Healing Doesn’t Mean Reliving the Pain

Growing up in West Texas, I remember getting burned to a crisp under that South Plains sun. I can still feel the sting of those sunburns—the way even the brush of a bedsheet felt unbearable. When something hurts, you protect it. You avoid touching it. That’s just human nature.

Emotional pain works the same way. When you’ve been hurt—especially by something traumatic—it makes sense to pull back. The idea of opening up that pain again can feel impossible.

That’s why many people feel nervous about starting trauma therapy. They worry they’ll have to relive their worst moments all over again. But that’s not what therapy is about.

In truth, healing doesn’t mean you have to re-experience your pain—it means helping your brain to process the event so that the past can be in the past.

When I work with trauma survivors, I don’t push them to talk about things that feel unsafe or too intense. Instead, we focus on how the experience has affected their thoughts, feelings, and sense of safety today. Together, we work to loosen trauma’s grip—slowly, gently, at a pace that feels right..

I often use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), one of the most researched and effective trauma treatments available. CPT helps you make sense of what happened without having to relive it. The goal isn’t to reopen wounds—it’s to help them heal in a way that brings relief, confidence, and peace.

Recently, I’ve begun offering EMDR for those who prefer a more “body-up” approach that is less cerebral and more intuitive. Like CPT, our work is not about reliving but processing. 

Healing from trauma is about reclaiming your power and your story. It’s not about staying stuck in the past—it’s about learning that the past doesn’t have to control your future.

You can heal safely, gradually, and with support. Therapy offers a path forward that leads to relief, not more pain. And every step you take toward that healing is an act of courage and hope.