Trauma & PTSD Therapy

Trauma is not always a single event. For many people, it is something quieter and more cumulative—shaping how you think, relate, and move through the world long after the experience itself has passed.

I provide trauma therapy for adolescents and adults in Cumming and Sandy Springs, with virtual sessions available across Georgia.

Many clients I work with describe feeling constantly on edge, emotionally exhausted, or disconnected from themselves. Others appear highly capable on the outside, yet struggle internally with anxiety, shame, or a sense that something unresolved is always beneath the surface.

My approach to trauma therapy integrates somatic therapy and evidence-based modalities, supporting both the emotional and physiological impact of trauma. Rather than focusing only on insight, we also work with how trauma is held in the body, patterns of regulation, and the nervous system’s response to stress.

I specialize in supporting individuals navigating:

• Childhood and developmental trauma
• Relational trauma and narcissistic abuse recovery
• Anxiety and chronic stress patterns
• Perfectionism and emotional overfunctioning
• Co-occurring eating and body image concerns

Therapy is paced according to your readiness, with attention to safety, stability, and sustainable change over time.

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 or 770-670-8849