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Journey to Healing:
Trauma • People-Pleasing • Relationships • Dissociation
Healing from trauma isn’t easy—but you don’t have to figure it out alone. This blog is a safe place to explore what it really means to recover from childhood wounds, break free from people-pleasing, and navigate the ups and downs of relationships after trauma.
As a trauma therapist serving women in North Dakota and Minnesota, I share insights, tools, and real-talk guidance about topics like:
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Understanding the effects of trauma on the nervous system and relationships
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Finding freedom from anxiety, guilt, and shame
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Supporting healing if you live with dissociation or Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
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Practical strategies to set boundaries, care for yourself, and move forward
Whether you’re searching for hope, wanting to understand yourself better, or curious about therapy, you’re in the right place. Healing is possible—let’s take this journey together.
DID and the Holiday Season
The holiday season can be complicated for anyone healing from trauma — but for individuals with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), this time of year can bring unique challenges.
2 days ago4 min read
Why You Dissociate More During the Holidays
Dissociation is an automatic survival mechanism. Your brain uses it when it senses overwhelm, emotional threat, shame, or danger… even if the danger is in the past.
Nov 284 min read
What Integration Really Means in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
People often think integration means merging parts into one neat personality. It’s not .Integration means connection — internal cooperation instead of chaos. It’s when your parts can communicate, share memory, and trust one another without fear.
Nov 142 min read
How to Find the Right Therapist (Even If It's Overwhelming)
Therapy costs and payment methods vary widely. Some therapists accept insurance; others are private pay only. Think about what works best for your budget and comfort around privacy (private pay often means more confidentiality). Don’t hesitate to ask upfront about fees, sliding scales, and insurance acceptance.
Aug 292 min read
Understanding & Managing Flashbacks
Flashbacks are involuntary, intrusive experiences where past trauma resurfaces in a way that feels like it's happening all over again. For some, it's visual—seeing scenes from a traumatic event. For others, it's more emotional or sensory—smelling something familiar, feeling panic without explanation, or noticing your body stiffen or freeze.
Jul 12 min read
Understanding the Different Types of Dissociation: It’s More Than Just Spacing Out
Dissociation is a way your mind disconnects from reality to protect you from intense distress. It can involve feeling detached from your thoughts, body, emotions, or surroundings. While mild dissociation, like drifting off during a boring meeting, happens to most people occasionally, chronic or severe dissociation is often rooted in trauma.
Jun 32 min read
How Dissociation Can Affect Your Daily Life Without You Realizing It
Dissociation is a natural defense mechanism that allows your mind to disconnect from overwhelming thoughts, feelings, or experiences. It’s often linked to trauma, but it can also occur in response to stress, anxiety, or even boredom. While dissociation serves as a protective response, it can interfere with your ability to fully engage in life and cause disruptions in your emotional and physical well-being.
May 304 min read
What ‘Feeling Numb’ Really Means: A Look at Emotional Dissociation
Emotional dissociation is a psychological phenomenon where a person feels disconnected or detached from their emotions, thoughts, or even their sense of identity. It’s as if your mind and body are no longer on the same page, causing you to feel like you're outside of yourself. This disconnection can manifest in a variety of ways, from feeling numb to having difficulty experiencing joy or sadness, or even forgetting certain events or aspects of your life.
May 234 min read
The Connection Between Childhood Trauma and Dissociation in Adulthood
At its core, dissociation is a protective response. It’s the mind’s way of disconnecting from something too painful, overwhelming, or threatening to fully process at the time. Dissociation can show up in many different ways, such as:
Feeling numb or emotionally "shut off"
Losing chunks of time (memory gaps)
Feeling like you’re outside of your body
Detaching from your surroundings (feeling like the world isn’t real)
Zoning out during stressful situations
May 162 min read
Grounding Techniques That Actually Work When You're Dissociating
When you're caught in dissociation, it can feel like there’s no easy way back to the here and now. The good news is: it is possible to ground yourself again—and you don’t have to figure it out alone. Let's talk about some grounding techniques that actually work when you're dissociating.
May 93 min read
Debunking Common Myths About Dissociation
The truth is, dissociation is a natural response to overwhelming stress or trauma, and many people experience it to some degree.
Apr 292 min read
How Dissociation Shows Up in Romantic Relationships
This isn’t your fault. Your brain is doing what it was wired to do, but healing is possible.
Apr 253 min read
How to Recognize When You're Dissociating and What to Do About It
Recognizing dissociation and knowing how to respond can help you feel more in control. With practice, grounding techniques can reduce...
Mar 252 min read
What Does Therapy for Dissociative Identity Disorder Look Like?
You might wonder, “What will therapy look like? Will my therapist understand me? How will we work through everything I’m experiencing?”
Mar 182 min read
What Dissociation Looks Like in Relationships
Dissociation in relationships can be challenging, but understanding its signs and effects is the first step toward building a stronger...
Mar 112 min read
Dissociation and Anxiety: What's the Connection?
If you've ever felt detached during a panic attack or spaced out when overwhelmed you may have experienced dissociation triggered by anxiety
Mar 72 min read
Debunking the Myth: You Can't Participate in EMDR if You Dissociate
EMDR can be tailored to accommodate and even address dissociation, helping individuals build a stronger connection to themselves over time.
Mar 42 min read
What It's Like to Live with Dissociative Identity Disorder
For individuals with DID, life is often a balancing act between alters, each playing a role in their survival and functioning.
Jan 313 min read
Creative Ways to Ground Yourself When Dissociating
For individuals living with trauma, dissociation may be a coping mechanism that helps protect against overwhelming emotions or memories.
Jan 284 min read
The Connection Between Trauma, Dissociation, & Memory Gaps
One particularly challenging aspect of dissociation is how it can lead to memory gaps or "lost time," leaving people feeling confused...
Dec 24, 20244 min read
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