Trauma & PTSD Therapy

Trauma can shape the way a person experiences safety, relationships, and even their own thoughts and emotions. For many people, the effects linger long after the original event has passed. Therapy can help the nervous system settle, restore a sense of stability, and support meaningful healing.

I provide trauma-informed therapy for teens and adults in Cumming and Sandy Springs, GA, helping clients process painful experiences while developing practical tools for emotional regulation and resilience.

Trauma does not always look dramatic from the outside. Many people appear high-functioning while privately struggling with symptoms such as:

• persistent anxiety or hypervigilance
• difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in relationships
• intrusive memories or rumination
• emotional overwhelm or shutdown
• perfectionism or constant self-criticism
• people-pleasing or difficulty setting boundaries
• feeling disconnected from oneself or others

These responses are not character flaws. They are often the nervous system’s way of adapting to experiences that felt overwhelming or unsafe.

My approach to trauma therapy recognizes the close connection between the mind and body. Trauma is not only remembered cognitively — it is also stored within the nervous system.

Therapy may include:

• Somatic therapy to help regulate the nervous system
• Breathwork to reduce stress and improve emotional regulation
• Cognitive and behavioral strategies (CBT) to shift unhelpful thought patterns
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills for managing intense emotions
• thoughtful exploration of relational patterns and self-perception

The goal is not simply to revisit painful experiences, but to help clients build a stronger sense of internal safety, self-trust, and emotional balance.

Healing from trauma is rarely about “getting over it.” Instead, it involves developing new ways of relating to memories, emotions, and the body’s responses.

With the right support, many people find that they can:

• experience greater calm and emotional stability
• reduce patterns of rumination or hypervigilance
• strengthen boundaries in relationships
• reconnect with their authentic sense of self
• move forward with greater confidence and clarity

Therapy provides a structured and compassionate space to do this work at a pace that feels manageable and respectful of your experience.

If you are seeking support for trauma or PTSD, you are welcome to reach out.

Mary Elizabeth Burns, LPC offers therapy for teens and adults with offices in Cumming and Sandy Springs, as well as telehealth sessions for clients throughout Georgia.

You can learn more or schedule an appointment through the contact page.