Heal the past and feel whole again.
Trauma & PTSD Therapy in West Chester, PA
It’s time to release what’s been keeping you stuck and rediscover a sense of safety and ease in your own body. You don’t have to carry it all alone—healing is possible.
Does trauma keep you feeling stuck in the past?
You want to move forward, but part of you still feels stuck in what happened.
Little things set off big feelings, and you can’t always explain why.
You keep it together on the outside, but inside you feel tired and tense.
You wish you could just relax and feel safe, but your body doesn’t get the message.
Even though life has moved on, part of you still feels frozen in that old pain.
You’ve spent so long surviving that you’re not sure how to just be.
You feel like you’re always waiting for something bad to happen, even when things are okay.
You want to feel close to people, but part of you still keeps a safe distance.
You’re not broken.
You’re healing from something that hurt.
Understanding Trauma
Trauma looks different for everyone. It shapes how we feel, think, and move through the world. Sometimes it comes from one event that leaves us feeling shaken or disconnected. Other times, it builds slowly—through smaller hurts that quietly pile up over the years.
There’s what we often call big “T” trauma—life-changing events like accidents, loss, or abuse.
And there’s little “t” trauma—moments of rejection, betrayal, or not being heard that still leave a mark.
Both are real.
Both matter.
And both deserve care, understanding, and a path toward healing.
Healing is possible, no matter how long you have carried the weight.
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Attachment trauma stems from disruptions or difficulties in early relationships, such as neglect, loss, or inconsistent caregiving, which can deeply affect emotional and relational patterns. It often manifests as challenges in trust, self-worth, and forming secure connections, impacting both past and present relationships.
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, leaving a lasting impact on emotional and mental well-being. It is often characterized by symptoms such as flashbacks, avoidance, heightened anxiety, and difficulty regulating emotions, which can interfere with daily life and relationships.
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Complex PTSD (CPTSD) often arises from prolonged or repeated trauma, such as chronic abuse or neglect, typically experienced during formative years. It is characterized by symptoms like emotional dysregulation, difficulty trusting others, and a deeply ingrained sense of shame or guilt, which can significantly impact relationships and self-identity.
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Religious trauma can result from harmful experiences within a faith community, such as spiritual abuse, rigid doctrines, or exclusion, leaving deep emotional scars. It often brings feelings of betrayal, as trust in spiritual leaders and the community is shattered. This can lead to a profound mistrust in oneself, as individuals struggle to reconcile their experiences with their beliefs. Additionally, rejection by friends and family who remain in the religious community compounds the pain, fostering a sense of isolation and abandonment. This trauma profoundly impacts self-identity, trust, and the ability to connect with others, creating significant challenges in healing and personal growth.
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Political trauma arises from exposure to oppressive systems, violence, or instability, leaving individuals with lasting emotional and psychological scars. It can manifest as profound feelings of despair, uncertainty about the future, or a deep sense of helplessness. The divisive nature of political conflicts often fractures relationships, as differing opinions sow mistrust and alienation among friends and family. This trauma not only disrupts one's sense of safety and connection to the world but also erodes the bonds that provide stability and support, leaving individuals feeling isolated and adrift.
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Phobias, within the frame of trauma therapy, are often rooted in past distressing experiences that create intense fear or avoidance of specific objects, situations, or activities. Trauma therapy can help uncover the underlying causes of these fears, providing tools and support to safely navigate and reduce their emotional impact, fostering resilience and empowerment.
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Parenting trauma can arise from personal unresolved experiences, such as neglect or unmet needs, and may be compounded by the unique challenges of parenting children with special needs. Trauma therapy provides a compassionate space to process these experiences, offering tools to foster healing and develop nurturing, supportive relationships within the family.
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Medical trauma can arise from distressing experiences related to medical care, such as invasive procedures, chronic illness, or hospitalization, leaving a lasting emotional and psychological impact. Symptoms of medical trauma may include heightened anxiety, flashbacks, avoidance of medical settings, difficulty trusting healthcare providers, and physical responses like increased heart rate or sweating when faced with medical reminders. Trauma therapy provides a safe space to process these experiences, fostering healing and a restored sense of safety in medical environments.
