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Relational Trauma

THERAPY IN BATAVIA AND NAPERVILLE, IL AND ONLINE

Sound like you?

"I don’t know why, but no matter how much love or reassurance I get, I always feel like it’s not enough."

"I trusted them with everything, and now I don’t even trust myself to know what’s real anymore."

"I feel like I’m always bracing for something bad to happen, even when everything is fine."

"I keep ending up in relationships where I feel invisible, unimportant, or like I have to earn my worth."

You try so hard to be okay, but deep down, something always feels off. No matter how much you give in relationships, it never feels safe enough to fully trust. You second-guess yourself constantly—wondering if you’re too much, not enough, or just broken in some way. The people who were supposed to love and protect you have left wounds that still shape how you see yourself today. You might find yourself stuck in the same painful patterns—choosing partners who don’t show up for you, feeling anxious when someone gets too close, or shutting down the moment emotions feel overwhelming. Maybe you don’t even know who you are outside of what others expect from you. The weight of it all is exhausting, and even when you tell yourself to just move on, the past still lingers in your body, your thoughts, and your relationships. You want to feel safe. You want to feel loved. You want to believe you are worthy of both.

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How Relational Trauma Develops

Relational trauma isn’t always caused by one single event—it often develops over time through repeated experiences of neglect, betrayal, or emotional harm in important relationships. These wounds can start in childhood, but they can also happen in adulthood through toxic relationships, unhealthy family dynamics, or ongoing emotional manipulation. When relationships—especially those that were supposed to offer love and security—become a source of fear, instability, or pain, it can change the way you see yourself, others, and the world around you.

Attachment Trauma: When Early Relationships Don’t Feel Safe

Our earliest relationships shape how we learn to trust, connect, and express our emotions. If caregivers were inconsistent, emotionally unavailable, or neglectful, it can create a deep fear of abandonment or rejection. You might find yourself craving closeness but fearing it at the same time, struggling with trust, or feeling unworthy of love.

Betrayal Trauma: When Someone You Trusted Causes Harm

When a trusted person—such as a partner, caregiver, or authority figure—betrays you through abuse, deception, or neglect, it can shatter your ability to feel safe in relationships. Betrayal trauma can lead to self-doubt, emotional numbness, and difficulty trusting your own instincts. You may suppress the pain just to survive, but over time, it can show up as anxiety, hypervigilance, or difficulty forming healthy connections.

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD): When Trauma Happens Over and Over

Unlike a single traumatic event, complex PTSD develops from long-term, repeated relational trauma. This could be growing up in a household where emotional needs were ignored, enduring years in an abusive relationship, or facing ongoing rejection and invalidation. C-PTSD often leads to emotional dysregulation, deep shame, dissociation, and difficulty trusting others, making it hard to break free from painful patterns.

Relational trauma leaves lasting imprints, but those imprints don’t have to define your future. With the right support, you can heal, create healthier relationships, and rediscover your sense of self.

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Healing is possible.

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How Do I Know If I Need Relational Trauma Therapy?

If you’ve been carrying the weight of past wounds, you might wonder whether therapy could help. Here are some signs that relational trauma may still be affecting you:

You struggle with trust, even in relationships where you feel safe.

You feel like you have to earn love or prove your worth to be accepted.

You keep ending up in unhealthy relationship patterns but don’t know how to change them.

You often feel emotionally numb, disconnected, or like you're just going through the motions.

You are easily triggered by rejection, criticism, or feeling unseen.

You tend to either cling to relationships out of fear of being alone or push people away to avoid getting hurt.

Meet our Relational Trauma Therapists

Healing from relational trauma takes more than just insight—it requires a safe, compassionate space where you feel truly seen and understood. Our therapists specialize in working with individuals who have experienced attachment wounds, betrayal, complex PTSD, and other forms of relational trauma. We know how deeply these experiences shape your sense of self, your emotions, and your ability to trust others.

At Creating Space Therapy, our team is trained in evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches that go beyond traditional talk therapy. We integrate EMDR, Somatic Therapy, Emotion Focused Individual Therapy, parts work, and polyvagal-informed practices to help you heal not just your thoughts, but the way trauma has lived in your body and relationships.

We believe that healing happens in connection, and you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Whether you’re struggling with trust, emotional overwhelm, or patterns that no longer serve you, we’re here to help you reclaim your sense of safety, self-worth, and belonging.

Ready to take the next step? Meet our therapists and find the support you deserve.

