“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
~Rumi
Psychotherapy Services
If you’ve been looking for answers to why you feel so empty and alone, you’ve come to the right place.
Perhaps you’ve asked yourself, “If I had such a great childhood, why do I feel so flawed and broken? If I’m so successful, why do I feel like such a failure?”
If this resonates with you, you might be suffering from the devastating effects of Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN) and Complex Relational Trauma (CRT).
CEN and CRT together are the invisible trauma. It’s about what didn’t happen. When a child’s emotional needs for nurturance, connection, and acknowledgment were not met or validated enough in early life, it leaves an invisible yet deep wound.
You might have also experienced “big T trauma” in your life, which you may be able to recall and point to as a source of struggle in your life. In contrast, CEN quietly operates in the background and affects you in ways you may not even be aware of.
As an adult, this invisible and unmemorable trauma can leave you disconnected from your needs and feelings, leading to poor choices and a deep sense of shame and worthlessness. And because it’s about what didn’t happen, it’s difficult to put your finger on what went wrong. It can even result in depression and anxiety.
Why does this matter?
Emotional neglect in childhood sets the stage for many difficulties in adulthood. For example:
Depression: feeling sad, empty, numb, hopeless, even suicidal.
Anxiety: worry, rumination, avoidance, negative thoughts and beliefs.
Harsh inner critic: self-judgment, lack of self-acceptance or compassion.
Perfectionism: unattainable standards and expectations.
Imposter Syndrome: self-doubt, feeling like a fraud, undeserving.
People-pleasing: attending to the needs of others while sacrificing your own.
Low self-esteem: feeling unworthy, inadequate, incompetent.
Poor self-discipline: overindulging, not taking care of yourself or your space.
Unhealthy coping: avoidance, procrastination, addictions.
Fear of Intimacy: insecurity, difficulty trusting or connecting with others.
Lack of identity, meaning, and purpose.
The consequences of emotional neglect are no small matter; they permeate your relationships, your work, and your whole sense of self. What was missing in childhood has profoundly affected who you are in adulthood. CEN derailed you from living the life you were meant to live.
Goals of Therapy
When you come to therapy, we can work together on any or all of the following goals:
Address the root causes of your distress and difficult emotions, such as depression, fear, grief, and anger.
Resolve unhealed wounds and trauma from the past to move forward in your life.
Better understand, work with, and express your needs and emotions in a healthier way.
Learn about triggers and how to be less reactive.
Build new, healthier ways of coping with stress and anxiety.
Take better care of yourself, with healthy self-care, self-acceptance, and self-compassion.
Lessen self-doubt and self-judgment, negative thoughts and beliefs.
Improve your self-esteem, self-respect, and self-confidence.
Have better relationships with partners, family, and friends.
Create a new, healthier relationship with yourself to have a happier and more fulfilling.
