Trauma Therapist in Washington DC | Trauma Resolution Therapy That Goes Deeper

You’ve been carrying something for a long time.
Maybe you don’t remember all the details, but something happened—something painful—and your body hasn’t forgotten. A smell, a sound, or a glance can trigger a rush of emotions, and suddenly you’re reliving the experience as if it were happening all over again.

If this sounds familiar, you might be dealing with symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or the lingering impact of unresolved trauma. These responses aren’t random—they’re your brain’s way of protecting you. Trauma locks your nervous system into survival mode, and without the right support, that mode never fully shuts off.

The good news? Healing is absolutely possible. And you don’t have to do it alone.

Trauma Therapy in Washington DC That Helps You Feel Safe, Seen, and Strong Again

In my trauma-informed practice, we’ll use a personalized, compassionate approach to help you:

• Calm your nervous system and feel more grounded

• Understand and process past experiences

• Reconnect with your sense of self-worth

• Build tools for safety, trust, and emotional regulation

One method I often use is Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR)—a highly structured process that helps you revisit and process traumatic memories in a safe, contained way. Based on behavioral and psychoanalytic principles, TIR supports long-term emotional relief by reducing the intense charge of past experiences.

This is not about retraumatizing yourself—it’s about gaining distance, understanding, and eventually peace.

Does This Sound Like You?

Maybe you’ve tried to move on. You stay busy, push through, tell yourself “it wasn’t that bad.” But your body keeps reminding you otherwise. Trauma isn’t just something that happened—it’s how your nervous system adapted to survive.

Clients I work with often say they:

• Feel anxious or numb without knowing why

• Struggle with self-doubt or trust issues

• Avoid intimacy or over-give in relationships

• Replay painful experiences over and over

• Work hard to keep others happy, but neglect their own needs

• Frequently engage in painful relationship dynamics that leave them feeling drained or rejected

You are not broken. You’re responding to what you’ve been through. And you can find a different way forward.

In our work together, we’ll use proven methods from the many therapeutic approaches to treat trauma. Over time, you’ll learn how to safely process what happened, reduce emotional reactivity, and reconnect with the version of yourself who feels calm, grounded, and whole. We will decide together what is the right strategy for you and what tools we will use to process.

Trauma doesn’t just impact memories—it affects how you see yourself and others. Maybe you’re successful on the outside, but inside you feel like you’re constantly questioning your worth. You try to move forward, stay busy, push through—but the past keeps echoing in your life and your relationships.

The trauma is not what happen, is the story and the mark, not only in your mind but even in your body. For that reason, our therapeutic work will also have a somatic approach, and you will learn to focus on your body to support your healing.

You’re ready for something different

You’ve done your best with self-care, personal development, or maybe even past therapy—but it hasn’t quite clicked. You know something deeper needs your attention. Furthermore, you want to understand yourself better, to stop feeling like you're broken or stuck, and to finally feel like your past isn’t in the driver’s seat anymore.

That’s where trauma therapy comes in.

I believe that the things we’re most afraid to talk about are often the exact places where healing begins. But we won’t rush there. Together, we’ll first create a foundation of trust and safety—with tools to help you stay grounded as we move at a pace that feels right for you.

You don’t have to carry this alone anymore

Trauma therapy isn’t about reliving the past—it’s about releasing its hold on your present. If you're ready to take that next step, I’m here to walk beside you.

Let’s begin your healing journey, together.

Why Work With Me?

I’m Maria Antonia Alfonso, a bilingual (English/Spanish) trauma therapist in Washington DC, licensed in DC, Virginia, and Florida. I specialize in trauma resolution, relationships, and sexual health, bringing over 30 years of experience in culturally responsive care.

Whether your trauma stems from childhood experiences, relationships, immigration, loss, or emotional abuse—including narcissistic or antagonistic relationships—I provide a safe, nonjudgmental space to heal.

Currently offering individual therapy via telehealth, with limited in-person                                                 appointments in my Washington, DC office.

Begin the Journey to Healing

You don’t have to keep carrying the weight of your past. With the right support, you can reclaim your story and your sense of peace.

If anxiety is one of the ways your trauma shows up day-to-day, you may also benefit from anxiety therapy in Washington DC.

Schedule your free 30-minute consultation today and take the first step toward healing with a trauma therapist in Washington DC who truly understands.

I know it can feel like a big step to contact a counselor, but I’ll make it easy. I provide an initial 30-minute virtual consultation free of charge. Schedule it directly below or Contact me with your questions.

We’ll spend 30-minutes discussing what you are looking for, and I will let you know how or if I can help. If we are not the right match, I’ll do my best to get you to the right person.