Kelly Huggins LCSW

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Thelma Razo LSW

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Tracy Teichman LSW

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It may seem impossible now, but healing is within reach. Therapy can help you break free from the patterns that keep you feeling stuck and build a life where trust, connection, and self-worth feel possible.

RELATIONAL TRAUMA THERAPY CAN HELP YOU-----

Rebuild Trust in Yourself and Others

Trauma can make it hard to know who to trust—including yourself. Therapy helps you reconnect with your inner wisdom, set healthy boundaries, and build relationships that feel safe and supportive.

Break Free from Unhealthy Patterns

If you find yourself in the same painful cycles—whether it’s people-pleasing, avoiding intimacy, or staying in toxic relationships—therapy can help you understand why and create new, healthier ways of relating.

Heal Emotional Wounds

The pain of past relationships doesn’t just fade with time; it needs space to be processed and released. Through trauma-informed therapy, you can work through painful experiences and find relief from shame, self-doubt, and emotional overwhelm.

Learn to Feel Safe in Your Own Body

Relational trauma doesn’t just affect your thoughts—it’s stored in your nervous system. Therapy using EMDR, somatic techniques, and polyvagal-informed approaches can help you feel more grounded, present, and in control of your emotions.

Discover Safety, Connection, and Confidence with Relational Trauma Therapy

Relational trauma can leave you feeling disconnected from yourself and others, unsure of who to trust, and stuck in painful patterns that seem impossible to break. But healing is possible. With the support of our expertly trained and experienced relational trauma therapists, you can build a sense of safety, create healthier relationships, and step into a life where you feel valued and understood. At Creating Space Therapy, we specialize in helping individuals heal from attachment wounds, betrayal, and complex PTSD using evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches designed for deep and lasting transformation.

Create Relationships That Feel Safe and Supportive

When trust has been broken in the past, it can feel impossible to let others in. Our trauma-informed approach helps you recognize and shift unhealthy patterns, set boundaries with confidence, and build connections that honor your needs.

Find Freedom from Past Pain

You don’t have to carry the weight of past wounds forever. Through EMDR, somatic therapy, and parts work, we help you process unresolved trauma so you can experience more peace, emotional balance, and self-acceptance.

Connect with Your True Self

Trauma can make you question your worth, your instincts, and even your own emotions. We guide you in healing the parts of yourself that have felt lost or hidden, so you can step into a life where you feel grounded, whole, and empowered.

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Addressing Common Concerns About Relational Trauma Therapy

It’s completely normal to feel hesitant about starting therapy, especially when it involves unpacking painful experiences from the past. You might wonder if therapy will actually help, if it will be too overwhelming, or if your experiences even “count” as trauma. These doubts are valid, and you are not alone in having them. Healing from relational trauma takes courage, and questioning the process is part of that journey. Below are some common concerns people have when considering relational trauma therapy.

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What if my childhood wasn’t ‘that bad,’ but I still struggle in relationships?

Relational and developmental trauma aren’t just about what happened—it’s also about what didn’t happen. If you grew up feeling emotionally unseen, unheard, or like your needs didn’t matter, those early experiences may still impact your relationships today. Therapy can help you make sense of these patterns and begin to create healthier connections.

Why do I keep ending up in unhealthy or painful relationships?

When you experience relational trauma—especially in childhood—your brain learns to adapt for survival, sometimes in ways that lead to repeating familiar but unhealthy patterns. You might find yourself drawn to emotionally unavailable partners or staying in relationships that feel one-sided. Therapy helps you break these cycles by understanding their root causes and learning how to build relationships that feel secure and fulfilling.

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I feel like I can’t trust anyone. Can therapy really change that?

If betrayal, neglect, or emotional abandonment have shaped your past, trust can feel unsafe—even with a therapist. Healing trust starts with small, safe experiences of being heard, respected, and validated. Our relational trauma therapists create a space where trust is built over time, at your pace, so you can begin to experience relationships in a new way.

What if I don’t remember specific traumatic events but still feel the effects?

Complex trauma isn’t always about a single event—it’s often the accumulation of repeated, subtle wounds over time. Even if you don’t have clear memories of your trauma, your body and nervous system may still hold its impact. Therapy using approaches like EMDR, Emotion Focused Individual Therapy, Somatic Therapy, and polyvagal-informed practices can help you heal without needing to recall every detail.

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A peaceful tree-lined path with dappled sunlight, illustrating the journey toward healing relational wounds.

