Childhood trauma doesn’t disappear just because you grew up. If you experienced abuse, neglect, or instability as a child, those experiences may still be shaping your life today—showing up in your relationships, your sense of self, and your mental health.

You might not even call it “trauma.” Maybe you’ve told yourself it wasn’t that bad, or that other people had it worse. But if your childhood left you with anxiety, difficulty trusting others, or a persistent feeling that something is wrong with you, therapy can help you understand what happened and finally move forward.

At Therapy Group of DC, our therapists specialize in helping adults heal from childhood trauma. We use trauma informed therapy approaches that address not just what happened, but how it shaped who you became. Our goal is to help you build the fulfilling life you deserve—free from the past’s grip.

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Is Childhood Trauma Therapy Right for You?

You might benefit from childhood trauma therapy if you:

• Grew up with a parent who was abusive, neglectful, or emotionally unavailable
• Experienced physical abuse, emotional abuse, or childhood sexual abuse
• Witnessed domestic violence or lived with household dysfunction
• Had a parent with substance abuse issues or mental health disorders
• Experienced the loss of a parent or other family members at a young age
• Were bullied, experienced sexual violence, or survived natural disasters
• Notice patterns in your adult life that trace back to early childhood trauma

What to know:

• Almost half of all American children experience some type of trauma, with more than two thirds experiencing it before age 16
• Adverse childhood experiences have lasting impacts on mental health and physical health conditions
• Trauma informed care recognizes that past trauma shapes present experiences
• Adult survivors of childhood trauma can heal with proper treatment

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Understanding Childhood Trauma

Childhood trauma refers to traumatic events experienced during childhood that overwhelm a child’s ability to cope. These experiences can range from obvious forms of abuse to subtler forms of neglect or emotional unavailability that a child may not recognize as harmful until adulthood.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration defines trauma as experiences that cause intense physical and psychological stress reactions. When these traumatic experiences occur during childhood—while the brain is still developing—they can have profound and lasting effects on mental health, relationships, and even physical well being.

Types of Childhood Trauma

Abuse — Physical abuse, emotional abuse, and childhood sexual abuse are direct forms of childhood trauma that violate a child’s sense of safety and trust.

Neglect — Physical or emotional neglect occurs when caregivers fail to meet a child’s basic needs for safety, nurturing, and connection. Neglect is often invisible but equally damaging.

Household dysfunction — Growing up with substance abuse, mental health issues, domestic violence, divorce, or an incarcerated family member creates chronic stress that shapes brain development.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) — Research on adverse childhood experiences shows that traumatic events in childhood—including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction—are connected to mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and physical health conditions in adulthood.

Other traumatic events — Serious accidents, natural disasters, community violence, bullying, loss of family members, or medical trauma can all constitute childhood trauma.

How Childhood Trauma Affects Adults

Childhood trauma affects adults in ways that often feel confusing until you understand the connection. The psychological impacts of early childhood trauma include:

Relationship problems — Adults who experienced trauma during childhood often struggle with trust, intimacy, and healthy relationships. You might find yourself in unhealthy patterns or pushing people away.

Mental health conditions — Unresolved childhood trauma is linked to post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, borderline personality disorder, and other mental health issues.

Low self esteem — Trauma often leaves adult survivors with negative beliefs about themselves—feeling unworthy, damaged, or fundamentally flawed.

Emotional responses — Difficulty with emotional regulation, including intense reactions, emotional numbness, or swinging between extremes.

Physical impacts — Chronic pain, sleep disturbances, and other physical health conditions are connected to past trauma and chronic stress.

Risky behaviors — Substance use, self harm, disordered eating, or other behaviors that developed as coping skills.

Childhood trauma doesn’t go away on its own. But with effective therapy, you can process traumatic memories, develop effective coping strategies, and build the life you want.

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Our Trauma Informed Approach

At Therapy Group of DC, we practice trauma informed care—a framework that recognizes how past trauma shapes present experiences. Trauma informed therapy shifts the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”

What Makes Therapy Trauma Informed?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration outlines key principles of trauma informed care:

Safety — Creating a supportive environment where you feel physically and emotionally safe is the foundation of all trauma work.

