Trauma is not always those big events that you may consider traumatic…those less than nurturing experiences could be abandonment/neglect wounds, being shamed, ending of a relationship, a parent was not emotionally available growing up and you think that might contribute to a belief you have about yourself, or perhaps you have suffered a form of abuse…I am available to help you work through some of this.

Shame, especially Toxic Shame, is this feeling and critical narrative that oftentimes says "there is something wrong with me" or "I am broken" - "and I cannot tell anyone about it." As John Bradshaw writes "Toxic shame is no longer an emotion that signals our limits, it is a state of being, a core identity. Toxic shame gives you a sense of worthlessness, a sense of failing and falling short as a human being. Toxic shame is a rupture of the self with the self. "

ACOA individuals often are someone whose actions, decisions, feelings, and emotions (or lack of emotions) are guided by childhood experiences which often are grounded in self-doubt or fear.

Often times those recovering from alcoholism or addiction find themselves dependent on people, money, a career, and more - and wish to make healthy changes surrounding this. Their emotions are predicated and dictated (‘dependent’) on others’ emotions.