I understand trauma as something that can be both inherited across generations and experienced directly through overwhelming events like accidents, injuries, or assaults. But trauma isn’t always loud or obvious—developmental trauma, which affects nearly all of us, often comes from repeated experiences like emotional neglect, judgment, or feeling unseen. Whether trauma shows up in subtle or severe ways, healing begins by acknowledging its impact and gently working with the protective strategies you've developed, such as dissociation, avoidance, addiction, or hypervigilance. Rather than trying to eliminate these responses, we build awareness around them, allowing you to make more empowered, moment-to-moment choices in how you relate to yourself and the world.