Trustworthiness — Building trust through transparency, consistency, and clear boundaries in the therapeutic relationship.

Collaboration — You’re the expert on your own experience. We work together to set treatment goals and guide the healing process.

Empowerment — Trauma often involves powerlessness. Therapy helps you reclaim agency and build on your strengths.

Cultural awareness — Understanding how cultural factors shape trauma experiences and the healing process.

Trauma informed therapy recognizes that trauma affects the whole person—mind, body, and relationships. Our therapists are trained to work with the complex ways childhood trauma shows up in adult life.

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Evidence-Based Treatments for Childhood Trauma

Effective therapy for childhood trauma uses approaches specifically designed to address traumatic experiences. Research shows these treatments help adult survivors process past trauma and reduce symptoms.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy is an evidence-based treatment for adults struggling with past childhood trauma or post traumatic stress disorder. TF-CBT helps you:

• Understand the connection between childhood trauma and current symptoms
• Identify and challenge negative thought patterns and negative beliefs formed in childhood
• Process traumatic memories in a safe, structured way
• Develop effective coping strategies for managing trauma symptoms

Systematic reviews show that focused cognitive behavioral therapy effectively reduces symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in adults with childhood trauma histories.

EMDR Therapy

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR therapy) helps the brain process traumatic memories that weren’t naturally processed at the time. During EMDR therapy, you recall aspects of the traumatic experience while receiving bilateral stimulation, typically through eye movements.

EMDR therapy is particularly effective for childhood trauma because:

• It can access traumatic memories that are difficult to put into words
• It doesn’t require detailed descriptions of the trauma
• Studies show EMDR therapy effectively treats post traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions stemming from early childhood trauma
• Many people see significant improvement in fewer sessions than traditional talk therapy

Learn more about EMDR therapy at our practice →

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic approaches explore how childhood experiences shaped your patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating. This form of talk therapy helps you understand:

• How past trauma influences present relationships and emotional responses
• Unconscious patterns that developed as protection but now cause problems
• The connection between childhood experiences and adult struggles

Somatic and Body-Based Approaches

Trauma is stored in the body, not just the mind. Somatic approaches help you release trauma trapped in the body through:

• Developing awareness of physical sensations connected to trauma
• Learning to regulate your nervous system
• Releasing chronic tension patterns held since childhood

Other Effective Treatments

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) — Helps identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs related to childhood trauma.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — Builds skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and healthy relationships—particularly helpful when childhood trauma affects emotional responses.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) — Works with different “parts” of yourself that developed in response to childhood trauma.

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What to Expect in Childhood Trauma Therapy

The Healing Process

Addressing childhood trauma takes time. Unlike a single traumatic event, childhood trauma often involves years of experiences that shaped your development. The healing process typically moves through phases:

Phase 1: Safety and Stabilization — Before processing past trauma directly, we focus on building coping skills, establishing safety, and strengthening your capacity to manage difficult emotions.

Phase 2: Processing Traumatic Memories — When you’re ready, we work through traumatic memories using trauma focused therapy approaches like EMDR therapy or TF-CBT.

Phase 3: Integration — As trauma loses its grip, therapy shifts toward building the life you want—improving relationships, developing a stronger sense of self, and creating meaning.

Early Intervention Matters

While it’s never too late to address childhood trauma, early intervention in therapy can prevent mental health issues from compounding. If you’re recognizing how past trauma affects your life, reaching out now can change your trajectory.

Pacing and Safety

You control the pace. Trauma informed therapy means we never push you to discuss traumatic events before you’re ready. Some sessions may focus on present-day challenges rather than past events—this is normal and appropriate.

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Our Childhood Trauma Therapists

Our therapists bring specialized training in trauma informed care and evidence-based treatments for childhood trauma.

Dr. Jennifer Melo, Psy.D.

Dr. Melo integrates psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, and trauma-focused approaches. She works with the full range of trauma presentations, including clients with co-occurring eating disorders and substance use concerns. View Dr. Melo’s full profile →

Dr. Michael Burrows, Ph.D.

