Kristin Mathes, LCSW
Trauma Therapy for Adults throughout Oregon
Trauma isn't always one catastrophic event. Sometimes it's years of feeling unseen, walking on eggshells, or learning that your needs didn't matter. It can shape the way you relate to yourself, your relationships, and the world long after the experience has passed.
You may find yourself constantly on guard, struggling to trust others, feeling emotionally numb, or reacting more intensely than you'd like. Even if you understand why you're feeling this way, your body may still respond as though the danger is happening today.
Healing from trauma isn't about forgetting what happened. It's about helping your nervous system learn that you no longer have to survive every moment.
What trauma can look like:
Trauma affects everyone differently. You may experience:
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Feeling constantly on edge or easily startled
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Difficulty trusting others
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Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected
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Feeling emotions oscillate from high highs to low lows
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People-pleasing or difficulty setting boundaries
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Shame or self-criticism
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Feeling stuck in the same relationship patterns
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Trouble sleeping
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Panic or anxiety
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Physical tension or chronic pain
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Feeling like you're always waiting for something bad to happen
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Mysterious or undiagnosed medical issues
Types of Trauma I Treat:
Childhood trauma
Complex trauma (C-PTSD)
Developmental trauma
Birth trauma
Medical trauma
Relationship trauma
Attachment trauma
How therapy can help?
Trauma doesn't just live in memories—it can also be held in the nervous system.
In therapy, we'll gently explore how your past experiences continue to influence your present. Together we'll work to understand your patterns, strengthen your sense of safety, and reconnect you with parts of yourself that may have been buried beneath years of survival.
My approach integrates somatic therapy, Brainspotting, attachment-focused psychotherapy, mind and body connection, and trauma-informed care. Rather than asking, "What's wrong with you?" we'll explore how your mind and body adapted in order to survive.
Healing doesn't mean becoming someone new. It means reconnecting with the person you were always meant to be.
Why my approach is different
Many people have spent years talking about their trauma and understanding it intellectually, yet still feel stuck. Trauma healing isn't only about insight. It's also about helping your body experience safety in new ways. By working with both the mind and the nervous system, therapy can support deeper, more lasting healing than simply learning coping skills alone
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is trauma therapy right for me?
Trauma therapy may be helpful if you:
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Experienced childhood emotional neglect or abuse
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Grew up walking on eggshells
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Have difficulty trusting people
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Feel like you're always in survival mode
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Notice the same painful relationship patterns repeating
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Have experienced medical trauma, birth trauma, or other overwhelming life events
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Feel disconnected from yourself or others
You don't have to "have it worse" than someone else to deserve support.
Do I have to talk about everything that's happened in the past?
No. Therapy moves at your pace. Healing doesn't require sharing every detail before you're ready. We'll focus on creating safety first.
Can childhood experiences still affect me as an adult?
Yes. Early relationships help shape how our nervous system responds to stress, connection, and safety. Even experiences that didn't seem traumatic at the time can have lasting effects.
Can trauma cause anxiety?
Absolutely. Many people living with chronic anxiety discover that their nervous system has been trying to protect them from experiences that once felt overwhelming.
What if I don't remember everything that happened?
That's okay. And super common. Trauma therapy isn't a memory test. We work with what you know, what you feel, and what your present-day experiences are telling us.
Why do I freeze during conflict?
Freezing is a common nervous system response to stress or perceived danger. If conflict felt overwhelming, unsafe, or resulted in loss of connection earlier in your life, your body may have learned to protect you by shutting down. Therapy can help you understand this response and develop new ways of staying engaged during difficult conversations.
What is developmental trauma?
Developmental trauma isn't caused by one major event. It often results from repeated experiences in childhood that leave a person feeling unsafe, unseen, or unsupported. Over time, these experiences can influence how a person copes with stress, relationships, and emotions later in life.