For many, building secure, lasting relationships can feel scary, lonely, or hopeless. We can find ourselves stuck in patterns or habits that once helped us cope and survive, but now keep us further away from joy, intimacy, and connection.

I specialize in working with individuals who have experienced some form(s) of interpersonal or relational trauma – including sexual violence, emotional abuse or neglect, betrayal, discrimination, or having to “be the parent” during childhood. These past or ongoing experiences can show up in the present as anxiety, overwhelm, low self-worth, or challenges with intimacy and trust.

I work collaboratively with my clients to create a space in which they can reconnect with their sense of safety, creativity, self-compassion, and capacity for closeness.

I believe that doing our own internal and relational healing contributes to collective liberation, which we all deserve.

I often work with those who experience the following:

• Feeling on edge, anxious, or stressed
• Difficulty trusting others or feeling secure in relationships
• Replaying painful experiences from the past
• Feeling not enough, unworthy, unloveable, or defective
• Avoiding conflict or saying “no” due to fears of losing connection
• Difficulty identifying or communicating needs
• Challenges with intimacy or sexuality
• Burnout from caregiving, therapy work, or activism
• Struggling with pelvic pain or pain during sex

These are normal and adaptive responses to past experiences – ways we learn to survive and protect ourselves through adversity. In therapy, we honor those protective parts of you while exploring new ways of relating to yourself and others at a pace that feels safe for you.

My approach is relational, trauma-informed, and collaborative. I believe that growth happens through feeling seen and heard in the therapeutic relationship. Our work will move at your pace and reflect your goals, honoring your expertise on yourself and your position in the world.

Through therapy, you may begin to:

• Feel more grounded and at ease in your body
• Recognize and shift internal narratives that once helped you but may now keep you stuck
• Reconnect with parts of yourself that have felt silenced or neglected
• Experience deeper trust, authenticity, and emotional safety
• Access joy, creativity, and curiosity

I integrate EMDR, emotion-focused therapy, relational therapy, and internal family systems (IFS) while striving to challenge pathologizing and colonial frameworks that still exist in the mental health field. Sessions are collaborative and flexible: they can be reflective and challenging, gentle and soothing, or full of laughter or curiosity. However we work, my hope is that we create a space where you can connect to more parts of yourself.

If you’re ready to begin honoring the ways you’ve survived while taking steps to build more secure, connected relationships, I’d love to hear from you.

📞 Call: (267) 279-9285
🖥️ Book Online: Free 20-min Consultation
📩 Email: samtavlintherapy@gmail.com