Dr. Burrows draws on psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, and relational therapy approaches. His focus on identity, self-esteem, and relationships makes him well-suited to addressing how childhood trauma shapes adult life.  View Dr. Burrows’s full profile →

Dr. Rose Medcalf, Psy.D.

Dr. Medcalf integrates client-centered, feminist, and psychodynamic approaches. She specializes in trauma, grief, and loss, with attention to how cultural and identity factors shape the healing process. View Dr. Medcalf’s full profile →

Dr. Dana Treistman, Ph.D.

Dr. Treistman uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness practices to help adults process childhood trauma. Her warm, collaborative approach creates a supportive environment for addressing past events and building a more fulfilling life. View Dr. Treistman’s full profile →

Dr. Regan Mayo, Ph.D.

Dr. Mayo’s psychodynamic approach helps clients explore how childhood history contributes to current struggles in relationships, work, and mental health. View Dr. Mayo’s full profile →

Dr. Tyler Miles, Psy.D.

Dr. Miles specializes in trauma using ACT, client-centered therapy, and CBT. Her expertise with complex presentations helps clients explore how childhood experiences continue to affect their mental health. View Dr. Miles’s full profile →

Xihlovo Mabunda, MS, LPC

Xihlovo is trained in EMDR therapy—one of the most effective treatments for processing traumatic memories from childhood. She integrates EMDR with psychodynamic therapy to address both symptoms and deeper patterns. View Xihlovo’s full profile →

Dr. Kevin Isserman, Psy.D

Dr. Isserman uses client-centered and psychodynamic approaches. His focus on identity and building trust addresses core challenges for adults with childhood trauma. View Dr. Isserman’s full profile →

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Begin Childhood Trauma Therapy in Washington DC

You’ve carried this long enough. The anxiety, the relationship struggles, the feeling that something is fundamentally wrong—these aren’t character flaws. They’re the lasting impact of what you experienced as a child.

Childhood trauma therapy at Therapy Group of DC offers a path forward. Our trauma informed therapists understand how early experiences shape adult life, and they provide the patient, attuned care that healing requires.

Your past doesn’t have to define your future. With proper treatment, you can process what happened, develop healthier patterns, and build the fulfilling life you deserve.

Schedule an Appointment →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What type of therapy is best for childhood trauma?

The best therapy for childhood trauma depends on your specific needs and preferences. Research supports several effective therapy approaches: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and EMDR therapy have strong evidence for treating posttraumatic stress disorder and trauma symptoms. Psychodynamic therapy helps understand deeper patterns. Many people benefit from combining approaches. A mental health professional can help determine which treatment fits your situation.

How do you resolve childhood trauma?

Resolving childhood trauma typically involves working with a trained therapist who specializes in trauma informed therapy. The process includes understanding how past trauma affects your present life, processing traumatic memories so they no longer intrude, developing effective coping strategies, and building healthier patterns in relationships and self-perception. While you can’t change what happened, effective treatment helps you integrate past events so they no longer control your life.

Is CPT or EMDR more effective?

Both Cognitive Processing Therapy and EMDR therapy are evidence-based, effective treatments for trauma. Systematic reviews show similar outcomes for both approaches. CPT involves more direct discussion of trauma and focuses on changing negative beliefs, while EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories with less detailed verbal processing. Some people prefer one approach over the other. Your therapist can help you decide which might work best for you.

How do you release trauma trapped in the body?

Trauma affects the body as well as the mind, often showing up as chronic tension, pain, or physical health conditions. Approaches for releasing trauma from the body include somatic therapies that build body awareness, EMDR therapy which addresses both mental and physical aspects of trauma, mindfulness practices, and movement-based approaches. Working with a trauma informed therapist helps you safely reconnect with your body and release chronic stress patterns.

Who should not do EMDR?

EMDR therapy is safe for most people, but it may not be appropriate as a first-line treatment if you’re currently in crisis, have active substance abuse issues, experience severe dissociation, or lack stable coping skills. A proper assessment by a mental health professional trained in EMDR will determine if it’s right for you. Often, stabilization work comes first before beginning EMDR therapy for childhood trauma.