honor your past. live in the present.

Therapy for trauma in NY

you’ve been through some really difficult experiences.

You don’t like to talk about it, you may even try to avoid thinking about it, but the reality is that you’ve lived through some terrifying moments. As much as you try to “not go there,” you’re haunted by your past. It’s not something you can share with other people, you’re pretty sure they wouldn’t understand or perhaps worse still, they’d judge you. Random things can take you back to those experiences. It’s like you live on two different timelines and sometimes it’s hard to tell which is which.

Woman meditating indoors with eyes closed, wearing white clothing, hand on chest, and showing a tattoo on her arm.

It’s ok to heal.

I’m here for you.

Folks might think you’re spacing out from time to time. They don’t know that it’s because flashbacks and triggers take you out of the moment and transport you to your past. Your body might even start reacting as if you were re-living those horrific experiences. It’s getting to the point where you are on edge, never quite feeling safe where you are.

You just want to be able to move on, and not feel like you’re “damaged”.

How I can help

Therapy for trauma can help you integrate your past experiences into your present day life.

You could stop feeling like your life is on two separate tracks. The uninvited trips down memory lane could stop having such a powerful hold effect on you. Release the hold that your past has had.

You could learn to feel whole again, not fragmented. Imagine living as your full self, able to feel safe in your current life. You can acknowledge the pain from your experiences while still experiencing joy in the present-day.

Portrait of Dr Igda Martinez smiling, black and white photo

Here’s what we’ll do together

Let’s hear you out.

We will work together to get honest about how trauma has impacted you, to recognize your trauma reactions, to understand what triggers them, to identify how you’ve been dealing with it, and to understand how it’s robbing you of your time and fulfilling relationships.

Together we will process your past experiences, learn to challenge negative thinking patterns and underlying assumptions, to move past stuck points. We will help you find your voice and maintain presence of mind so that you can fully engage in your day to day.

i will invite you to

Re-define yourself —

Minimalist living room with a beige sofa, decorative pillows, and indoor plant. Mirror table with a vase of branches, and books on a glass coffee table.

01

We will identify areas that trigger your trauma and how they are directly impacting your life.  

02

We may explore trauma-related details. We will identify stuck points and patterns in your relationships.

03

We will identify and practice healthier ways of coping.

04

We will reduce the impact that trauma has in your life.

Questions? I’ve got answers.

Frequently asked questions —

  • Not necessarily. Some folks have experienced trauma but do not meet clinical criteria for PTSD. Still, that does not meet that they’re not suffering. Trauma can cause self doubt and unhealthy patterns of relating that can still benefit from being addressed in a therapeutic setting.

  • Yes, research has been clear that there are effective treatments for trauma. I am trained in various evidenced based treatments, including trauma focused-cognitive behavioral therapy and EMDR, and I will work with you to develop a plan to help address your specific needs.

  • I have experience working with folks who have been through various types of traumatic experiences, and it’s not always necessary to get into the details of the trauma. We will work together to find a treatment style that works for you. You will always have the choice to disclose details or not.

Change is possible.