Trauma Therapy in West Chester, PA can help you…
Go from…
feeling tense and on guard → taking a deep breath and finally relaxing.
Go from…
replaying the past every night → falling asleep with a sense of peace.
Go from…
holding it all together for everyone else → feeling steady and supported inside yourself.
Go from…
reacting out of fear → trusting your own voice and choices again.
What Does Trauma Therapy Look Like?
Stage 1
Safety & Understanding
Before anything else, we focus on safety. You’ll learn to slow down, listen to your body, and feel supported in the process.
Together, we’ll build the trust and grounding that make healing possible.
Stage 2
Processing What’s Been Stuck
When you’re ready, we’ll use EMDR therapy and other trauma-informed approaches
to help your mind and body release what’s been holding on. This isn’t about reliving the past— it’s about helping it lose its power over your present.
Stage 3
Reconnecting With Yourself
As the weight begins to lift, you’ll start to feel calmer, more confident, and more at ease. We’ll strengthen your ability to stay grounded, trust yourself, and live from a place of clarity and peace.
Meet Your Trauma Therapist in West Chester, PA
Nikki DeVault, LPC
At the heart of trauma work is simple, quiet courage — the kind it takes to turn toward what’s been painful instead of away from it. I’ve spent years learning how to hold space for that process — to notice how the body carries old stories, and to follow the gentle cues that lead toward healing.
EMDR Therapy is one of the main ways I help clients find that healing. It’s a powerful, well-researched approach that helps your brain and body process what’s been stuck, so you can finally feel at peace inside yourself. But EMDR isn’t the whole story. What really makes healing possible is trust — trust in me, in the process, and most of all, in your own nervous system.
Over time, something beautiful happens — the same body that once lived in survival mode begins to remember what safety feels like. The weight you’ve carried starts to lift.
Because trauma isn’t something to battle. It’s a part of you that’s been trying, all along, to protect you — and is finally ready to rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It’s not about what happened — it’s about what’s happening inside you now.
If old experiences still show up as anxiety, tension, fear, or shame,
that’s your nervous system saying it hasn’t fully healed.Sometimes those experiences were obvious — a car accident, a loss, a toxic relationship.
Other times, they were quieter — being criticized over and over,
feeling invisible in your family, or always having to be the “strong one.”If the past still shapes how you feel today, it matters —
and healing is absolutely possible. -
No. Healing doesn’t require rehashing every detail. In trauma therapy, we go at your pace. EMDR and body-based approaches help your brain and body process what’s stuck without having to tell the full story out loud.
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That’s a common experience. Many clients find that trauma-focused therapy feels different.
We won’t just talk about what happened—we’ll work with how your mind and body still hold it. This helps create lasting change instead of just temporary relief. -
There’s no one-size-fits-all timeline.
Some people notice shifts within a few months, while others need longer support depending on what they’ve been through.
We’ll move at a pace that feels safe, steady, and sustainable for you. -
EMDR is one of the most researched and effective trauma treatments we have.
It helps your brain reprocess painful memories so they no longer feel so intense or “stuck.”
We’ll always discuss whether it’s the right fit for your goals, comfort level, and stage of healing. -
That’s completely normal.
Starting trauma therapy takes courage. My job is to create a space where you feel seen, supported, and never rushed. We’ll take it one step at a time—together. -
Yes. I offer secure online sessions for clients anywhere in Pennsylvania. Virtual trauma therapy can be just as effective as in-person work — especially when you have a comfortable, private space.
I’ll help you set up what you need so sessions feel grounded and connected, even through the screen. -
Sessions are $160 for 50 minutes.
I’m an out-of-network provider, which means I don’t bill insurance directly, but many clients are able to receive partial reimbursement from their insurance company. I can provide a superbill (an itemized receipt) to help you submit for those benefits.
I believe therapy is an investment in your long-term wellbeing —
and we’ll always discuss what’s sustainable for you before moving forward.
Healing happens in the moments you finally feel safe enough to rest.
