Relationships are hard. We know this. We are trying to find common ground between us when we come from different backgrounds, assumptions, and habits. It takes patience, time, investment, skill, and a lot of humility. But what happens in relationship when you enter trauma into the mix? What happens when one or both partners are traumatized? When they carry wounds and scars from past abuse, hardship, and fear? This week, we focus on how to have a trauma-informed relationship, how to support, cope, and connect with someone when trauma is part of their story. (Don’t worry. I will define trauma in this episode. Not every hardship is trauma and should not be treated that way.) We’ll get into the neurological changes that take place in a traumatized brain, the behavioral and social challenges, and how to communicate to a brain that is screaming, “I’m not safe!”

Send me a message about this episode, a past episode, or something you’d like to hear: [email protected]

Follow me on Instagram: @vanessathetherapist

Follow me on X: @vthetherapist