Effective Treatment for Relational Trauma Is Available

Healing from relational trauma isn’t just about understanding what happened—it’s about rewiring the way you experience safety, connection, and trust. Because relational trauma affects both the mind and body, therapy needs to go beyond just talking. At Creating Space Therapy, our relational trauma therapists, use evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches that will help you process past wounds, regulate your nervous system, and develop healthier patterns in relationships. Our goal is to help you feel more grounded, more in control, and more connected to yourself and others.

EMDR for Relational Trauma

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful therapy that helps the brain process painful memories and reduce emotional distress. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require you to relive every detail of your trauma—instead, it helps you reprocess old wounds so they no longer have control over you. Many people find relief from feelings of shame, fear, and self-doubt, allowing them to build relationships from a place of confidence and self-worth.

Somatic Therapy & Polyvagal Healing for Relational Trauma

Relational trauma isn’t just stored in your thoughts—it’s stored in your nervous system. Somatic therapy helps you reconnect with your body, release trapped emotions, and develop tools to regulate overwhelming feelings. Using polyvagal-informed techniques, we help you shift out of survival mode so you can experience safety, calm, and connection in your daily life.

Emotion Focused Individual Therapy & Parts Work Therapy for Relational Trauma

Many people with relational trauma struggle with inner conflicts—one part of you may crave connection while another part pushes people away. Parts work such as Internal Family Systems and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy help you understand these internal dynamics so you can heal attachment wounds, develop self-compassion, and create healthier relationships. Instead of feeling stuck in patterns of self-protection, you can begin to trust yourself and others in a deeper, more authentic way.

Healing from relational trauma takes time, but you don’t have to do it alone. With the right support, you can break free from the past and create relationships that feel safe, fulfilling, and real.

An ancient oak tree with sunlight breaking through its branches, representing wisdom, endurance, and the power of secure connections.

You already carry the resilience needed to heal, grow, and build a life where trust, connection, and self-worth feel possible.

WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.

Healing from relational trauma is not something you have to figure out on your own. If you’ve been carrying the weight of past wounds, struggling to trust, or feeling stuck in painful patterns, know that you are not broken—and you are not alone. With the right support, you can begin to feel safe, connected, and confident in yourself and your relationships.

At Creating Space Therapy, we provide a compassionate, trauma-informed approach that meets you where you are. Whether you’re just starting to explore your past or ready to dive deeper into healing, our expertly trained relational trauma therapists will walk alongside you every step of the way.

You deserve relationships that feel safe, fulfilling, and authentic—starting with the one you have with yourself. Let’s take that first step together.

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QUESTIONS? WE'VE GOT ANSWERS.

Frequently asked questions-

Is Creating Space Therapy Better Than AI Therapy Chatbots?

While AI chatbots may be able to provide basic support, they can't replace the deep, human connection that's essential for true healing. At Creating Space Therapy, our certified therapists in Batavia and Naperville, as well as through online telehealth, offer personalized care tailored to your unique needs. We understand the complexities of human emotions and experiences, something that AI simply cannot replicate. Our therapists provide empathy, understanding, and adaptive care that evolves with you, ensuring that you receive the support you need at every step of your healing journey. With us, you're not just interacting with a program—you’re connecting with someone who genuinely cares about your well-being.
What types of therapy do you offer?

At Creating Space Therapy, we offer a wide range of therapeutic services, including grief counseling, trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, bibliotherapy, and specialized therapy for children and teens. Our certified therapists in Batavia, Naperville, and online are skilled in various modalities, ensuring that we can tailor our approach to meet your specific needs.
How do I know which therapist is right for me?

Choosing the right therapist is a personal decision, and we’re here to help you find the best fit. Our team of certified therapists brings a diverse set of skills and specialties. Whether you’re seeking help with grief, trauma, or other challenges, we’ll guide you to the therapist whose expertise aligns with your needs, whether in Batavia, Naperville, or online.
What should I expect during my first therapy session?

Your first therapy session at Creating Space Therapy is an opportunity to begin building a trusting relationship with your therapist. We’ll discuss your goals, concerns, and what you hope to achieve through therapy. Our aim is to create a comfortable, safe space where you feel heard and supported, whether you’re visiting our Batavia or Naperville offices or connecting through online telehealth.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Yes, online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy. At Creating Space Therapy, our online telehealth sessions are designed to provide the same level of care and connection as face-to-face meetings. Our certified therapists are experienced in delivering compassionate, high-quality therapy through secure video sessions, ensuring you receive the support you need, no matter where you are in Illinois.

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