The mental health system loves to put you in a box. It wants a simple answer, a single, billable code. It wants to blame your challenges on either your life experiences (trauma) or your brain’s wiring (neurodivergence).
This is a false and damaging choice. It is a profound failure of the imagination.
The truth is, for many neurodivergent people, the two are so deeply intertwined they are impossible to separate. For a person with a more sensitive nervous system, navigating a world that wasn’t built for your brain is, in itself, a traumatic experience.
If you’ve ever felt like your trauma was dismissed or your neurodivergence was ignored, you’re not imagining it. You’ve been failed by a system that refuses to see the whole picture. We see it. We live it. And we are here to offer a new map.
When people hear “trauma,” they think of a singular, catastrophic event. A car crash. A combat tour. The “Big T” traumas that are cinematic and undeniable. And that is a valid, life-altering reality for many. But there is another kind of trauma—the kind that is often invisible to others, but which you live with in your bones every single day. It is the trauma of a thousand paper cuts. It is Complex Trauma (C-PTSD).
It’s the trauma of constant self-translation. The unending cognitive load of masking your authentic self just to be seen as “professional” or “normal.” It’s a low-grade, long-term performance that leads to profound, soul-crushing burnout.
It’s the trauma of sensory assault. The daily experience of living in a world where the lights are too bright, the sounds are too loud, and your nervous system is in a constant state of overwhelm with no escape. A trip to the grocery store is not a simple errand; it is a battle.
It’s the trauma of social rejection and invalidation. It’s the cumulative impact of a thousand small moments where you were told you were “too much,” “too sensitive,” or “too weird.” It’s the pain of being told your reality isn’t real, until you start to doubt yourself, fueling a lifetime of imposter syndrome.
These aren’t just “bad experiences.” They are chronic stressors that leave a physical, measurable, and lasting imprint on your brain, your nervous system, and your very DNA.
To truly heal, you have to understand what’s actually happening under the hood. The idea that trauma is just a memory you need to “get over” is a dangerous lie. It is a biological process that reshapes your entire operating system.
You are not just a product of your DNA. Think of your genes as a massive library of cookbooks, containing every possible recipe for building and running your body. Epigenetics is the study of the “sticky notes” and bookmarks that your life experiences place on those books, telling your body which recipes to use and which to ignore.
The “Sticky Notes” (Methylation): Severe or chronic stress—trauma—can cause a chemical “sticky note” called a methyl group to attach to a gene. This doesn’t change the recipe itself, but it can effectively silence it, turning its volume down or off completely. This is how your life experiences directly alter your genetic expression, shaping your biology in real-time. This isn’t a theory; it’s a fundamental mechanism of life.
Your brain develops with a ruthless “use it or lose it” principle. An infant brain contains up to one quadrillion potential connections, or synapses. As you grow and learn, your brain strengthens the pathways you use most and prunes away the ones you don’t. When a developing brain is in a constant state of fear and survival, it strengthens and prioritizes the neural pathways for threat detection, hypervigilance, and fear. The pathways for calm, connection, and feeling safe get used less and are often pruned back more aggressively. Your brain literally hardwires itself for survival in the environment it finds itself in.
Trauma isn’t a memory; it’s a nervous system state.
The Threat Detector (Amygdala): A part of your brain called the amygdala acts as your threat detector. In a healthy system, it sounds the alarm when there’s real danger.
The Stress Hormone (Cortisol): When the amygdala sounds the alarm, it floods your body with stress hormones like cortisol, preparing you to fight, flee, or freeze.
The Stuck “On” Switch: Chronic trauma can cause your amygdala to get stuck in the “on” position. Your threat detector becomes over-sensitive, seeing danger everywhere. Your body is in a constant state of low-grade (or high-grade) threat, marinating in a chemical bath of cortisol. This is the biological reality of living with hypervigilance, anxiety, and a feeling that you can never truly relax.
This is why positive thinking and generic talk therapy so often fail. They try to reason with a nervous system that is convinced it is still under threat. You can’t tell a terrified animal that it’s safe; you have to show it.
Healing from trauma, especially when it’s intertwined with your neurodivergence, requires a different approach. It’s not about erasing the past. It’s about teaching your body and nervous system, on a cellular level, that the threat is over and it is safe to come out of survival mode. It’s about working with your biology, not against it.
Our approach to trauma is built on a foundation of neuroscience and a deep respect for your lived experience. We understand that we are working with your nervous system, not just your story.
We Create a Safe Harbor, Not a Storm. Our first and most important job is to create a therapeutic space where your nervous system can begin to feel safe. This means everything is consensual. We move at your pace. You are in control.
We Use a Neurodivergent-Affirming Lens. We will never ask you to separate your trauma from your neurodivergent traits. We understand how they intersect. Our approach is designed to hold both realities at once.
