The Top 7 Truths About Working with a Trauma Therapist in Connecticut
Jennifer Laptew Williams, LPC, Master Accelerated Resolution Therapist and trauma therapist in Connecticut
The Top 7 Truths About Working with a Trauma Therapist in Connecticut and What You Deserve to Know About Real Healing and Support
If you're searching for a trauma therapist in Connecticut, you're probably looking for more than just a listening ear. You're seeking safety. Relief. Clarity. Maybe even a version of yourself that feels more grounded, whole, and at peace. Most of all, to feel like yourself again.
You’re not alone. The decision to pursue trauma therapy is a brave and deeply personal one. It often comes after months or even years of trying to cope, hold it together, or simply survive. You may have heard about therapy before, or maybe you’ve tried it in the past and didn’t quite feel the shift you were hoping for.
As a trauma therapist in Connecticut who specializes in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and trauma-informed care, I want to help demystify what this work is really about. Because the truth is, trauma therapy isn’t about endlessly revisiting the past. It’s about reclaiming your present.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through seven essential truths about working with a trauma therapist in Connecticut; truths that might surprise you, encourage you, and hopefully, help you feel ready to take your next step toward healing.
Truth #1: Trauma Is Not Just About What Happened, It's About How Your Body Remembered It
One of the most powerful shifts in trauma work is understanding that trauma isn’t just a memory—it’s a felt experience. Your nervous system remembers.
You might not think you "qualify" for trauma therapy because your experiences don’t seem as severe as someone else’s. But trauma isn’t about comparison. It’s about what happened inside you as a result of what you went through.
Whether it was abuse, medical trauma, or car accident, if your nervous system is stuck in fight, flight, or freeze, you may benefit from working with a trauma therapist in Connecticut who can help your system feel safe again.
Learn more about trauma responses and how I help HERE
Truth #2: You Don’t Have to Talk About Every Detail to Heal from Trauma
Many people avoid therapy because they believe they’ll have to relive painful memories or talk through everything that happened. But that’s not how trauma therapy has to work.
In my practice, I use Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), which allows you to process distressing experiences without talking about them in detail. Using guided imagery and eye movements, ART helps reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer have a painful emotional charge.
This means you can begin healing even from events that are hard to talk about without retraumatizing yourself.
🔗 Learn more about ART and how it supports trauma healing
Truth #3: Trauma Therapy Is Rooted in the Present, Not Just the Past
Yes, your past experiences matter. But a good trauma therapist won’t just keep you stuck in the past. Instead, our work together focuses on how past experiences are showing up now in your body, your relationships, your boundaries, and your ability to feel safe.
Together, we build tools and awareness that support you in the present. We explore:
What triggers dysregulation in your body
How to soothe your nervous system
How to set boundaries and reconnect with your voice
How to shift from surviving to thriving
You’ll leave sessions not just with insight, but with real strategies you can use in daily life.
Truth #4: Your Symptoms Make Sense
You’re not "too much." You’re not "dramatic." You’re not broken.
What you’re experiencing is your body’s brilliant way of trying to keep you safe. If you find yourself emotionally numb, hyper-alert, exhausted, avoidant, or overly responsible, it makes sense in the context of what you’ve been through.
A trauma therapist in Connecticut will help you explore those symptoms with compassion and curiosity. We’ll reframe your responses as survival strategies and then gently begin to shift the patterns that no longer serve you.
Truth #5: You Deserve a Connecticut Therapist Who Specializes in Trauma
Not all therapists are trained in trauma care. That’s not a criticism it’s just a reality. Trauma therapy is a specialty. It requires a deep understanding of how the nervous system works, how trauma impacts brain function, and how to create a truly safe space for healing.
When you work with a trauma therapist in Connecticut, you're choosing someone who:
Understands complex PTSD and developmental trauma
Can recognize signs of dissociation, hypervigilance, or shutdown
Works at a pace that honors your readiness
Offers specialized tools like ART and somatic awareness
This isn’t just therapy. It’s healing in relationship.
👉 Meet me and learn more about my approach
Truth #6: Trauma Therapy in Connecticut Can Be Both Gentle and Effective
You don’t have to cry every session for therapy to be "working." You don’t have to feel drained after every appointment.
Real trauma healing is often quieter than you think. It might look like:
Feeling calmer in your body for the first time in years
Saying "no" without guilt
Sleeping better
Feeling connected to people again
My clients are often surprised by how powerful subtle changes can be. When we create space for your body and brain to integrate new experiences of safety and regulation, healing happens even without going back through every painful memory.
Truth #7: Hope & Healing Is Possible
I know there are days it doesn’t feel like it. You’ve tried to keep it together, push through, and make it work. Maybe you’re tired of talking about it. Maybe you’re afraid nothing will ever change. Maybe you have lost all hope.
But here’s what I want you to know: Healing is possible. You are not too far gone. You can build a relationship with your body, your emotions, and your inner world that feels safe and empowering.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
What Trauma Therapy Looks Like in My Connecticut Practice
If you’re considering trauma therapy in Connecticut, here’s what working with me looks like:
A free 15-minute phone consultation to ask questions and see if we’re a fit
In-person or virtual sessions available across Connecticut
Use of Accelerated Resolution Therapy for focused, effective trauma work
Compassionate, client-centered support that meets you where you are
Whether you’re navigating complex PTSD, anxiety, grief, or life transitions, I’m here to support your healing process with care and clarity.
👉 Schedule your free consultation today
FAQs About Working with a Trauma Therapist in Connecticut
Q: How do I know if I need trauma therapy?
If you’ve experienced something overwhelming that still affects how you think, feel, or function, trauma therapy may help. You don’t need a formal diagnosis to begin.
Q: What types of trauma do you work with?
I work with childhood trauma, emotional abuse, anxiety, PTSD, relationship trauma, grief, birth trauma and chronic stress.
Q: Do I have to share everything about my past?
No. Modalities like ART allow you to process trauma without sharing every detail out loud.
Q: How long does trauma therapy take?
Some clients feel relief in just a few sessions, especially with ART. Others choose to work together longer for deeper support. We’ll tailor the process to your needs.
Q: Can I do trauma therapy online?
Yes! I offer secure, HIPAA-compliant virtual sessions across Connecticut.
Q: What if I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help?
That’s okay. Trauma therapy is different. I invite you to reach out and see if this approach feels better.
You Deserve to Heal with the Support of a Trauma Therapist in Connecticut
You don’t have to keep carrying this alone.
If you’re ready to feel more regulated, connected, and empowered, I’m here to support your journey with evidence-based trauma care and compassionate presence.