Trauma-Informed Support for Those Who Care for Others
Therapy for Healthcare Workers in Massachusetts, Vermont, and Washington
If you work in healthcare, you’re used to holding a lot.
You’re trained to stay calm in crisis, to keep going when things are hard, and to put your own needs on pause so others can be cared for. Over time, that way of surviving can become so familiar that it’s hard to tell when something has shifted inside you.
You might notice you’re more exhausted than you used to be.
More on edge, or more shut down.
Less able to rest, even when you have the time.
If that’s happening, it doesn’t mean you’re failing or burning out because you “can’t handle it.”
It means your nervous system has been doing exactly what it learned to do in a demanding, high-stakes environment.
When Caring for Others Takes a Toll
Many healthcare workers come to therapy saying things like:
“I can function at work, but everything else feels harder.”
“I feel numb, irritable, or detached, and I don’t know why.”
“I can’t turn my brain off, even when I’m exhausted.”
“I feel guilty needing help when others have it worse.”
“I’ve seen too much, and I don’t know where to put it.”
These responses are not signs of weakness. They are often signs of cumulative stress, vicarious trauma, moral injury, or chronic nervous system activation.
Sometimes there’s a specific experience that stands out.
Other times, it’s the accumulation of years of holding responsibility, witnessing suffering, and being expected to perform under pressure.
You don’t need a single defining event for this to matter.
A place to Exhale.
A Therapist Who Understands Healthcare Culture
Before becoming a therapist, I worked as a pediatric nurse. I know what it’s like to function in environments where decisions matter, emotions are contained, and the margin for error feels small.
That background shapes how I work.
You don’t have to explain:
Why you minimized things for so long
Why “self-care” doesn’t touch the deeper exhaustion
Why rest can feel uncomfortable or unsafe
I approach therapy with an understanding of healthcare systems, hierarchy, and the unspoken expectations placed on those who work within them.
What we’ll work on
Here’s what we’ll do together:
Understanding how your nervous system adapted to your work
Reducing chronic activation, hypervigilance, or shutdown
Creating more capacity for rest, connection, and choice
Making space for what you’ve carried without retraumatizing
Reprocess past experiences that feel stuck or are replaying in your brain.
Reconnect to joy in your life
FAQS
What others have wondered about therapy for healthcare workers.
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Yes. Many healthcare workers seek therapy not because they can’t function, but because functioning has become exhausting. High responsibility, constant vigilance, and emotional containment can take a toll over time. Therapy can support your nervous system, reduce chronic strain, and help life feel less effortful without requiring you to be in crisis.
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No. You don’t need to identify with burnout or trauma to deserve support. Many healthcare workers notice subtle shifts like increased anxiety, numbness, irritability, or difficulty resting. These responses often make sense given the demands of healthcare work and can be explored gently in therapy.
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Vicarious trauma refers to the emotional and nervous system impact of witnessing others’ pain, illness, or loss over time. For healthcare workers, this can show up as hypervigilance, emotional exhaustion, detachment, or difficulty feeling present outside of work. Trauma-informed therapy helps process these effects without forcing disclosure or reliving experiences.
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Therapy for healthcare workers acknowledges the unique culture, pressure, and responsibility of medical and caregiving roles. You don’t need to explain systems, hierarchy, or the expectation to keep going. The work is paced, respectful of capacity, and focused on restoring regulation rather than fixing or diagnosing you.
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Yes. EMDR can help when burnout, anxiety, or emotional exhaustion are connected to unresolved experiences or cumulative stress. Rather than focusing only on coping strategies, EMDR works with how experiences are stored in the nervous system, helping reduce reactivity and increase a sense of internal steadiness.
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That’s completely okay. Therapy does not require graphic detail or reliving experiences. We focus on how your body and nervous system have been affected, not on retelling stories. You always have choice about what is shared and how deeply we go.
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This concern makes sense. Therapy with me is paced and collaborative, with a focus on stability first. We build support before exploring anything difficult, and nothing is forced. Many healthcare workers find that therapy helps them feel more grounded rather than overwhelmed.
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EMDR intensives can be a supportive option for healthcare workers who have limited time or emotional bandwidth for weekly therapy. Intensives offer focused, contained space for trauma processing while still prioritizing safety, breaks, and integration. We explore together whether this format feels right for you.
More questions? Check out my FAQs page.
Ready to begin?
Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, but you do not have to figure it out alone. I offer a free consultation so we can talk briefly about what brings you here, what kind of support you’re looking for, and whether working together feels like the right fit.