We Untangle the Wires with Clarity. For many, the first step in healing is understanding what’s really going on. Our Clarity Assessments are a powerful tool for gently untangling the impacts of trauma from your innate neurodivergent traits.
We Build Skills for Regulation. In our Therapy & Coaching sessions, we focus on building the practical, body-based skills you need to regulate your nervous system. This is about learning how to recognize when your threat-response is activated and having a toolkit of strategies to help your body return to a state of calm.
Part of: The Therapy Hub
Yes. Absolutely, 100% yes. Our culture has a very narrow and unhelpful definition of trauma. We recognize that trauma isn’t just about a single event. It is also the result of chronic, long-term exposure to stress and invalidation. For a neurodivergent person, this can be the daily experience of sensory overload, the constant cognitive load of masking, or the cumulative pain of a thousand micro-rejections. These are not “small” things. They are chronic stressors that can get your nervous system stuck in a state of hypervigilance, which is the biological definition of trauma. Read our manifesto: It’s Not “Just” a Bad Experience. It’s Trauma.
It’s a two-part answer. First, many neurodivergent individuals have a more sensitive nervous system; your sensory “volume dial” is turned up higher, so stressful events are processed with more intensity. Second, the world is not built for your brain. This creates a constant mismatch where you are punished or invalidated for your natural ways of being. This chronic invalidation is a form of relational trauma that teaches your nervous system it is not safe to be your authentic self. Read our deep dive: Your Brain is a High-Fidelity Amplifier.
No. While science shows that trauma can influence genetic expression, epigenetic markers are not permanent. Think of them as bookmarks, not a rewrite of the book. Healing and creating safe environments are powerful ways to change those bookmarks. By doing the work to heal yourself, you are actively creating a different biological legacy. You are not passing down the trauma; you are passing down the resilience. Read our guide to epigenetics and hope.
We will never force you to talk about anything you’re not ready for. Our first job is to create a space where your nervous system can feel safe, right now. Often, this means we don’t start with the story at all. We start with the body. We build practical, present-moment skills for nervous system regulation that help you feel more in control before we ever touch the narrative of the past. You are always in the driver’s seat. Read our manifesto: Stop Talking About Your Trauma (Until Your Body is Ready).
Believe them. The most damaging thing for a neurodivergent child is having their reality denied. When your child says the lights are too bright or a situation is too overwhelming, believe them. By consistently validating their experience, you are providing the single most important ingredient for a healthy nervous system: a feeling of safety. Read our guide: The Single Most Powerful Thing You Can Do for Your Child.
Yes. This is where a core principle of neuroscience becomes a radical act of hope: neuroplasticity. The brain’s ability to change and form new connections lasts your entire life. While being in a constantly stressful environment means there’s more “traffic” on the old, trauma-based neural pathways, it does not stop you from building new, safer ones. The route to healing might take longer, but neuroplasticity ensures that the destination is always reachable. Read our guide: You Can’t Control the Storm, But You Can Build a Stronger Shelter.
Healing from trauma isn’t about becoming the person you were “before.” It’s about integrating your experiences and becoming someone who is not defined by their past. The outcome of this work is a nervous system that is more regulated and resilient. It is the profound relief of finally feeling safe.
If you are ready to begin this journey, let’s see if we’re a good fit.
Take one second. That’s all I’m asking.
Do not try to “calm down.” Do not try to “fix it.” Do not listen to the voice screaming that you need to do something right now.
Just be here, with me, for one single breath.
My name is Liz. I’ve spent years working overnight in the ER, sitting with people on what was often the worst night of their entire lives. I have sat in the eye of the hurricane, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that the chaos you feel right now is not the truth.
It is a storm in your nervous system. And a storm is just a weather pattern. It is not you. It is not permanent. And you do not have to navigate it alone.
Right now, your brain’s alarm system is screaming. The logical part of your brain has been taken offline. That is a normal, brilliant, biological survival response. But you and I are going to bring it back online, together.
We are going to do one, simple, physical thing. This is not a bulls*hit mindfulness exercise. This is a direct, manual override for your nervous system.
Place your hand on your chest.
Can you feel that? The rise and fall. The rhythm. That is the anchor. That is the proof that you are here, in this moment, and you are alive.
Keep your hand there.
Now, we are going to make one choice. The storm is telling you there are a million overwhelming things you have to do. That is a lie. There are only three choices right now, and you only need to pick one.
This is the button you push when you need the paramedics or the police to show up. This is the “bring the fire truck” button.
This is the national, 24/7 lifeline. It is free, it is confidential, and it is staffed by trained counselors who are ready to listen without judgment. This is the “I need a lifeline” button.
Behavioral Health Response (BHR) is our community’s lifeline. They provide free, confidential telephone counseling and can connect you with local resources. This is the “I need a local guide” button.