Trauma & Attachment Therapy
Trauma and attachment are closely linked. Many people were shaped not by a single overwhelming event, but by relationships and environments that required constant adjustment in order to stay connected or safe. Over time, these experiences can lead to patterns of vigilance, emotional withdrawal, people-pleasing, or difficulty trusting others. This often aligns with experiences of complex trauma or CPTSD, where the impact lives less in explicit memory and more in the nervous system and relational patterns. Trauma and attachment therapy offers a steady, contained space to understand how these patterns developed and how they continue to shape present-day emotions and relationships.
Trauma therapy may be a good fit if you:
Feel constantly on edge, shut down, or emotionally overwhelmed
Struggle with trust, boundaries, or closeness in relationships
Experience strong emotional reactions that feel hard to regulate
Carry a persistent sense of shame, responsibility, or self-criticism
Have a history of relational trauma, chronic stress, or emotional neglect
Identify with symptoms of C-PTSD, even if no single event stands out
How the Work Approaches Trauma & Attachment
This work understands trauma responses and attachment patterns as intelligent adaptations. The ways our younger selves learned to maintain connection, dignity, or safety under difficult conditions. Rather than reliving the past, therapy focuses on how these strategies show up now, especially in moments of closeness, conflict, or vulnerability. Attention is given to both the protective response and its impact, creating space for responsibility without shame. As awareness increases, many people begin to experience more choice, responding from the present rather than from patterns that once kept them safe but no longer serve them.
In-person individual therapy is offered in Farmington, Connecticut, and is accessible to clients from West Hartford, Avon, and Simsbury. Telehealth therapy is available across Connecticut. Willow Tree Psychotherapy accepts Aetna, Husky, and Optum insurance. Private pay options are also available.