Trauma & PTSD Therapy · Newington, CT
Trauma changes the brain. The right therapy can change it back.
Anxiety, fear, hopelessness, numbness, a body that will not settle: these are not character flaws. They are what a nervous system does after something overwhelming. Sarah's entire practice is built around trauma and neurobiology, using brain-based therapies that treat the root instead of managing the symptoms.
Does this resonate?
This may be right for you if…
- You are jumpy, on edge, or exhausted from always scanning for danger.
- You go numb, shut down, or feel disconnected from your body and the people you love.
- Something from childhood still shapes how you see yourself.
- You have been diagnosed with PTSD, or suspect you might meet the criteria.
- Previous therapy gave you insight but not relief.
A neurobiological approach to trauma
Sarah looks at trauma through a brain-based lens. When the brain perceives threat, the survival systems take over and the thinking brain goes offline. If the threat is severe, repeated, or happens during childhood when the brain is still developing, those survival patterns can become the default: hypervigilance, shutdown, explosive anger, chronic anxiety, difficulty trusting, trouble concentrating.
Talk therapy can help you understand this. It often cannot change it, because the patterns are stored below the level of language. That is why Sarah uses three modalities designed to reach the parts of the brain where trauma actually lives: EMDR, Brainspotting, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy.
Types of trauma Sarah treats
PTSD and single-incident trauma: car accidents, assault, medical emergencies, sudden loss, critical incidents at work.
Complex and developmental trauma: growing up with neglect, abuse, addiction, an unpredictable parent, or chronic instability; the kind of trauma that shapes identity rather than just memory.
Childhood and adolescent trauma: Sarah has spent more than 15 years in Connecticut schools and therapeutic day programs, and she has a specific expertise in how trauma affects children's brain development and shows up as behavior, attention and learning problems.
Grief and traumatic loss, bullying, relational trauma, and the cumulative stress of first responders, nurses and educators are all common reasons people come to Ladder of Hope.
What healing actually looks like
Clients often expect trauma therapy to be months of re-telling the worst moments of their lives. It is not. Brain-based therapies require very little detailed narration. The work is about helping the nervous system complete what it could not finish at the time, so that the memory becomes a memory instead of a live wire.
Sarah also brings humor and warmth to the room. Trauma work is serious, but it does not have to be grim, and clients consistently describe her as easy to talk to and quick to laugh. Her promise: to be there for you every step of the way, at a pace your system can handle.
Weekly therapy or an intensive
Trauma treatment is available in standard sessions covered by insurance, or as a one-, two- or three-day therapy intensive for people who want to make major progress in a short window. Both are offered in person in Newington and through secure telehealth across Connecticut.
The process
What to expect
- 01
Consultation
A free phone consultation to hear what is going on, answer your questions, and make sure Sarah is the right fit.
- 02
Assessment & stabilization
We build a full picture of your history and nervous system, and you learn grounding tools so you never feel out of control.
- 03
Reprocessing
Using EMDR, Brainspotting, ART, or a combination, we work through the experiences that are keeping your system stuck.
- 04
Integration & growth
As symptoms ease, we focus on the life you want: relationships, school or work, confidence, and resilience.
Common questions
Trauma & PTSD Therapy FAQ
Still wondering about something? See all FAQs or reach out directly.
How do I know if what I went through was "really" trauma?
Trauma is defined by how an experience landed in your nervous system, not by how it compares to someone else's. If it still affects how you feel, sleep, relate or see yourself, it is worth treating.
Do I have to tell you everything that happened?
No. EMDR, Brainspotting and ART all work with minimal narration. You share what you choose, when you choose.
Do you treat complex PTSD?
Yes. Complex and developmental trauma is a core specialty. Treatment is paced carefully and usually blends stabilization with reprocessing over time.
Do you work with teenagers who have experienced trauma?
Yes. Adolescents and young adults have been the center of Sarah's work for her whole career, including in school settings where trauma often shows up as behavior.
Is trauma therapy covered by insurance?
Standard sessions are covered by Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, ConnectiCare, HUSKY/Medicaid, Oxford and United Healthcare. Intensives are private-pay.
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Ready when you are
Take the first step on your journey of healing.
Reach out for a free consultation. Sarah will listen, answer your questions, and help you decide whether working together is the right fit.