous system’s way of protecting you, but over time they can interfere with your sense of safety and belonging.
People who have experienced immigration-related stress may notice:
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Difficulty adjusting to new routines, language, or cultural expectations
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Feeling like you don’t belong or are “in between” two worlds
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Worry or guilt about family members left behind
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Heightened sensitivity to discrimination, rejection, or misunderstanding
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Challenges forming trusting relationships in a new environment
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Mood changes such as irritability, sadness, or feeling emotionally “flat”
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Physical tension, headaches, or digestive issues linked to ongoing stress
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Difficulty focusing, learning, or performing at work or school due to adjustment pressures
Supporting Children and Families
Children and teens in immigrant families may carry stress from moving, adapting to a new culture, or witnessing the struggles of their caregivers. They might act out, withdraw, or worry excessively about safety and acceptance.
Through therapy, families can learn to understand these responses, strengthen connections, and support teens in feeling safe, seen, and capable of thriving in their new environment.
We will honor the unique challenges of your journey, help restore safety to both body and mind, and work to shift painful beliefs into ones that affirm your resilience, strength, and worth.
*Your safety is a top priority, especially in our current political climate. I do not disclose or record your or your family's immigration status unless you specifically request it (immigration evaluations, advocacy letters, etc.), nor do I cooperate in any way with ICE. For further information on keeping yourself and your family safe, visit https://waisn.org/kyrice/.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Trauma doesn’t just live in the mind—it also lives in the body. PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing something overwhelming or frightening. Many PTSD symptoms are signs of a healthy nervous system that went into protective mode when you needed it, but then got “stuck” there. This can show up as:
Fight – bursts of anger, irritability, or feeling like you need to defend yourself
Flight – restlessness, anxiety, or feeling like you always need to escape
Freeze – shutting down, going numb, dissociating, or feeling unable to act
Fawn – people-pleasing or putting others first to avoid conflict or harm
Over time, this constant state of alert can affect sleep, energy, relationships, and overall health.
A person with PTSD might experience:
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Intrusive memories or flashbacks—your body and brain going back to the event against your will
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Nightmares or trouble sleeping
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Feeling tense, jumpy, or “on guard" or constantly looking over your shoulder
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Avoiding people, places, or situations that remind you of what happened
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Negative thoughts about yourself or the world
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Having a hard time concentrating or staying present
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Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from others
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Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, or chronic muscle tension
In treatment for PTSD, we will work to restore your body’s sense of safety and change the narrative, shifting the negative beliefs you’ve carried about yourself and the world into ones that reflect healing, strength, and hope.
Journey to healing
In treatment to heal from trauma, we will:
Create safety
Trauma can obliterate our sense of safety, but through somatic work and mindfulness techniques, we will discover ways to create safety and regain peace in your own body and mind.
Find rest
Protective parts—like people-pleasing to avoid conflict—often emerge from trauma. Together, we’ll get to know them, learn how to use them when needed, and let them rest when they’re not.
Examine beliefs
We’ll uncover the core beliefs (like "I’m bad” or “I’m unlovable") that may have taken root, then gently shift these patterns and build new beliefs that honor your value and build self-esteem.